Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) meticulously organized a diverse range of study activities for students from Suzhou Early Childhood Education College. These activities included a comprehensive curriculum integrating English classes, theoretical learning, and hands-on practice, as well as field observations in local Hong Kong kindergartens, allowing the students to fully immerse themselves in the unique charm of early childhood education in Hong Kong and Yew Chung.

01 Insights into Early Childhood Education in Hong Kong

The welcome ceremony was hosted by Mr Han Hao, Deputy Director of the Mainland Development Department. Dr Frank Lam, Vice President (Administration) of YCCECE, warmly welcomed the teachers and students from Suzhou Early Childhood Education College, encouraging them to "Exercise more, exchange more! I wish everyone a golden harvest from this study journey!"

In the morning, Dr Crystal Zheng, Assistant Professor and Dean of Studies at YCCECE, prepared envelopes for the students to write time capsule letters to themselves to be opened five days later. She also introduced the YCCECE's curriculum, faculty, and student development in detail. YCCECE is the first and only degree-granting higher education institution in Asia dedicated to early childhood education, offering programs such as the courses of Bachelor’s Degree, higher diploma and diploma programmes in Early Childhood Education, as well as a range of professional development courses tailored for early childhood educators and industry professionals.

Following this, Mr Han Hao led the students on a campus tour, where they were joined by YCCECE alumni Katy and current students Felix, Heidi, and Charlie for a sharing session.

In the afternoon, Ms Maggie Chan, Practicum Supervisor at YCCECE, introduced the policies of early childhood education in Hong Kong and the local kindergarten service system. Ms Joey Chan, Lecturer at YCCECE, shared insights into Hong Kong's kindergarten education curriculum, preparing five sets of teaching aids for the students and asking them to plan and organize suitable games and activities for children. As the students played the games, the two lecturers guided them to reflect on how these activities impact children's cognitive, physical, creative, and social abilities. Through this hands-on experience, the students gained an understanding of the process of developing a curriculum and appreciated the educational principles emphasized by Ms Joey Chan, such as "Children are worthy of our respect and admiration" and "learning through play."

02 Experiencing a Fully English-Taught Course

On the next day, the students from Suzhou Early Childhood Education College visited PPDS. Under the teachers' guidance, they participated in a lively STEM-themed game. During the activity, they explored the effects of different ratios of flour, water, and oil on the texture and viscosity of the dough. In another activity, where they designed beds for potatoes and bananas, the students applied mechanical-design thinking, considering the soil characteristics required for potato growth and the structural stability of the bed, creating corresponding models.

In the afternoon, students from both colleges attended a class together, immersed in an English-only teaching environment. Ms Esther Chong, Lecturer at YCCECE, led a creative arts class titled "Material Matters in Children's Creative Learning," with assistance from Dr Zhang Ye, Assistant Professor at YCCECE, and Ms Ruoyu Wen, Lecturer at YCCECE. During the class, each group used three sentences to describe an object, and the other groups had to guess what it was. This activity allowed the students to experience "learn-through-play" from a child's perspective.

Next, the students were given a basket of materials and asked to relay and describe the "common characteristics of the materials in the basket." Through material exchanges among themselves, they classified the materials. Ms Esther Chong used games to introduce the students to heuristic teaching, emphasizing how to understand children's perceptions and descriptions of objects from their perspective, how to stimulate their interest in learning, and how to encourage their active participation in activities, providing them with opportunities for self-exploration and critical thinking.

03 A Cultural Journey to the Hong Kong Palace Museum

On 28 August, Dr Hui Ching, Director of Mengxue Institute at YCCECE, led the students from Suzhou Early Childhood Education College on a cultural exploration trip to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, where they experienced a unique "Day at the Forbidden City." Guided by Dr Hui Ching’s profound knowledge and lively explanations, the museum exhibits brought to life the daily details of Emperor Qianlong's life, from his daily meals and religious pursuits to his busy work schedule, allowing the students to appreciate the charm of history and culture.

04 A Visit to Local Kindergartens in Hong Kong

In the morning on 29 August, the students visited Yew Chung International School Early Childhood Education Division. Ms. Terence Lo, the Chinese Principal of ECE Division at YCIS of HK, shared the educational practices at Yew Chung and Yew Wah, emphasizing that the curriculum is generated based on the core concepts of "child-centeredness," "children-first," and "relationship-based education." Teachers follow a cycle of "observation," "reflection," and "response" to children's interests, co-creating the curriculum with the children.

The students began their day-long observation there in the kindergarten, focusing on tasks such as "relationships among teachers, between teachers and students, and among children" and behavior management, while also paying attention to the classroom environment and the presentation of children's learning portfolios. 

At noon, through a visit to the "Madam Tsang Chor-hang Heritage Museum," which showcases nearly a century of educational achievements, and experiencing the interactive light and shadow exhibits, the students gained an understanding of the development history of Yew Chung.

In the afternoon, the students visited Active Kids Kindergarten, a public kindergarten in Hong Kong. Ms Fan Shu-zhe, the principal of the kindergarten, gave a detailed overview of the differences between non-profit and private kindergartens in Hong Kong, including their operational models, funding sources, and curriculum settings. After the visit, Ms Joey Chan highlighted key points, such as the differences between public and private kindergartens, the importance of displaying children's work at their eye level, and how to interact with children, further deepening their understanding of the early childhood education system in Hong Kong.

05 A Successful Conclusion to the Study Program

On 30 August, as the study activities came to an end, the College held a closing ceremony. Professor Eric Cheng, Vice President (Academic) of YCCECE, encouraged the students to apply theory to practice in their future studies and careers, and to reflect on the educational characteristics of different regions. He hoped the students would enjoy the learning process and discover more diverse educational practices in their future explorations.

Subsequently, each student shared their experiences from the week-long study program at YCCECE on stage and received a study certificate from Professor Eric Cheng, marking the successful conclusion of the study program.