From July 10 to 12, 2025, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) made a commanding presence at the prestigious Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association (PECERA) Conference, held at Shanghai Normal University. Under the visionary leadership of President Professor Kerry Lee, YCCECE spearheaded thought-provoking discourse and showcased its pioneering work in the field of early childhood education.

This year’s conference focused on “Early Childhood Education in a New Era: Globalizing and Localizing Curriculum and Pedagogy” drawing nearly 400 scholars, practitioners, and policymakers from 17 countries and regions across the Pacific Rim. Professor Lee led YCCECE’s delegation in fostering cross-cultural exchange and advancing a forward-thinking dialogue on innovative pedagogical approaches.

True to its commitment to academic excellence, YCCECE’s faculty presented a series of impactful research projects reflecting the College’s cutting-edge scholarship and deep engagement with contemporary educational challenges. Their presentations illuminated critical areas shaping the future of early childhood education, including:

1. Respecting and Listening to Children's Voices: The Application of Making Thinking Visible in Yew Chung Approach to Early Childhood Education  
2. Investigating Expected Quality Standards in Chinese Early Childhood Education Policy Documents
3. Strength-Based Parenting and Mental Illness of Parents in Hong Kong: Parent-Child Relationship as a Mediator(Joint research and presentation with City University of Hong Kong and The University of Hong Kong and The Education University of Hong Kong)
4. Associations of Parent’s School-based Involvement and Parent-Teacher Discrepancies of Children’s Social Behaviour: A Linear Regression analysis(Jointresearch and presentation with The Education University of Hong Kong)
5. AI Companions or Electronic Babysitters? Conversational Agents, Concept Formation, and Adult Roles in ECE in China (Joint research and presentation with Shenzhen University)
6. Research on the Standards for Quality Assessment and Usage Status of Multimedia Resources in Kindergartens across China
7. Heritage and Societal Language Development of Ethnic-Minority Children: Understanding the Linguistic Attitudes and Community Resources for Ethnic-Minority Groups in Hong Kong
8. Examining the Patterns of Quality in Hong Kong Kindergartens: A Latent Profile Analysis Using the ECERS-R (Joint research and presentation with The Education University of Hong Kong)
9. Parent-Child Closeness Moderates Between Future Economic Worries and Children's Positive Social Behavior (Joint research and presentation with The Education University of Hong Kong)
10. Foregrounding Teachers' Experiences in Their Professional Growth: Addressing Challenges in Early Childhood Education (Joint research and presentation with University of Auckland)
11. Play-Powered Pedagogy: Evaluating the Impact of CoolPlay Project on STEM Teaching Efficacy and Knowledge in Hong Kong Kindergarten Teachers
12. "How am I supposed to do this?": Exploring Preservice and In-Service Early Childhood Teachers' Experiences with STEM Teaching  
13. Laying the Foundations: Training Student Teachers to Support Social and Emotional Development through Picturebooks and Storysacks
14. Between Curiosity and Constraints: Hong Kong Kindergarten Teachers' Implementation of Inquiry-Based STEM Education
15. Between Pedagogy and Curriculum: Localising Global Play Perspectives in Hong Kong’s Kindergartens (Joint research and presentation with University of Auckland and Yan Oi Tong Choi Wong Ling Ling Education Fund)

Professor Lee emphasized that YCCECE’s active engagement in PECERA 2025 reflects the College’s mission to be a catalyst for global advancement in early childhood education. “Our participation is not only an opportunity to share our scholarly insights but also to learn from our peers across borders, cultivating meaningful exchange that deepens our practice and strengthens our impact,” he remarked.

YCCECE’s distinguished contributions to PECERA 2025 reinforce its leadership on the global stage and its unwavering pursuit of excellence in research, pedagogy, and community engagement. Through bold inquiry and inclusive dialogue, the College continues to drive educational innovation—empowering educators and enriching the lives of children worldwide.