HONG KONG, Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As the first in Hong Kong to introduce the revolutionary concept of play-based learning, Yew Chung has always been synonymous with high quality education in Hong Kong, and an expert in Early Childhood Education (ECE). As a part of its dedicated efforts to promote quality play-based learning, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) is proud to host the public seminar "Play to Learn -- the Key to Early Childhood Education" on 22^nd January, to promote dialogue and exploration of ECE topics with local educators and parents. Three prominent ECE experts including Professor Kathy Sylva, Professor Soyoun Bae, and Ms Nicky Weir, will be sharing their invaluable experiences and insights on what 'play' really means and how it is fundamental to young children's development.

Professor Kathy Sylva, Professor of Educational Psychology, Department of Education at the University of Oxford, a member of the Board of Governors of YCCECE, is an esteemed figure in the field of ECE and a world-renowned scholar. She was Specialist Advisor to the House of Commons Education and Employment Select Committee. She now serves on various UK Government advisory committees concerned with national assessment and evaluation of ECE programmes, and curriculum for the Early Years. She was awarded an OBE in 2008 for services to children and families. In Hong Kong, Prof Sylva also contributed to the EDB Committee on Free Kindergarten Education.

On 22^nd January, Professor Sylva will be sharing concepts of play-based learning, and what high quality play looks like. She will then be joined by two members of YCCECE's international faculty, Professor Bae and Ms Weir, who will share their insights as well.

Professor Soyoun Bae is the Dean of Studies and leads the ECE academic team of the College. For over 27 years, she has dedicated her career to ECE teacher education in both South Korea and the United States, and is an advocate for multicultural education. Professor Bae has served many professional associations, and was recently elected President of PECERA (Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association) International. Professor Bae will share insights from South Korea, which is regarded as one of the leaders of ECE in the Asia Pacific region, and has inspired new initiatives at YCCECE.

Ms Nicky Weir is the Centre Director of the Yew Chung Early Childhood Development Centre (YCECDC), which is part of YCCECE.  As Centre Director, Ms Weir is involved in creating parent education and community outreach projects, professional development for educators, and the first "Discovery Space" in Hong Kong, which is due to open in June 2019; all initiatives focused on the advocacy of quality ECE and the wellbeing of young children and families. She has a wealth of teaching experience from ECE, Primary, Secondary, and now Tertiary education across three continents, providing her with a unique perspective and understanding of the significant effects of early learning on later development. In the past decade, Ms Weir has worked in ECE leadership, most notably as Co-Principal of Yew Chung International School (Early Childhood Education) in Hong Kong. At the seminar, Ms Weir will present the "Discovery Space", an innovative learning-through-play hub for children from birth to age 8, who will be accompanied by their parents, caregivers or teachers. Specially designed programmes will also be offered to the various 'key persons' in a child's life, whether parents, grandparents, domestic helpers/caregivers, educators, leaders, SEN professionals etc., and the "Discovery Space" will function as a living lab for research too.

Dr. Betty Chan, Chairperson of the YCCECE Board of Governors, remarked, "Yew Chung has never ceased to provide and promote high quality education.  One of the most effective ways of promoting our education principles, is none other than raising the public's awareness on quality early childhood education. We are truly honoured to have our Board of Governor colleague, Professor Kathy Sylva, give a keynote at this public seminar. Kathy has been a good friend of Yew Chung for over 30 years, and we are both grateful and humbled by her contributions, especially now to YCCECE. We are certain that the seminar will be a thought-provoking gathering that will greatly benefit local practitioners and parents."

"Play to Learn -- the Key to Early Childhood Education" Public Seminar

Date: 22^nd January 2019
Venue: Auditorium, Yew Chung International School, 3 To Fuk Road, Kowloon Tong
Target: ECE Professionals (teachers, social workers, NGOs); parents, and anyone interested in ECE.
Time: 5 pm -- 7 pm
Registration: https://www.yccece.edu.hk/en/event/playtolearn/

About YCCECE

Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE), a registered non-profit institution, was established in June 2018. It is an upgrade of the former Yew Chung Community College (YCCC), which was started in 2008 by the Yew Chung Education Foundation (YCEF), also a non-profit Association. The success of the upgrade is grounded on the impressive track record of YCCC and YCEF's 86+ years of experience in Early Childhood Education (ECE). YCCECE aims to nurture passionate and innovative early childhood education professionals who can advocate and bring about improvement in the field, and seeks to be recognised in Hong Kong and in the Asia-Pacific region as an ECE centre of excellence. In order to be a tertiary institution of excellence, YCCECE brought in world-renowned ECE academics and local ECE leaders as advisors and consultants.  Its teaching faculty hails from around the world to provide international perspectives and experiences.  Its student body is also multi-cultural and from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. YCCECE offers Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Early Childhood Education (BEdECE), Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education programme (HDECE) and Diploma in Early Childhood Studies programme (DECS). As a non-profit organisation, YCCECE is also committed to serving the wider community and sharing good practices.  The Discovery Space (DS) at its Aberdeen campus, which is an interactive play space specifically designed for children aged 0 to 8 years old and their accompanying adults will welcome children from all our communities.  Through expert facilitation by DS staff, children and adults will be liberated by true learning through play. This is made possible by a local philanthropic foundation that has pledged a lead gift of HK$40 million to YCCECE, which will fund various capital projects, including the DS. It is anticipated that this innovative play space on the Aberdeen campus will be open to the public in June 2019.