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Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Early Childhood Education) in Leadership and Special Needs (Four-year Part-time)
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Programme Code Venue Programme Leader
C4B007 Tai Po Campus / Tseung Kwan O Study Centre / North Point Study Centre / satellite study centre at urban locations as decided by the University Dr Yang Weipeng

Programme video

Programme Aims

This programme aims to respond to the increasing demand for suitably qualified leaders and managers within preschools who can support the learning needs of children with special needs. It also assists qualified early childhood educators to become highly competent, innovative and ethical professionals who are able to contribute to the development of quality programmes for young children and their families in Hong Kong.

The teaching methods of this programme aim to encourage students to challenge and extend their understanding of early childhood education in general, and their own practice in particular. Approaches to teaching are generally interactive and non-didactic. Students will be encouraged to reflect and build on their practical experience through participation in workshops, seminars and tutorials in a stimulating teaching and learning environment.

Programme Features

Professional Upgrading

  • The report of the Committee on Free Kindergarten Education strongly emphasises the importance of quality education which caters for children with special needs.
  • In the 2006/07 Policy Address, the government encourages all kindergarten principals to pursue further studies and obtain a degree by 2011/12.
  • The Education Bureau (EDB) proposes as one of the new initiatives in Pre-primary Education that all new principals from the 2009/10 school year must have a degree in early childhood education (BEd(ECE)).
  • Graduates of this programme will be eminently positioned so as to meet the challenges of responding to EDB policies. Thus, more children with special needs are the recipients of quality early years education.
  • Graduates of this programme who have been teaching in special child care service units throughout the programme years and have completed the required courses in Diverse Needs will be considered as having acquired training on the One-year In-service Course in Special Child Care Work recognized by the Social Welfare Department. Note 1

Note 1: Students may be required to provide proof of service for taking the courses in diverse needs. The University reserves the right to approve students' eligibility.

Interactive Learning Mode

  • Students will be encouraged to reflect and build on their practical experience in early childhood education through participation in workshops, seminars and tutorials in a stimulating teaching and learning environment.

Programme Structure

This programme is a four-year part-time programme consisting of 81 credit points (cps). It is designed as an "add-on" to the in-service Certificate / Higher Diploma in Kindergarten Education Programme (CE(KG) / HD(KG)), or the pre-service Certificate / Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education Programme (CE(ECE) / HD(ECE)) or equivalent. This programme comprises the following domains:

Domain Credit Points (cps)
Major Core 30
Interdisciplinary Course 3
Electives 18
Education Studies 12
Field Experience 6
Final Year Project Honours Project I / Capstone Project I: Research Methods and Proposal 3
Honours Project II: Research Report / Capstone Project II: Project Output 3
General Education 3
English Enhancement Course 3
Total: 81

Major

Major helps students appreciate the importance of professional excellence, ethical responsibility and innovation to the role of an early childhood educator. We aim for our graduates to become experienced early childhood educators and capable leaders who are caring and competent, intellectually enthusiastic, socially committed, and globally aware.

Core

Core courses give students the chance to study teaching and learning from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will study early childhood education from psychological, sociological, philosophical, pedagogical and other perspectives. Students will develop a range of skills necessary for professional practice, such as problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, communication, social interaction, ethical decision making and global perspectives.

The core courses are:

  • Child Health, Safety and Welfare
  • Children in Transition
  • Emergent Literacy
  • Effective Leadership for Early Childhood Education
  • Resources Management in Early Childhood Sector
  • Educational Reform and International Perspectives: Rethinking Policy and Practice for Young Children
  • Leadership for Engaging Diversity in Early Years
  • Advanced Practices in Assessment and Intervention for Children with Special Needs
  • Developing Potentials of Young Children with Special Needs
  • Inclusive Education: Comparison of Policies and Practices at Global and Local Levels

Interdisciplinary Course

  • The interdisciplinary course namely “Working with Families from Diverse Backgrounds” strengthens students’ leadership role in enhancing home-school collaboration with the help of innovative policies and empowering practices.

Electives

Category 1
For elective areas, students are required to take five compulsory courses in Diverse Needs area. Students who have acquired training in Special Child Care Work recognized by the Social Welfare Department are required to take 5 elective courses from at least two of the following seven areas of study:

  • Chinese Language and Literacy
  • Mathematics and Science
  • Creativity and Aesthetics: Arts
  • Creativity and Aesthetics: Music and Movement
  • Child and Family Well-being
  • Diverse Needs
  • Leadership, Policy and Innovation

Category 2
Students are required to take one of the following courses:

  • Art II
  • An Introduction to Modern Chinese Language*
  • Academic English: Writing and Reading#
  • Introduction to Chinese Culture*
  • Mathematics II – Mathematics for Early Childhood Educators*
  • Music II
  • Physical Education II
  • Putonghua II*
  • Science II*
  • Social Studies II

* Courses will be conducted in Cantonese/Putonghua only.

# Courses will be conducted in English only.

Education Studies

In this domain, students employ the principles and theories on early childhood education, which develop students’ global awareness of early childhood care and education of the current trends on child studies and development.

The ES courses are:

  • Current Curriculum Issues in Early Childhood Education
  • Comparative Early Childhood Education
  • Current Trends in Child Development and Assessment
  • Theoretical Perspectives on Early Childhood Practice

Field Experience

The Field Experience that composed of Integrated Field Experience I (2cps) and Integrated Field Experience II (4cps) aims to assist students to innovate and reflect on their practice that builds on the students' foundation of situated knowledge. It help students critically reflect on their practice and enrich their theoretical knowledge of early childhood practice. Students are expected to develop and implement theory-based teaching Note 2 in an early childhood education setting in Hong Kong Note 3 for enhancing teaching and learning.

Note 2: Students specializing in Diverse Needs area are required to develop their Field Experience study in Diverse Needs.
Note 3: Supervisory visits will be arranged in students’ serving school with children at 3-6 years old.

Final Year Project

The Final Year Project comprises of two 3-cp courses:

  • Honours Project I / Capstone Project I: Introduction of research methods and proposal in Semester 2 of Year 3; and
  • Honours Project II / Capstone Project II: A one-year project to be conducted in the final year. Students can choose their topic from either their Major or Education Studies, and will complete an individual project under the supervision by an academic staff. Note 4

Note 4: Students specializing in Diverse Needs area are required to develop their Honours ProjectII/Capstone Project II study in Diverse Needs.

General Education

Students are required to take one 3-cp course selected from a list of General Education (GE) courses which cover a variety of areas, including positive thinking, stress management, healthy living or teachers’ personal and professional interest.

English Enhancement Course

The compulsory 3-cp English Enhancement Course aims to help students acquire linguistics skills in both academic and social contexts. It prepares students to write coherent and organized academic texts by developing essential skills in critical thinking, reading and writing. In addition, the course will enhance student’s ability to make appropriate correspondence in the workplace.

Medium of Instruction

The medium of instruction is mainly Chinese. English or Putonghua is adopted as the language of instruction for relevant courses, (e.g. the course "Inclusive Education: Comparison of Policies and Practices at Global and Local Levels" and "Working with Families from Diverse Backgrounds" might be conducted in English) as appropriate.

Mode of Study

Students are normally required to attend two to three 3-hour sessions per week. Courses will be held on weekdays from 6:30 pm to 9:20 pm at Tai Po Campus or Tseung Kwan O Study Centre / North Point Study Centre/ satellite study centre at urban locations as decided by the University whereas some may be offered on Saturday afternoon in one of the campuses.

Career Prospects / Professional Qualifications

Graduates of the programme will:

  • meet the professional qualifications as kindergarten principal Note 5;
  • be able to work competently in a broad range of positions that involve working with children and families;
  • obtain degree-level professional qualifications that are in high demand in the early childhood education sector and advanced knowledge to lead and promote educational practices that support the learning needs of children with special needs; and
  • be eligible to apply for the University's Master of Education Programme.

Note 5: Graduates' individual registration on professional qualifications as kindergarten principal is subject to the approval of the Education Bureau.

Entrance Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants should normally have completed the Certificate / Higher Diploma in Kindergarten Education Programme (CE(KG) / HD(KG)) or Certificate / Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education Programme (CE(ECE) / HD(ECE)) or equivalent, such as Higher Diploma in Child Care and Education. Eligible applicants may be required to attend an interview.

Early Admission

Early admission offers will be given to highly qualified applicants. These applicants will be informed of the admission result individually by email. Applicants who are not offered early admission shall not assume that they are not being considered for admission. Please check your personal email and your online application account regularly for the progress of your application.

Admission Enquiries

(852) 2948 6886
admission@eduhk.hk

Programme Enquiries

(852) 2948 7131
ptbedece@eduhk.hk

Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in this website is correct. Changes to any aspects of the programmes may be made from time to time due to unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control and the University reserves the right to make amendments to any information contained in this website without prior notice. The University accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from any use or misuse of or reliance on any information contained in this website.

Any aspect of the course and course offerings (including, without limitation, the content of the course and the manner in which the course is taught) may be subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of the University. Without limiting the right of the University to amend the course and its course offerings, it is envisaged that changes may be required due to factors such as staffing, enrolment levels, logistical arrangements, curriculum changes, and other factors caused by unforeseeable circumstances. Tuition fees, once paid, are non-refundable.

EdUHK is one of the teacher education providers in Hong Kong. Graduates of the University’s teacher education programmes are eligible to apply to become fully qualified and registered teachers. As regards teacher registration, graduates should approach the Teacher Registration Team of the Education Bureau (EDB) to submit applications directly. All applications will be assessed by the EDB which will consider, among other things, whether an applicant has been convicted of any criminal offence (including sex-related offences) in Hong Kong or elsewhere, or is involved in any ongoing criminal proceedings or investigations. For details, please browse the EDB’s website.

In the event of inconsistency between information in English and Chinese version or where an interpretation of the programme content is required, the decision of the University shall be final.

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