| Programme Code | Study Mode | Normal Period of Study | Venue | Programme Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C4B006 | Part-time | 4 Years | Tai Po Campus / Tseung Kwan O Study Centre / North Point Study Centre / satellite study centre at urban locations as decided by the University
Note: Courses will be mainly offered in Tai Po Campus (except Elective courses and General Education). |
Dr Chu Sing Wa Steven |
| Enquiry (Admissions) | Enquiry (Programme) |
|---|---|
| (852) 2948 6886 admission@eduhk.hk |
(852) 2948 7131 ptbedece@eduhk.hk |
Programme video
Programme Aims
This programme is designed to address the growing need for adept leaders and managers in preschools who are equipped to cater to the educational needs of non-Chinese speaking children. Additionally, it aims to enhance the proficiency of qualified early childhood educators, molding them into innovative, ethical professionals committed to advancing quality education for young children and their families in Hong Kong. Upon concluding this programme, graduates will possess a refined and expanded understanding of early childhood education, enabling them to critically assess and improve their own pedagogical practices.
Special Features
- Enhancing competencies in multicultural and multilingual teaching practices.
- Developing and applying culturally pertinent early education, parenting, and community initiatives.
- The Committee on Free Kindergarten Education's report places significant emphasis on quality education tailored for non-Chinese speaking children. Recognized by the Education Bureau, graduates from this programme will be considered as having successfully completed the Basic Course for Supporting Non-Chinese Speaking Students.
- As a novel initiative in kindergarten Education, the Education Bureau (EDB) stipulates that, beginning in the 2009/10 academic year, all newly appointed principals must possess a degree in early childhood education (BEd(ECE))*. Graduates from this programme will be strategically equipped to align themselves with EDB's policies, ensuring that a greater number of non-Chinese speaking children benefit from quality early childhood education.
- Graduates who have completed the specified courses in the field “Diverse Needs” will be considered as having fulfilled the training of the One-year In-service Course in Special Child Care Work, as 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.
* As required by the Education Bureau (EDB), all new kindergarten principals from the 2009/10 school year should possess a degree in early childhood education. Graduates of this Course are recognized by the EDB as meeting one of the requirements for registration as kindergarten principals in Hong Kong. Registration on professional qualifications as a kindergarten principal is subject to individuals’ relevant work experience and further principalship training, and is subject to EDB’s final approval.
**Graduates of this programme who have been teaching in special child care service units 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. 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 for enrolling in specific courses under the “Diverse Needs” category.
Participants
This programme is designed to address the growing need for preschool leaders and managers who can cater to the educational needs of non-Chinese speaking children. It aims to enhance the proficiency of qualified early childhood educators, guiding them to be innovative, ethical professionals committed to advancing quality education for young children in Hong Kong. Upon concluding this programme, graduates will possess a refined and expanded understanding of early childhood education. This will enable them to critically assess and improve their own pedagogical practices.
Programme Structure
This programme spans four years on a part-time basis and encompasses a total of 81 credit points (cps). Conceptualized as an 'add-on', it is intended to complement the in-service Certificate/Higher Diploma in Kindergarten Education Programme (CE(KG)/HD(KG)), the pre-service Certificate/Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education Programme (CE(ECE)/HD(ECE)), or their equivalents. The curriculum of this programme is segmented into 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
The major underscores the significance of professional excellence, ethical responsibility, and innovation within the domain of early childhood education. Our objective is to cultivate graduates who emerge as seasoned early childhood educators and adept leaders, characterized by their compassion, proficiency, intellectual vigor, societal commitment, and global acumen.
Core
The core courses provide students with an opportunity to examine teaching and learning through an interdisciplinary lens. These courses delve into early childhood education from psychological, sociological, philosophical, pedagogical, and various other standpoints. Through this comprehensive study, students will cultivate essential competencies requisite for professional practice, encompassing problem-solving, critical analysis, creativity, effective communication, interpersonal dynamics, ethical discernment, and a global outlook.
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
- Constructing a Facilitative Home-school Collaboration for non-Cantonese Speaking Children
- Multiculturalism, Multilingualism: Developing International Mindedness in Early Childhood Education
- Teaching Chinese Language to Non-Chinese Speaking Children
Interdisciplinary Course
The interdisciplinary course, titled "Working with Families from Diverse Backgrounds," fortifies students' leadership capacities by fostering enhanced home-school collaboration through the adoption of innovative policies and the implementation of empowering methodologies.
Electives
Category 1 Note 2
For all elective areas, students are required to take two compulsory courses, namely “Understanding and Embracing Diversity” and “Meeting Diverse Needs in the Early Years” in Diverse Needs area Note 3 and 3 elective courses from at least two of following seven elective 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
Note 2: Students who wish to be considered as having training in Special Child Care Work recognized by the Social Welfare Department are required to take 4 compulsory courses in the Diverse Needs area and 1 elective course from another area of study.
Note 3: Students Who have acquired training in Special Child Care Work recognized by the Social Welfare department can take 5 elective courses from at least two of the above seven areas of study for their electives.
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 4 in an early childhood education setting in Hong Kong Note 5 for enhancing teaching and learning.
Note 4: Students specializing in Diverse Needs area are required to develop their Field Experience study in Diverse Needs.
Note 5: 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 6
Note 6: 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.
Class Time and Venue
Students are normally required to attend two to three 3-hour sessions per week. Classes may be scheduled in evenings and/or on weekends at the Tai Po Campus, Tseung Kwan O Study Centre, North Point Study Centre, and/or Kowloon Tong Satellite Study Centre, as decided by the University.
Note 7: Courses except Elective courses and General Education courses will be mainly offered in Tai Po Campus.
Medium of Instruction
The medium of instruction is mainly Cantonese. English or Putonghua will be used as the language of instruction for relevant courses, (e.g. the course "Multiculturalism, Multilingualism: Developing International Mindedness in Early Childhood Education" and "Working with Families from Diverse Backgrounds" might be conducted in English) as appropriate.
Career Prospects / Professional Qualifications
Graduates of the programme will:
- Meet the academic qualification required by the Education Bureau for kindergarten principals Note 8;
- Possess a professional qualification at a degree level that meets the high demands of the early childhood education field Note 9;
- Recognized by the Education Bureau, graduates from this programme will be considered as having successfully completed the Basic Course for Supporting Non-Chinese Speaking Students Note 10;
- Will have the ability to work competently in a broad range of positions that involve working with children and families;
- Be able to work as a special child care worker;Note 11;
- Be eligible to apply for the University's Master's Programmes; and
- Be able to apply for overseas positions in early childhood education, in accordance with the registration requirements of relevant local institutions.
Note 8: Graduates' individual registration on professional qualifications as kindergarten principal is subject to the approval of the Education Bureau.
Note 9: According to the Kindergarten Administration Guide (2023), For appointment or promotion to senior teacher posts, Scheme-KGs should accord priority to suitable candidates with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education (BEd(ECE)) or equivalent.
Note 10: According to the Education Bureau requirement, each kindergarten that participates in the “Kindergarten Education Scheme” and enrolls non-Chinese-speaking students (regardless of the number) should have at least one teacher who has successfully completed the Education Bureau’s approved course for supporting non-Chinese-speaking students (basic course) before the end of the 2020/21 academic year.
Note 11: Students who completed the specified courses in the field “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.
General Admission Requirement
- Holder of Certificate/ Higher Diploma in Kindergarten Education or Certificate/ Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education or equivalent, such as the Higher Diploma in Child Care and Education.
- Applicants may be required to attend admission interviews.
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.
Disclaimers
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 Registered Teachers. For registration as a teacher, graduates should approach the Teacher Registration Team of the Education Bureau (EDB) to submit applications directly. All applications will be independently 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 official 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.
