YCYW Professional Development Days

Over 2,000 staff participated from all over the world

Cross-boundary, cross-discipline and cross-departmental "Learning Community"

HONG KONG, Feb. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network (YCYW) Professional Development Days event was held on February 24-25, 2023, with the theme "Learn. Grow. Empower". Over 70 webinars across 20 campuses in 2 days, more than 2000 faculty and staff members from various disciplines and departments participated in this annual professional convergence, steadfastly promoting YCYW's unique "Learning Community" campus learning model, honing educators' teaching skills and quality by encouraging knowledge sharing, communication, and collaboration.

In the event's opening address, YCYW CEO Dr. Betty Chan Po-king reaffirmed that it was YCYW's unwavering goal to prevail as a leading education provider, and was confident that this vision will be carried through the entire network. YCYW's remarkable 90-year history was not only a source of inspiration for all, but also testament of the mission and dedication to lifelong learning in the pursuit of sustainable development and accomplishments.

Prof. Paul Yip Kwok-wah, Chairman of YCYW, delivered the keynote speech and requested all YCYW staff to stand by the educational goals of inspiring knowledge and nurturing citizens for the nation, deepen understanding of the country and keep pace with her progress. He also encouraged faculty and staff to study historical chronicles and learn from the past, and as teachers they should guide students to a better grasp of history and understanding of their duty to the country and the nation.

This year's Professional Development event broke participation records with over 2,000 staff attending, a superb example of the unique "learning community" that YCYW fosters, encouraging both teaching and non-teaching staff to learn, uncover and share knowledge, and to advance their skill sets just as their own students do. Everyone was committed to their own role in creating a supportive learning environment for students.

During the Professional Development event, Dr. Betty Chan Po-king announced to all staff about another major achievement in the 90 year journey of YCYW, the global publication of the "Yew Chung Approach to Early Childhood Education" by Routledge, the leading academic publisher. Prof. Kathy Sylva, an early childhood expert from Oxford University, highly acclaimed the Yew Chung Approach in offering the world a unique and innovative perspective in the field of education. It combines traditional Chinese Confucianism with Dewey's progressive education theory, reiterates the importance of international education, provides a learning environment inclusive of both Chinese and Western cultures, and has laid the foundation for innovative development of early childhood education curriculum in the 21st century.

In addition to seminars and training sessions by renowned experts from China and abroad, the Professional Development event also included themed workshops by the YCYW's internal team of specialists, and participants attended according to their specific personal professional development goals.

The two-day event also featured speakers including Jennifer Zhu Scott's discussions in "Future-Proof Education in the AI Age", where she examined the impact of technology to education and urged educators to be like "shepherds" in the era of ChatGPT, guiding students the right use of technology in learning and become responsible digital citizens.

In addition, guest speaker Rushton Hurley from the education sector shared the art of narrating "Stories of Success", drawing on his experience in education around the world in promoting professional development, dynamic learning and community relations among schools and administrators.

About Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network (YCYW)

YCYW is a global education pioneer with roots in Hong Kong, China. It seeks to combine the best of Chinese and Western cultures to create a truly distinctive spectrum of educational provision. Its mission is to nurture compassionate global citizens for the building of a better world.

Madam Tsang Chor-hang was a visionary and education pioneer who founded the first Yew Chung School and Kindergarten in Hong Kong in 1932. In 1970, her daughter Dr Betty Chan Po-king joined Yew Chung to assist in its management. As a dedicated researcher in early childhood education, Dr Chan put forth an innovative concept of 'learning through play'.  In 1985, Yew Chung organised the 'Pillars of Tomorrow', an Early Childhood Education Exhibition in Beijing, which was officiated by Ms Kang Keqing, the then Chairlady of the Beijing Soong Ching Ling Foundation. In 1989, Yew Chung collaborated with UNICEF to organise the world's first academic forum on early childhood education, promoting exchanges between early childhood education communities in the Mainland, Hong Kong and around the world.

In the 1990s, Yew Chung was invited to Shanghai and Beijing to run schools for expatriates in the Mainland. Following in her mother's footsteps, Dr Betty Chan Po-king and her husband, Professor Paul Yip Kwok-wah, later founded the Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network, nurturing Chinese and expatriate students to contribute to the international stage.

As YCYW celebrates its 90th anniversary milestone in 2022, its educational pedigree  encompasses the entire spectrum from early childhood to tertiary education including Yew Chung International Schools, Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education, Yew Wah International Education Schools, Yew Wah International Education Kindergartens and Yew Wah Infant and Toddler Discovery Centres in cities covering Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Qingdao, Yantai, Tongxiang, Silicon Valley, USA and Somerset, UK. Each year, YCYW provides quality education and development opportunities for more than 13,000 teachers and students around the world.

Website: www.ycyw-edu.com

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