PECERA (HK) 2026–2027 Annual Meeting cum Seminar Concludes Successfully | Event Recap

The Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association (Hong Kong) (PECERA(HK)) successfully held its 2026–2027 Annual Conference and Symposium on October 27, 2026, at Yew Chung International School (Secondary). The event brought together local and overseas early childhood education experts, scholars, and practitioners to review the association’s past achievements and outline future initiatives through the annual report and certificate presentations, while exploring cutting-edge research and practical applications in early childhood education through keynote speeches and a research poster exhibition.

Annual General Meeting: Reviewing Milestones and Charting Future Horizons

The Annual General Meeting commenced with Dr. Maria Lee , President of PECERA-HK, reviewing the key milestones starting from Aug2026. Key achievements included the progress of the KeySteps@JC Project and the Jockey Club “Bright Start” Project, representation at the PECERA 2026 Annual Conference in Singapore, the release of the 20th Anniversary Electronic Special Edition, and the PECERA(HK) Networking Dinner in Singapore. Additionally, in August, the Association submitted a policy proposal featuring five key recommendations—covering Education & Care, Health & Wellbeing, Social Welfare, Community Infrastructure, and Industry & Technology—in response to the Public Consultation on the HKSAR Government’s First Five-Year Plan (2026–2030).

Looking ahead, Dr. Maria Lee presented the future plan roadmap, which encompasses the launch of the "Hong Kong ECE Pathway to Professional" video interview series, the preparation and collection for "The Disappearing Nursery Rhymes" publication project, delegation planning for the PECERA 2027 Annual Conference in the Philippines, and preparations for the HKSAR 30th Anniversary Celebration cum PECERA(HK) 2nd Young Scholars Forum.

Recognition of Professional Excellence: QAPC Scheme Certificate Presentation

Since 2022, the Quality Accreditation and Professional Coaching (QAPC) Scheme has engaged nearly 40 kindergartens and child care centers. This year, four institutions successfully achieved Quality Accreditation: Yuen Long Merchants Association Kindergarten, Po Leung Kuk Liu Lit Ching Kindergarten, NTWJWA Yuen Long Nursery School, and NTWJWA Pok Hong Nursery School. 

Keynote Speeches: Bridging Classroom Learning Communities and Brain Science

The core session featured two distinguished guest speakers who delivered insightful keynote addresses, bridging international classroom practices with neuroscience to inspire ECE field practice:

• "The Group Holding the Individual in Its Arms: An example from of toddler classroom" Dr. Ben Mardell, Researcher at the Lifelong Kindergarten Group, MIT Media Lab, shared rich classroom case studies analyzing how learning communities support individual development, enhance learning experiences, and highlight the importance of pedagogical documentation for instructional planning.
  
  
• "Understanding the Essential Pillars of Early Brain Development - from Science to Practice" Dr. Lilian Wong, Specialist in Paediatrics and Clinical Associate Professor (Honorary) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, combined clinical expertise with neuroscience research to unpack the key foundations of early brain development. She highlighted the impact of daily environments, routines, and nutrition on child development while providing concrete strategies for translating empirical research into educational practices.

Research Poster Exhibition and Academic Exchange

Prior to the main conference, the event hosted the PECERA 2026 International Conference (Singapore) Poster Exhibition, showcasing research presented by local scholars and educators in Singapore, offering attendees a vibrant platform for academic exchange.

Looking Ahead

The success of the 2026–2027 Annual Meeting cum Seminar reaffirms PECERA(HK)’s vital role in bridging research, practice, and policy development. The Association will remains dedicated to promoting high-quality early childhood education.