In November 2023, the Department of Early Childhood Education at the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) organized a two-day, one-night exchange tour in the Greater Bay Area titled “Hand in Hand: Shenzhen-Hong Kong Early Childhood Education Exchange Tour” for 56 students of the Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Early Childhood Education). The tour was led by Chair Professor Li Hui, Dr. Li Jianbin, Dr. Wu Dandan, and Ms. Yiu Wan Shun. The students visited a public kindergarten in Shenzhen, Huitong School, and Meiyi Royal Kindergarten Education Centre. These three kindergartens are renowned educational institutions in the Greater Bay Area, each with its own unique features. The public kindergarten emphasizes the value of "making every child the best version of themselves" and has created a smart learning environment. Huitong School aims to be a "school of the future" by integrating traditional and modern teaching methods to create a balanced learning environment for students. Meiyi Royal Kindergarten Education Centre follows the principle of "creating a kindergarten like a university" to integrate educational resources and create an unlimited, borderless, and selective learning environment.
Through this study tour, our students had invaluable opportunities to deepen their understanding of various teaching pedagogies and educational philosophies in the field of early childhood education. They also had the chance to communicate with experts and teachers in Shenzhen, which created a platform for exchanging ideas and enhancing their comprehension of early childhood education theory.
This experience laid a solid foundation for the growth and professional training of our pre-service teachers, allowing them to gain practical experience and understand the diversity of early childhood education. It reflects the commitment of the EdUHK to provide students with comprehensive and diversified learning experiences, preparing them to become excellent and innovative pre-school educators in the future. This activity also highlights the significance of the exchange between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
