Junior Achievement of the Philippines (JA Philippines) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE), marking a milestone collaboration to elevate early childhood education in the country through scholarships and international learning opportunities.
The partnership will open masteral scholarships for teachers and undergraduates and allow Filipino students and educators to gain global education experience at YCCECE, a Hong Kong-based institution with a 90-year legacy in early childhood and international education. In 2024, YCCECE achieved institutional accreditation to offer postgraduate programs at Qualifications Framework (QF) Level 6, further solidifying its expertise in the field.
Comprehensive Programs for Early Childhood Development
YCCECE offers a full range of academic pathways, from diplomas to postgraduate studies, including:
● Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (1 year, full-time)
● Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (2 years, full-time)
● Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Early Childhood Education (4 years full-time or part-time, with entry options)
● Master of Education (1 year full-time / 2 years part-time)
● Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood Education) (1 year full-time)
Professor Kerry Lee, President and Chair Professor of Child Development at YCCECE, highlighted the institution’s holistic approach to teacher education.
“With our bachelor degree, even though we only have one bachelor of early childhood education, within that degree we offer different concentrations for students who are interested in different aspects of early childhood development. Our programs don’t just have only academic content. One thing that makes us quite special is that we make sure that our students are professional users of knowledge. We provide research training to our teachers so that they are capable of learning from the literature. As part of that, we do a capstone project at the end of the training. They are also provided with ample placement experiences, offering a program that permeates through various departments,” Professor Lee said.
Krishna Alejandrino, Executive Director of JA Philippines, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing its alignment with JA’s mission to prepare Filipino youth for future success.
“This partnership with YCCECE reinforces our commitment to empowering educators and students with world-class training and international exposure. By opening pathways for masteral scholarships and postgraduate studies, we are helping develop skilled, research-driven professionals who can shape the future of early childhood education in the Philippines,” Alejandrino stated.
With this collaboration, JA Philippines and YCCECE aim to foster globally competent teachers and advance early childhood education, addressing the growing need for highly trained educators who can nurture and guide the next generation of learners.
