NIEER Adds International Project to Portfolio
In 2012 The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) partnered with the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE) and began collaborating on research projects, participating in faculty/student exchanges, and publication activities. Among these activities, NIEER now serves as co-editor for the International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy (ICEP) which publishes innovative, global research and critical issues on child care and education. The peer-reviewed journal, originally published by KICCE, aims to present important topics of child care and education policy to a diverse, international audience with an emphasis on government officials, researchers, and practitioners. The new issue was released in May 2013 and features an editor’s note by Dr. Steven W. Barnett, Director of NIEER and KICCE President Young Lee. A revised version of a paper submitted by Dr. Barnett and Megan Carolan, Policy Research Coordinator at NIEER, is also featured in the new issue.
Dr. Barnett is thrilled with the partnership with KICCE and the international progress that is being made in the field. He states in his editor’s note, “We are honored to join KICCE in publishing ICEP and are certain this partnership will strengthen the international body of child care and education policy research, and, ultimately, help shape a better world for our youngest citizens.”
The partnership paved the way toward many opportunities abroad. Recently, Dr. Barnett was the keynote speaker at the Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on Early Childhood Education and Care where he emphasized the importance of early childhood education. The theme for the forum was “Are children ready to learn? Are schools ready for children?” The event brought together close to 200 high-level representatives from 31 different countries in the Asia-Pacific region and was sponsored by many organizations including The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The international opportunities help to facilitate discussions in important early education matters. These exciting changes for NIEER are major steps in striving towards a bright future for early childhood care and education.
To learn more about the current projects at NIEER, visit their page here.