HONG KONG, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Governors of Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (YCCECE) is proud to announce that the College has successfully achieved institutional accreditation for operating Postgraduate programmes at Qualifications Framework (QF) Level 6 with the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ), paving the way for new degrees to be launched in the 2025/26 Academic Year.
This milestone not only enhances Yew Chung's 92-year legacy of educational excellence, but also positions YCCECE as the first private institution in Hong Kong to offer the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and Master's Degree in Education.
The Board of Governors expresses deep gratitude to all members of the YCCECE community, especially President Professor Allan H.K. Yuen, whose leadership has been instrumental in this achievement. Professor Yuen will be retiring later this month, having led the College from strength to strength since 2019, not only in academic programme development, but also in research and community outreach.
As we transition to new leadership, we are excited to announce that Professor Kerry Lee has been appointed as the next President and Chair Professor of Child Development, and will assume his roles in early November 2024. Professor Lee brings extensive experience from The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), where he served as Director of the Centre for Educational and Development Sciences and Head of the Department of Early Childhood Education. His previous roles include key positions at the National Institute of Education in Singapore and Bond University in Australia.
Dr. Betty CHAN Po-king, Chairlady of the Board of Governors, stated, "We are thrilled to welcome Chair Professor Kerry Lee to our Yew Chung family. His wealth of expertise and experience will enable us to build upon the strong foundations laid by President Yuen and take our College to new heights."
Professor Lee holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Sydney and a doctorate from Macquarie University. He is recognised among the top 2% most-cited scientists globally, with a research focus on cognitive developmental psychology.
About Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education ("YCCECE")
The Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education ("YCCECE"), a member of Yew Chung Education Foundation (YCEF), is an accredited degree-awarding institution registered in Hong Kong under the Post-Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320), with charitable status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. It is the first and only higher education institution in Asia specialising in Early Childhood Education (ECE), invested wholly in this exciting foundational field.
YCCECE's predecessor, the Yew Chung Community College ("YCCC"), was founded in 2008. In 2014, it was the first private higher education institution to provide formal teacher training in Hong Kong with the launch of its Higher Diploma in ECE (HDECE) programme. In 2018, YCCC was transformed into YCCECE with the launch of its flagship Bachelor of Education (Honours) in ECE (BEdECE) degree programme. This milestone represented a full-circle in YCEF's 90-year history, with the completion of a novel 'B to B' (Baby to Bachelor) education spectrum. In 2022 the College became the first self-financed tertiary institution in Hong Kong offering the Certification Course for Kindergarten Principal. The main campus is situated in Tin Wan, while its city campus is located in Kowloon Tong.
YCCECE is deeply committed to nurturing new generations of passionate and inspired ECE professionals, who will have an enduring impact on the lives of numerous young children and their families, growing a better future together.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education Achieves Postgraduate Institutional Accreditation and Welcomes New President
The Philippines' top finance super app makes history as country's only $5 billion unicorn
MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rooted in its mission to democratize financial services, GCash, the leading finance app in the Philippines, celebrates 20 years of commitment to digital financial inclusion as the nation's first unicorn with a valuation exceeding $5 billion. This milestone highlights GCash's global influence and its role in empowering users in the Philippines and across the world.
By consistently delivering innovative and accessible financial solutions, GCash stands out as one of the few financially sustainable fintech companies worldwide, dedicated to bridging the financial divide for underserved communities.
Key investments from Ayala Corporation, one of the Philippines' largest and most diversified conglomerates, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Japan's leading financial institution, have more than doubled GCash's valuation from $2 billion in 2021. This recent funding round, which saw Ayala and MUFG each acquire an additional 8% stake in Mynt, the parent company of GCash, further solidifies GCash's position as a trailblazer in financial inclusion across Southeast Asia.
"These past 20 years, we have made strides to provide more Filipinos with access to financial services. Now, we want to take it a step further and be their partner towards financial health and wellness," GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon said. "Encouraged by the vision set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the United Nations towards digital financial inclusion, we will keep innovating to help Filipinos thrive everyday, be ready for a rainy day, and prepare for one day."
Redefining financial access
Since its inception, GCash has prioritized how technological innovations can help promote financial inclusion. Before the pandemic, only 29% had bank accounts, less than 1% had access to investments, and 2% held credit cards. With 47% of the population still unbanked, GCash leveraged digital tools to significantly broaden access to digital financial services. Beyond basic transactions, the finance super app offers innovative in-app credit services and affordable lending products like GCredit, GLoan, and GGives and has disbursed PHP 155 billion to 5.4 million unique borrowers, including underserved segments.
In wealth management and insurance, GFunds has on boarded 6.6 million users and handles 3 in 4 UITF transactions. Meanwhile, GStocks represents 1 in 5 PSE accounts with 682,000 users and GInsure protects 7.8 million Filipinos with 28 million policies sold, making investment products and financial protection more inclusive and responsive to the needs of Filipinos.
Financial empowerment across the Philippines and beyond
GCash's influence extends far beyond the country, solidifying its position as a global player in fintech. Through international remittance services, GCash Overseas, and Global Pay, GCash caters to the needs of millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and provides seamless financial services across borders. GCash Overseas allows Filipinos abroad to create GCash accounts using their international mobile numbers and send money back home, pay bills, and more from 16 countries and territories. Meanwhile, Global Pay enables Filipinos to use their GCash app in 47 countries at over 3 million merchants worldwide. This global expansion has also allowed GCash to become the second most-used finance app in the UAE, underscoring its global relevance.
GCash's services have not only increased the number of accounts but also redefined the demographics of financial inclusion. In fact, 90% of GCash users come from lower-income classes, 57% are women, and 74% reside outside Metro Manila. This inclusivity is a testament to GCash's commitment to being a "champion of digital financial inclusion," helping Filipinos thrive in their everyday lives, wherever they are.
A sustainable and inclusive future for all
Beyond financial inclusion, GCash is also committed to environmental and social sustainability, making it one of the few financially sustainable fintech companies globally. Through its GForest initiative, GCash has mobilized 17 million users to plant over 2.8 million trees, reducing carbon emissions by 138,000 metric tons. This reforestation effort not only contributes to environmental conservation but also provides livelihoods for over 8,600 farmers.
By continually evolving and expanding its offerings, GCash is poised to solidify its status as a leader in the global fintech arena, driving transformative change that not only helps Filipinos thrive every day but also enhances the broader financial ecosystem beyond the Philippine borders.
About GCash
GCash is the Philippines' #1 Finance Super App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. Its mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only $5 billion unicorn in the Philippines.
GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
GCash marks 20 years of pioneering digital financial inclusion in the Philippines and beyond
