NIEC Celebrates Success of 5th Anniversary Conference: "Inspiring Excellence in Early Childhood Practice"

SINGAPORE, Oct. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) hosted its inaugural international conference on 17–18 October 2024 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, in celebration of its 5^th anniversary. The event gathered more than 1,000 local and overseas early childhood (EC) leaders, experts, and educators to share insights, foster connections, and explore the latest trends in early childhood education.

NIEC Director & CEO Mrs Loke-Yeo Teck Yong reflected, "I am truly inspired by the vibrant discussions and exchanges that took place at NIEC Conference. This event puts EC educators at the heart of practice and successfully provided a platform to share insights on their professional development, wellbeing, and best practices for children. NIEC is committed to working with our partners to support and empower the early childhood fraternity to give their best to children and families. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a brighter future for our youngest learners."

NIEC to be the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Leadership 

Guest of Honour, Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing, announced plans for NIEC to become the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Leadership. Since its inception in 2019, NIEC has played a vital role in uplifting EC educator training, enhancing their professional development and facilitating professional exchanges in the area of EC leadership. As the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Leadership, NIEC will serve as a thought leader in EC leadership development by engaging and collaborating with NIE Centre for Research in Child Development (CRCD) and the NUS Centre for Holistic Initiatives for Learning and Development (CHILD) on research projects related to early childhood leadership. 

NIEC will also facilitate the formation of communities of practice and networks for EC centre leaders, promoting best practices through peer learning and mentoring. As the key EC leadership training institute, NIEC will ensure quality professional development through robust training that incorporates various modalities and innovative methods. Partnering the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), NIEC will take bearing from the sectoral Leadership Development Framework to ensure consistency of its EC leadership-related training to meet ground needs.  

A new initiative, "Coaching Matters," supported and funded by the Lien Foundation, will develop a pool of trained and certified early childhood leadership coaches to mentor aspiring leaders from NIEC leadership programmes. This initiative aims to transform the dynamics between leaders and teachers, promoting a culture of coaching and sustainable practices where educators uplift one another to enhance quality in the early childhood sector.

Ms Desiree Tan, Quality Assurance Manager at E-Bridge Pre-school Pte Ltd, lauded the initiative, stating: "The Centre of Excellence for EC Leadership is an outstanding initiative as it offers a common platform for professional discourse amongst early childhood leaders. Through this, there will be more collaborative efforts amongst EC leaders and this greatly benefits children's learning and development".

NIEC as a Home for all EC Educators 

In NIEC's efforts to build a supportive fraternity and help professionals foster strong bonds in the early childhood sector, Minister Chan emphasised that NIEC would serve as a home for all EC educators. To this end, NIEC is committed to establishing a welcoming environment for educators to interact with faculty, fellow professionals, current students, alumni, and other experts.

In 2026, NIEC will consolidate its current headquarters and CET operations at the premises made available at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. This consolidation will allow NIEC to gather EC educators together to exchange ideas, engage in professional development initiatives, and interact with one another.

Ms Joyce Teo, Vice Principal at Little Skool-House Kent Vale, expressed her appreciation for this development: "It's reassuring to have a community to return to, where I can connect with people who share similar goals and challenges. Being part of the NIEC community makes me feel more connected with other early childhood educators, and less isolated."

Although programmes will continue to be conducted at the Institute of Technical Education, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and Temasek Polytechnic campuses, all NIEC students and staff are welcome at the consolidated campus to engage in greater cross-campus collaboration, share learning and teaching resources, and foster robust support networks.

Highlights of the NIEC Conference

The conference features three main topic strands—Professional Development, Pedagogy and Curriculum, and Trends, Policy and Local Research—highlighted by presentations from distinguished speakers:

Professor Kenneth Poon highlighted the significance of the event, "The NIEC Conference is a landmark gathering that brings together stakeholders from across the early childhood sector to address pressing issues. By integrating findings from international research, local expertise, and practical wisdom, the conference fosters a deeper understanding informed by evidence and grounded in the realities of local practice. This is a fitting celebration of NIEC's 5th anniversary, showcasing its valuable contributions to the sector." 

Professor Patricia Jennings also emphasised the importance of holistic approaches in early childhood education, "The NIEC conference underscores that improving early childhood programming is multifaceted. It requires system-level changes that provide educators with the necessary support, alongside professional learning opportunities that help them develop the well-being, social, and emotional competencies needed to create and maintain environments that promote child development."

Professor Lynn Ang remarked, "It is amazing to see the journey that NIEC has undertaken in the last five years. Excellent early childhood education requires excellent preschool teachers. It is a fantastic achievement to see so many early childhood educators engaged in training and professional development to ensure all children in Singapore thrive and flourish!"

NIEC extends its gratitude to all sponsors, partners, and participants who contributed to the success of this event.

For more information about the conference, please visit the NIEC Website.

About the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC)

NIEC is the national training institute set up in 2019 by the Ministry of Education to deliver quality training to Singapore's early childhood (EC) educators at every career stage. NIEC provides a full range of certificates and diplomas for post-secondary students and mid-careerists embarking on their EC journey. In-service educators may also take Post-diplomas and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses with NIEC to deepen their EC skills. For more information, please visit www.niec.edu.sg. 

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

NIEC Celebrates Success of 5th Anniversary Conference: "Inspiring Excellence in Early Childhood Practice"

Partnership with Solarvest Energy Sdn Bhd Significantly Reduces Carbon Dioxide Emissions Across Nine Hospitals in The Country

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Asia, one of Malaysia's largest chain of private hospitals and part of Asia OneHealthcare (A1Health) has officially completed the installation of its solar panel system throughout nine hospitals across Malaysia, underscoring Columbia Asia's commitment to driving sustainable healthcare and advancing towards a greener environment.

The solar panel system, activated in partnership with Solarvest Energy Sdn Bhd (Solarvest), has been generating renewable energy since the installation began in December 2023. Using solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity, this system produces 4.039 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of green energy each year – which is enough to light up 34,300 bulbs each year while significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2,505 tonnes. The system has also lived up to its cost-saving potential, generating a total of RM2.7 million in energy cost savings since the project began.

"At Columbia Asia, we're always looking for innovative ways to improve our patient care. This solar panel system not only helps us reduce our environmental impact but also allows us to reinvest in upgrading our facilities and services, ensuring that our patients receive the best possible care," commented Columbia Asia Support Service Vice President Mohd Kamarul Salleh. "This partnership with Solarvest in implementing this solar panel system marks a significant step forward in Columbia Asia's journey to reduce our environmental carbon footprint and become more energy-conscious. The solar panel system reduces carbon emissions and allows cost savings from solar power generation to be reinvested in upgrading facilities and services to serve our patients better."

The solar panel construction project was rolled out in two phases, equipping 11 buildings across nine hospitals nationwide. These include the pilot project in Columbia Asia Hospital - Iskandar Puteri followed by other Columbia Asia hospitals in Tebrau, Setapak, Cheras, Petaling Jaya, Bukit Rimau, Klang, Seremban, and Taiping.

"In line with Malaysia's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, we are committed to setting industry benchmarks and inspiring other healthcare organizations to join us on this journey. By adopting environmentally-friendly practices and transitioning to greener energy sources, we aim to reduce our carbon footprint significantly. We believe that collective action across the industry is essential to not only protect our environment but also to ensure a more resilient and cost-effective energy supply for the long term," Kamarul continued.

Beyond the solar panel system, Columbia Asia hospitals and other facilities under A1Health are actively implementing various initiatives to support environmentally friendly policies aligned with national goals. These include the Malaysia Renewable Energy Roadmap (MyRER) introduced in 2021 and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) introduced in 2022, both of which promote the adoption of solar power as a renewable energy source. Current and future projects include phasing out the use of desflurane, a potent anaesthetic agent that has higher greenhouse gas emissions than other anaesthetic options, reducing single-use plastics in line with the Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021–2023, installing electric vehicle charging stations, and upgrading to LED lighting across all facilities.

To learn more about Columbia Asia, visit www.columbiaasia.com/malaysia.

About Columbia Asia

Columbia Asia Group of hospitals, established in Malaysia in 1996, is an international healthcare company operating medical facilities in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Columbia Asia Hospitals are part of Asia OneHealthcare, majority-owned by Hong Leong Group and the global alternative asset management firm, TPG.  Since its inception, Columbia Asia has been dedicated in providing top-notch healthcare services across Southeast Asia for more than two decades. With 20 advanced medical facilities in Malaysia (14), Indonesia (5), and Vietnam (1) strategically located in densely populated areas, it aims to provide the best care possible closer to home with its tagline "Right Here For You". 

Columbia Asia's emphasis is on early detection of diseases by way of advanced technology for precise diagnostics, resulting in more minimally invasive procedures. To fulfil the typical healthcare needs of communities, from disease prevention to treatment, Columbia Asia offers core disciplines such as obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics, and general surgery. It also provides tertiary healthcare addressing more complex fields of medicine such as neurosurgery, cardiac disease treatments, and integrated cancer care. As communities grow, Columbia Asia hospitals expand in order to accommodate increased healthcare needs.  

Columbia Asia upholds strict clinical governance and medical ethics, leading to outstanding patient care outcomes. Accredited by the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH), Columbia Asia hospitals are recognized for excellence in standards and service delivery. Its mission remains to foster healthier communities by making quality healthcare accessible and advocating for preventative measures.  

Columbia Asia. Right Here For You. 

About Asia OneHealthcare 

Asia OneHealthcare (A1Health) is a leading healthcare provider in the region, uniting 32 hospitals across Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia under one brand. Formed by the integration of CAH Medical Centres (formerly Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care), Columbia Asia Hospitals, and five esteemed super-specialty hospitals including ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital, Beacon Hospital, CVSKL, Hospital Picaso, and Northern Heart Hospital Penang, we are setting new standards in medical excellence.

With 23 hospitals in Malaysia, 8 in Indonesia, and 1 in Vietnam, A1Health offers a comprehensive range of secondary to quaternary and super-specialty services. Our facilities, with over 4,000 beds, are dedicated to personalised care.

We leverage the collective expertise and advanced technologies of our network to provide the latest in healthcare, delivered by highly skilled professionals. Our mission is to achieve the best outcomes in the most accessible, effective, efficient, and caring environment. Upholding our tagline, "Right Here For You," we are committed to offering compassionate, expert care to every patient.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Columbia Asia Harnesses Solar Energy for Sustainable Healthcare