Fu Ying's Long-Term Commitment to Early Childhood Education Bears Fruit: Jo-Chih-Hsuan Honored as Outstanding Childcare Professional in Kaohsiung

Fu Ying University has long been dedicated to early childhood education and childcare services. The Fengshan Non-Profit Kindergarten in Kaohsiung, operated by the university, has earned strong recognition from parents for its professional teaching staff, attentive care, and healthy meal programs. Among its team, Childcare Group Leader Jo-Chih-Hsuan, who strives to 'lower her center of gravity, accompany children with warmth, and tirelessly cultivate early education,' has been honored with the 2026 Kaohsiung Outstanding Childcare Service Personnel Award. Her recognition stands as a testament to Fu Ying’s deep-rooted commitment to early childhood education.

Dr. Lin Chieh-Shih, President of Fu Ying University, noted that in the Kaohsiung City Education Bureau’s annual selection, only four individuals in the administrative category received the award. Jo’s achievement in standing out among numerous outstanding candidates is particularly commendable. Guided by the belief of 'using administration to support teaching and expertise to nurture children,' she has enhanced kindergarten operations through administrative optimization, curriculum development, and team empowerment, gradually creating a warm and locally distinctive learning environment.

President Lin emphasized that Jo’s award reflects not only her personal professional excellence but also Fu Ying University’s long-term investment in early childhood education, non-profit kindergarten management, and childcare talent development. In response to local family needs, the Fengshan Non-Profit Kindergarten plans to launch a baby class in the 2027 academic year, expanding childcare capacity and strengthening community-school connections.

Dr. Chang Ching-Min, Chair of the Department of Child Care and Industry at Fu Ying University and project lead for the kindergarten, has regularly participated in curriculum meetings and administrative coordination. She provides academic and practical support to the teaching team, guiding the development of school-based curricula and innovative teaching practices, ensuring academic expertise is effectively applied in real educational settings.

Dr. Chang highlighted that Fu Ying has consistently advanced early childhood education and childcare services by establishing industry-academia collaboration networks through non-profit kindergartens and public childcare centers. These initiatives offer students high-quality internship opportunities and transform childcare sites into vital hubs for cultivating educational talent.

Wang Pei-Yi, Director of Fengshan Non-Profit Kindergarten, praised Jo-Chih-Hsuan for her dual role as teacher and administrative leader. Beyond direct childcare, Jo has invested significant effort in improving kindergarten administration. Using modern management and innovative thinking, she has established systematic workflows, implemented performance evaluations and foundational assessments, and fostered team consensus, ensuring smooth achievement of operational goals.

Jo redesigned teaching activity forms, child observation records, and learning assessment formats, establishing a more comprehensive document management system. This has reduced teachers’ administrative burdens, allowing frontline educators to dedicate more time and energy to child engagement and teaching.

In environmental design, she actively revitalized underutilized spaces to create diverse learning scenarios. She also launched the kindergarten’s official social media platform to share teaching outcomes and educational philosophies, helping parents better understand their children’s learning journeys and further enhancing trust in the institution.

In curriculum development, Jo integrated 'local life' into children’s learning, designing experiential programs such as 'Little Farmers’ Market' and 'Community Explorers.' These initiatives take children into the community to explore daily life through traditional markets, metro systems, and local culture, extending learning beyond the classroom into familiar environments.

The kindergarten actively collaborates with community and external organizations, including the Cao Gong Mobile Library, Kaohsiung Medical University, the Ching-Ju Children’s Safety Foundation, Ci-Hui Hospital, and Linhai Day Care Center. Together, they promote child development screenings, intergenerational integration, and family education programs, positioning the kindergarten as a key platform for community exchange and resource integration.

Addressing challenges in childcare workforce development and retention, Jo helped establish professional growth mechanisms for teachers. Through classroom observations, teaching feedback, and professional workshops, she supports new teachers in adapting to the classroom and continuously improving their skills. She also prioritizes parent-teacher communication, building strong relationships that have earned high parental approval.

Jo expressed that the award is not a personal achievement but the result of the entire childcare team’s collective effort. Moving forward, she will continue to uphold her educational mission, deepening her commitment with professionalism and passion. She aims to develop a distinctive, school-based curriculum and foster a culture of continuous improvement to support every child’s healthy and joyful growth.

Dr. Chang noted that the Department of Child Care and Industry at Fu Ying University has long been engaged in early childhood education and childcare services. It currently operates the Fu Ying University Affiliated Kaohsiung City Kindergarten, Kaohsiung Xinjia Non-Profit Kindergarten, Kaohsiung Fengshan Non-Profit Kindergarten, Daliao Public Childcare and Parenting Resource Center, Linyuan Public Childcare and Parenting Resource Center, and the Xianji and Dongxing Non-Profit Kindergartens in Pingtung County.

The university will continue to strengthen industry-academia collaboration, integrating teaching, internships, and frontline childcare services to cultivate childcare professionals equipped with teaching expertise, administrative management, and practical skills. This synergy between higher education and on-site early childhood services will further elevate the quality of childcare across southern Taiwan.