International Association of Early Childhood Education

　I am pleased to announce that I have been “reappointed” to serve a third term as President of the International Association of Early Childhood Education(IAECE), a general incorporated association. As you are aware, this society was formed in 1978 by the late Dr. Sadao Murayama (Professor Emeritus of Japan Women’s University) and others who were strongly interested in international exchange in early childhood education.It was incorporated as a general incorporated association in 2016, and now has approximately 300 members, researchers and graduate students in the fields of childcare and early childhood education, It is currently comprised of approximately 300 members, including researchers and graduate students in the fields of childcare and early childhood education, university faculty involved in the training of childcare professionals, and facility directors and childcare professionals at daycare centers, kindergartens, and certified childcare centers, all of whom are interested in early childhood education. I am very much aware of the weight of responsibility that someone like me has to assume the presidency of this society, which has such a history and tradition.

　Now, at the time of my inauguration (August 2019), there was no stipulation regarding the term of office of the President, but since I subsequently stipulated that I cannot be reappointed for more than two terms (four years), this term will be my last term (until the end of July 2025). The “Ten Ideas for the IAECE by 2025,” which I set forth at the time of my inauguration, is a kind of “manifesto” that I presented to the members, and this term will be the culmination of that manifesto. In the following, I will describe the challenges I will face until the end of my term, while self-examining the contents of “Bulletin No. 69” (issued in November 2019) when I took office for the first term and “Bulletin No. 73” (issued in November 2021) when I took office for the second term.

　<1> The 41st through 43rd Annual Conference had to be held online because the pandemic was not anticipated at the time of the inauguration, but new forms of annual meetings were created, including research presentations in Japanese, English, and Chinese, and international symposia and workshops that take advantage of the Web. The 44th Annual Meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan. And the recent 44th Annual Meeting (November 2023 @ Bangkok) was a great success, the first time in four years since the 40th Annual Meeting (Hawaii) in 2019 that it was held overseas and face-to-face. The next face-to-face meetings will be held in Chiba (2024), Los Angeles (2025), Shizuoka (2026), and every other year in Japan and overseas.

　<2> The number of submissions has increased dramatically, the journal is now rich in content and quality, and its registration with J-STAGE has been completed. The English version of the journal is now ready for submission to J-STAGE. We look forward to continued contributions of papers in both Japanese and English from both “domestic” and “overseas” members.

　<3> The newsletter, which is published twice a year, is now distributed electronically via e-mail, instead of being mailed in paper form. The design of the newsletter has also been carefully considered.

　<4> In August 2023, the JSCE website was renewed. In addition to enhancing the existing Japanese and English pages, we have newly added Chinese and Korean pages, enabling us to communicate the activities of the society to a wider overseas audience.

　<5> At the time of his inauguration, he stated that he would consider establishing new subcommittees in addition to the existing Music and Picture Book subcommittees, and that he would work to enhance the subcommittees. However, this has not been accomplished at this point, and is an issue for this term.

　<6> The pandemic has prompted us to explore new ways of conducting chapter activities via the Web. However, we have not achieved this goal at this point, and it is an issue to be addressed this term.

　<7> We will hold study groups twice a year via the web and provide a YouTube channel for missed study groups, making it easier (and more attractive) for members to participate. We will continue to enhance the content of the study groups by devising new ideas.

　<8> The enhancement of overseas exchanges is a major feature of the Society. In addition to the existing exchanges with the United States, China, and South Korea, we plan to strengthen ties with Thailand, Taiwan, and other Asian countries. We will also encourage “overseas members,” whose membership has been increasing in recent years, to participate in the annual conference and contribute papers (in English) to the journal.

　<9> In the wake of the pandemic, we have twice held Virtual School Visits, which have been well received. In addition, at the 44th Annual Meeting (November 2023 @ Bangkok), we held School Visit for the first time in 4 years. In the future, we will hold both virtual and realistic overseas training and seminars.

　<10> The Articles of Incorporation and Regulations were reviewed to limit the terms of office for the president, vice presidents, and chairpersons of various committees. This will make it possible to create a structure in which officers, regardless of age or gender, can be replaced on a regular basis and new ideas can be generated. In addition, the “Academic Contribution Award” was newly established. We are currently considering the establishment of a new “Conference Presentation Award (tentative name)” and would like to make efforts to encourge research presentations by members at the annual conference.

　Based on the above self-examination, my commitments until the end of my term are (1) to establish new subcommittees, (2) to enhance new chapter activities via the Web, (3) to further improve overseas exchanges, and (4) to establish a “Conference Presentation Award (tentative name)”. Although my remaining time is limited, I would like to devote myself to the development of the Society. I sincerely ask for the support of our members.