PROF. NIRMALA RAO
“My research focus on the development of psychometrically robust and culturally-sensitive measures of both early childhood development and the quality of Early Childhood Education”
Nirmala Rao
Ph.D., C. Psychol., FPBS, FHKPS
Human Communication, Development, and Information Sciences
Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam, Hong Kong
T: 852 3917 7604 | E: nrao@hku.hk
Welcome
Nirmala Rao is a Serena H C Yang Professor in Early Childhood Development and Education, Chair Professor of Child Development and Education, and Director of the Consortium for Research on Early Childhood Development and Education (CORE), Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong (HKU).
She is a Developmental and Chartered (Educational) Psychologist by training and has conducted research on early childhood development and education in Asian cultural contexts. Her work has focused on the development of psychometrically robust and culturally-sensitive measures of both early childhood development and the quality of Early Childhood Education; early educational policy in the Asia-Pacific; evaluation of early childhood programmes; and culture, policy and pedagogy in the early years.
Professor Rao has published widely; serves on the Editorial Board for premier scholarly journals; has participated in high-level international meetings; written advocacy materials, and undertaken consultancies for international organisations. She has received awards for both research and teaching. Furthermore, she has also had significant administrative leadership roles in the Faculty of Education and at the Graduate School of HKU. Nirmala holds a Ph.D. from Tulane University.
PROFESSIONAL LINKS
Leadership within the University of Hong Kong
Professor Rao has played a pivotal role in the development of early childhood programmes at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has had significant administrative leadership roles in the Faculty of Education, including:
1998-2002: Deputy Head of the Department of Education
2002-2005: Associate Dean (Centres and Outreach) for Faculty of Education
2006-2007: Interim Dean of the Faculty of Education for 18 months
2020-Present: Director of Consortium for Research on Early Childhood Development and Education
Her main contribution in terms of administrative service from 2010 to 2016 was to the Graduate School that oversees research postgraduate education in all ten Faculties of HKU.
2010-2013: Associate Dean
2014-2016: Dean
Recent Awards
Professor Rao has been recognised internationally over many years for her research into the development of young children. Some of her recent awards include:
2019
Sino-British Fellowship Trust Visitorship 2018-19 Visiting Research Fellow, Department of Education, University of Oxford (June 2019)
2019
Nehru Visiting Chair Professor, UGC - Center of Advanced Study in Human Development , MS University, Baroda, India (January 2019)
2018
HKU, University Outstanding Research Award (2017-2018)
2018
HKU, Faculty Knowledge Exchange Award 2018
2017
Hong Kong Research Grants Council
Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship
2015
Best of UNICEF Research - Validation, Finalization and Adoption of the East Asia-Pacific Early Child Development Scales (EAP-ECDS)
Professional Associations
Professional Memberships
Member
OMEP
World Organization of Early Childhood Education – Hong Kong
Member
NAEYC
National Association for the Education of Young Children (US)
Member
SRCD
Society for Research in Child Development
Fellow
HKPS
Hong Kong Psychological Society
Member
APA
American Psychological Association
Member
PECERA
Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association - HK
Member
HKCCR
Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights
Fellow
BPS
British Psychological Society
Editorial Board Membership
Associate Editor
Child Development
Child Development
Editorial Board
IJCCEP
International Journal of Child Care and Educational Policy
Editorial Board
APJRECE
Asia-Pacific Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education
Editorial Board
IJP
International Journal of Play
Recognitions & Indicators of Esteem
2020
UK Medical Research Council, Global Health Faculty of Experts
2016, 2018 and 2020
European Research Council, Panel Member Social Sciences and Humanities StG
2016 - 2020
Expert Advisor: Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) UNICEF, New York
WHO 2018 - Present
Project Advisory Group for Global Scale of Early Development (birth – 3 years)
2016
OECD Starting Strong Survey, Early Childhood Education and Care Expert Consultant, Questionnaire Expert Group
2015
Fellow of British Psychological Society
2015
UNESCO Paris; Expert member; International Advisory Group for the Survey of Teachers in Pre-Primary Education
2015
UNESCO, World Bank, Brookings Institution, and UNICEF Expert for the Measuring Early Learning Quality and Outcomes Project
2014
Steering Committee member 2017 Lancet Series on Early Child Development
2013-19
Associate Editor of Child Development, Impact Factor 4.891 Journal Citation Reports Ranking 2019:4/77 (Psychology, Developmental)
2013-14
Associate Editor of Developmental Psychology, Impact Factor 3.063
Since 2010
Participated in high level international meetings as an expert in early child development for international agencies/government advisory committees
2006 Onwards
UNICEF Consultancies: East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, Bhutan Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao, DPR Korea, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, NY UNESCO Consultancies: Asia Pacific Regional Bureau of Education, Paris