P.E.R. Play Explore Research, the project on play and learning, arrives in Hanoi, Vietnam

On September 27 and 28, a two-day seminar with educational institutions from Vietnam, China, and Korea, at the Hanoi National University of Education.                                                                

The event will open with speeches by the University, the Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Marco della Seta, and the Director of the Reggio Children Foundation, Cristian Fabbi.                                 

The P.E.R. Play Explore Research project on play and learning by Fondazione Reggio Children and The LEGO Foundation will be stopping off in Asia, in Hanoi, Vietnam, on September 27 and 28. After opening in Reggio Emilia in 2023, P.E.R.'s world tour has visited São Paulo in Brazil, Johannesburg in South Africa, Denver Colorado in the United States, Nairobi in Kenya, and now Hanoi in Vietnam, the sixth stop before concluding in November in Billund, Denmark.                  

The National University of Education in Hanoi will host the seminar “Nurturing Wellbeing: the intersection of Play, Education, and Research,” which will feature plenary sessions, workshops, and in-depth discussions with leading figures in education in Vietnam, China, and Korea. The aim of the project is to promote the exchange of experiences and knowledge between educators, teachers, experts, and policy makers in different countries on the theme of quality education linked to creativity and play, as well as to meet families and children from different backgrounds.              

The event will begin on Saturday morning with institutional speeches and presentations by partners. HNUE-Hanoi National University of Education will be represented by Associate Professor Nguyễn Văn Trào, Vice President of HNUE, Le Anh Lan, UNICEF Vietnam Education Specialist, representatives of the Department of Education and Training of the cities of Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Tri, and Can Tho, and representatives of partner universities and educational institutions throughout Vietnam.        

The Italian Ambassador to Vietnam, Marco della Seta, will deliver greetings on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, followed by the Reggio Children Foundation, chaired by Francesco Profumo, with a speech by its Director General, Cristian Fabbi, while The LEGO Foundation will be represented by Joe Savage, Head of Impact and Evidence.

The educational partners of the P.E.R. Vietnam project, who are participating in the seminar and organizing the workshops, will present their approach to learning and play. These include Aurora - International School of the Arts, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, VVOB Education for Development Vietnam, Experimental Kindergarten in Nanjing, China, and Zaone - The Material for Play-Play for the Earth, South Korea.

The program includes plenary sessions, in-depth discussions, and nine workshop proposals. The topics to be covered are: promoting educational policies to guarantee the right to quality education for every child, learning through play how to increase well-being at school, and concluding with the educational challenges of the future. The nine workshops will cover both education policies and play and learning activities: from building the pillars of quality education to storytelling through materials, dance and movement, exploring nature and plants, and the sound of languages.                   

The P.E.R. Play Explore Research project by Fondazione Reggio Children and The LEGO Foundation aims to promote a playful approach to learning and quality education for all, in both formal and informal educational contexts. The direct beneficiaries are children, through the key role of adults. By connecting theory and practice and promoting global dialogue between educators and researchers, P.E.R. aims to create learning opportunities through play that involve children, educators, and families, fostering creativity, growth, and the development of emotional and relational balance, while enhancing awareness and skills.