Roundtable on Early Childhood Well-being Brings Together Key Stakeholders

On September 18, 2025, CARCEIT hosted the roundtable “Improving Well-being in the Preschool Education and Training System: Policy and Practice.” The event was part of the CARCEIT-funded project “Nurturing Young Minds: Exploring the Role of Positive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in the Health and Well-being of Young Children in Kazakhstan,” conducted in collaboration with the University of Melbourne. Led by Professor Daniel Hernández-Torrano (NUGSE), Principal Investigator of the project, and co-PI Professor Dianne Vella-Brodrick, Gerry Higgins Chair in Positive Psychology and Director of the Centre for Wellbeing Science at the University of Melbourne, the research team presented an overview of the project, key findings, and practical resources developed for educators and policymakers. The roundtable brought together stakeholders from government (Ministry of Education, Altynsarin Academy, Institute of ECEC), academia (e.g., Eurasian National University), UNICEF, and ECEC providers to reflect on how Kazakhstan can strengthen the well-being of young children. Participants exchanged perspectives on effective practices, challenges, and opportunities, before concluding with a Q&A that allowed for open dialogue and reflection. This event provided a valuable platform to share ideas, identify practical resources, and shape clear messages for both policy and practice aimed at supporting the holistic development and well-being of young children in Kazakhstan.