Expanding Professional Resources

     I am currently investigating the EECERA (European Early Childhood Education Research Association)  I have applied for membership and awaiting to hear how membership fees will be collected.  In any case I've learned that the EEC Educator Research Journal is published 4 times a year and is one of only 4 early years journals indexed by the Institute for Scientific Information.  I am curious as to what journals constitute the other three.  More to come on that.

EECERA is an independent, self-governing, international association which promotes and disseminates multi-disciplinary research on early childhood and its applications to policy and practice.EECERA is a non-profit organisation, wholly-owned and subscribed to by its substantial and influential world-wide membership. It generates its own revenue, receives no external funding [I find this part intriguing] and thus ensures its independence, radical attitude and innovative openness.  (EECERA, n.d.)

     In the past I have been mildly concerned with the NAEYC's sources and methods of funding here in the U.S.  As we as Walden students, access information and recommendations from the NAEYC, I am aware in the back of my mind that Walden University provides financial support for the NAEYC.  I have at this time no opinions (for or against) regarding this connection between Walden and the NAEYC.  The connection is simply noted.  This is why I find that the EECERA's policy of not accepting or soliciting external funding refreshing.

The EECERA currently supports 11 Special Interest Groups within their organization.  Each group has a minimum of two chairs, and they must be of different nationalities.  The groups are designed to discuss and share ideas about their given topics.  Sometimes these groups get together for conferences in addition to the annual conference the EECERA hosts in Europe.

References:

EECERA. (n.d.).European Early Childhood Education Research Association. Retrieved May 11, 2012, from http://www.eecera.org/