Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Fengling Tang is Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, Centre for Learning, Teaching and Human Development, School of Education, Froebel College, University of Roehampton. She had worked in schools and further education in China and a nursery school in London before she joined the Early Childhood Studies and Early Childhood Research Centre at University of Roehampton. She is currently Programme Leader for Froebel certificate course. She has been teaching on BA/MA programmes and supervising doctoral students as Director of Studies and Co-supervisor. She has undertaken roles of External Examiner in HE and School Governor in the UK. She has published articles in peer reviewed journals: Early Years: An International Journal of Research and Development; Childhood Education: Infancy Through Early Adolescence; Diaspora, Indigenous, and Minority Education; History of Education; and Problemy Wczesnej Edukacji.
Qualifications
BA, PGdip, MA, PGCert, PhD
Research interests
Her research interests include the following areas:
- children’s rights and participation
- children’s identities, spirituality and wellbeing
- equity, inclusion and social justice in education and society
- Froebelian perspectives and history of education
- play and creativity in early childhood
- children's bilingual language development and Chinese culture
- early childhood pedagogy and professionalism
- sustainability in education
- research and teaching in higher education
Research projects
Fengling Tang (2023-2024) Shifting youth environmental activism from public imagination to community engagement: implications for education for sustainability in the 21st century, funded by British Educational Research Association (BERA): BERA Brian Simon Fund Winners
Fengling Tang (Principal Investigator) and Juan Zhao (Co-investigator) (2022-2023) Spirituality in early childhood pedagogy: a Froebelian approach in Chinese and English contexts, open call research grant funded by the Froebel Trust. https://www.froebel.org.uk/research-library/spirituality-in-early-childhood-pedagogy-a-froebelian-approach-in-chinese-and-english-contexts
Evelyn Corrado (Principal Investigator), Fengling Tang (Co-investigator), and Arif Mahmud (Co-investigator) Exploring experiences of students and staff in HE institutions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sigrid Brogaard-Clausen, Sofia Guimaraes, Fengling Tang and Clara Rubiano (2018-2019) Wellbeing and democratic living in early childhood curricular policies - Chinese, Colombian, Danish, English and Portuguese Curricula analysis in the context of the International Early Learning and Wellbeing study developments
Early childhood assessment: an international perspective (2016-2017), research grant funded by Education International, led by Professor Mathias Urban, Early Childhood Research Centre
Fengling Tang (2010-2012) Young children's computer-based learning experience in early years settings, funded by the Froebel Trust
Fengling Tang and Sue Robson (2008-2009) The Role of the E-Portfolio in Promoting the Quality of Learning and Teaching: a Pilot Study of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) BA Primary Education Early Childhood Studies Subject Specialism, funded by Teaching and Development Agency
The completed PhD research project (2004-2008) A comparative ethnographic case study of the early years curriculum in Chinese and English settings, funded by School of Education University of Roehampton, supervised by Professor Kevin Brehony, Professor Geoff Troman, Ms Shirley Maxwell and Professor Hanlin Yang
Fengling Tang (2003-2004) Play worked hard: re-interpretation of Froebel's concept of play, MA dissertation submittted to University of Surrey. This dissertation won Froebel Guild Award in 2005 from the National Froebel Foundation.
Teaching
Froebel Professional Certificate Course in Early Childhood: Froebelian Principles and Practice (CPD)
BA Early Childhood Studies: Froebelian Perspectives; Studying Young Children; Children and Families; Early Childhood Stuides Transfer module; Research Proposal; Parents, Professionals and the Balance of Power; Professionalism and Advocacy; Leadership, Partnership and Multidisciplinary Teamwork; Unequal Childhoods
MA Early Childhood Studies: Exploring the Froebelian Legacy in Early Childhood Practice
External positions
Co-convenor for BERA Early Childhood Education and Care Special Interest Group , British Educational Research Association
Membership of Early Childhood Studies Degree Network Policy, Lobbying and Advocacy Strategy Group , Early Childhood Studies Degree Network
Membership of Holistic Wellbeing Special Interest Group , European Early Childhood Education Research Association
Executive committee member , International Froebel Society
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Shifting Youth Environmental Activism from the Public Imagination to Community Engagement: Implications for Education for Sustainability in the 21st Century
Tang, F. (PI)
26/06/23 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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Spirituality in early childhood pedagogy: a Froebelian approach in Chinese and English contexts
Tang, F. (PI) & Zhao, J. (CoI)
31/03/22 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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Joint research project on BAME student experiences in higher education during the Covid-19 pandemic
Corrado, E. W. (PI) & Tang, F. (CoI)
4/10/21 → 16/12/22
Project: Research
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Wellbeing and democratic living in early childhood curricular policies
Brogaard Clausen, S. (CoPI), Guimaraes, S. (CoPI), Tang, F. (CoPI) & Rubiano, C. (CoPI)
3/09/18 → 20/12/19
Project: Research
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Assessment in early childhood: an international perspective
Urban, M. (PI), Elfer, P. (CoI), Howe, S. (CoI), Palser, M. (CoI), Robson, S. (CoI), Tang, F. (CoI) & Zachariou, A. (CoI)
1/10/15 → 31/10/17
Project: Research
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Nurturing children's spiritual development in early childhood context
Tang, F., 1 Dec 2022, Foundation Stage Forum .Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Featured article
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Young Children’s Participation in Homeschooling During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Reflective Case Study From England
Tang, F., 9 Jun 2023, Establishing Child Centred Practice in a Changing World, Part B. FRANKEL, S. (ed.). 1 ed. UK: Emerald, Vol. II. p. 91-108 18 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Spirituality in early childhood pedagogy: a Froebelian lens on the role of women in a Chinese context
Tang, F. & Zhao, J., 30 Nov 2023, The Bloomsbury Handbook to Friedrich Froebel. Bruce, T., Nishida, Y., Powell, S., Wasmuth, H. & Whinnett, J. (eds.). London: Bloomsbury, p. 372-380 9 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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A Froebelian approach to nurturing young children’s spiritual growth
Tang, F., 5 Sept 2024, (Unpublished) A Froebelian approach to nurturing young children’s spiritual growth.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
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Children’s perspectives on social and environmental justice
Tang, F., 10 Sept 2024, (Unpublished) Children’s perspectives on social and environmental justice .Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
Prizes
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Play worked hard: reinterpretation of Froebel’s concept of play
Tang, F. (Recipient), 2005
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Social-cultural theory in early childhood
Tang, F. (Chair)
9 Feb 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an academic event › Participation in academic workshop, seminar, course
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Community engagement workshop
Tang, F. (Organiser)
25 Jan 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an academic event › Participation in academic workshop, seminar, course
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Workshop - Hindu and Buddhist ways of caring for the environment
O'Brien-Kop, K. (Keynote speaker) & Tang, F. (Organiser)
14 Mar 2024Activity: Public engagement and outreach › Workshop and other training
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British Education Research Association Socio-cultural theory in early childhood practice conference
Garaloska, A. (Speaker) & Tang, F. (Speaker)
9 Feb 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an academic event › Participation in academic workshop, seminar, course
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Environmental sustainability workshop
Steenkamp, B. (Keynote speaker) & Tang, F. (Organiser)
22 Feb 2024Activity: Public engagement and outreach › Workshop and other training
Thesis
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A comparative ethnographic case study of the early years curriculum in Chinese and English settings
Tang, F. (Author), Troman, G. (Supervisor) & Maxwell, S. (Supervisor), 2008Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
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