Nirmala Rao

The University of Hong Kong
Professor

Nirmala Rao is a Professor in the Faculty of Education and Associate Dean, The Graduate School, at The University of Hong Kong. She is a Developmental and Chartered (Educational) Psychologist. She has been recognized for her work on early childhood development and on child development and education and has been praised for garnering international recognition for Asian research in early child development by elevating its quality and visibility. Her research program concerns the influences of early home and preschool experiences on early child development and the policies which affect them. Her work is underpinned by the belief that systematically conducted empirical studies should inform educational and social policy relevant to children and their families, and by a commitment to equity, particularly in relation to access to education for girls and children who are disadvantaged. She has conducted policy-relevant, longitudinal program evaluation research in low resource environments in Cambodia, China and India. Professor Rao has also studied parenting practices and preschool quality in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. She is currently developing a population-level measure of early child development for countries in the Asia and Pacific. Recognition of her research is reflected in her publications and requests to provide technical expertise and consultancy for the UN and its associated agencies and other invitations to serve on high-level committees concerned with child development in the developing world. She also has leadership roles in international professional organizations which aim to promote the well-being of young children through research and advocacy efforts.

Working Group

Early Childhood Interventions (ECI)

Additional Information

Email: nrao@hku.hk
Homepage: http://www0.hku.hk/education/academic_staff/nrao/