Western Sydney University (WSU) has joined forces with global early childhood innovator MindChamps to launch the Western Sydney University–MindChamps Academy, a landmark collaboration designed to shape the future of early childhood education.
The Academy, unveiled in Singapore in the presence of His Excellency Allaster Cox, Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, WSU Vice-Chancellor and President, and Mr David Chiem, Founder CEO & Executive Chairman of MindChamps, aims to create a future-ready model of early learning that blends cutting-edge research with world-class classroom practice.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Williams said the partnership would be transformative for both educators and children. “This partnership is about shaping the future of early childhood education,” he said. “We’re equipping the next generation of educators with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience they need to thrive in the classroom and make a meaningful impact on young children’s lives.”
The collaboration will open valuable pathways for early education students at WSU’s School of Education, providing placements in MindChamps centres across Australia. The partnership will also foster joint research in early literacy, neuroscience, bilingual education, and innovative pedagogy, with opportunities for shared expertise and international collaboration.
MindChamps Founder and CEO David Chiem said the Academy reflected a shared vision for how early learning must evolve in the age of artificial intelligence. “In an era of rapid change and AI transformation, the Champion Mindset is essential from the very start,” Mr Chiem said. “Through this Academy, we’re empowering early learning educators with world-class training, grounded in the latest research, to make a lasting impact in every classroom.”
Australian High Commissioner Allaster Cox praised the partnership for its innovative approach. “Mixing psychology, neuroscience, theatre, music, and science to help young learners develop a creative mindset is tremendous,” he said. “In this new era of AI, early childhood education will become even more important.”
The WSU–MindChamps Academy represents a significant step forward in connecting Australian higher education with global industry and community partners — and in reimagining what high-quality, research-informed early learning can look like worldwide.
