Shaping Professionalization in the Field of Early Childhood Education and Care: Introducing the International Center PEP

In complex professional field, further educational training enables professionals to update and expand their knowledge and repertoire of actions. This also applies to early childhood educators in daycare centers and childcare facilities. The International Center for Professionalization of Elementary Education (PEP), founded at the University of Graz in the summer of 2020, offers various formats and further education content for the German-speaking region. Research and practice are interlinked in order to be able to develop scientifically sound materials and continuing education programs without losing sight of the (current) conditions and needs of practice. The fields of activity and some of the projects of the PEP are introduced in the article.