Huichao Xie

Dr. Huichao Xie is an Assistant Professor in Education at University College Dublin (UCD), specializing in early childhood special and inclusive education. She holds a PhD in Special Education from the University of Oregon and has held academic positions at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and teaching roles in early childhood education in China and the U.S. Her research focuses on culturally sensitive assessment practices, family engagement in early intervention, and inclusive education policies. Dr. Xie has led three grant projects at NTU and received a Research Excellence Award (2022). She currently coordinates modules on Inclusive Education, Early Childhood Inclusion, and Professional Development for Special Needs Assistants at UCD.

• Education:
  • PhD in Special Education, University of Oregon (U.S.)
  • MSc in Special Education, University of Oregon
  • MEd, South China Normal University
  • LLB, Sun Yat-Sen University
• Key Roles:
  • Head of Teaching & Learning, UCD School of Education (2024–present)
  • Director, National Online Training for SNAs (UCD, 2023–present)
  • Assistant Professor, NTU National Institute of Education (2019–2023)

Research interests emphasize culturally responsive interventions for young children (birth–8 years) facing environmental/biological risks, with particular focus on family empowerment and inclusive education systems. Recent work includes evaluating Singapore’s Classroom Support Program for low-income families and validating screening tools like the ASQ-SE in diverse cultural contexts (China, Brazil, Taiwan). Dr. Xie also serves on editorial boards for Pedagogies and two other journals, reflecting her commitment to advancing scholarship in early childhood education.

Grants include the 2025 UCD-funded 'EMBRACE' project to improve researcher communication. Awards highlight her contributions to early intervention research. Teaching activities span postgraduate courses on inclusive education, autism support, and research methods, reflecting her dual focus on practice and theory.