Latest news with #NIE
CNA
4 days ago
- General
- CNA
From classroom to curriculum: How one educator is rethinking teaching for today's learners
As director of the Media, Arts & Design School at Singapore Polytechnic, Mr Mark Lu believed that giving students creative freedom in their learning was the best way to impart knowledge. Interestingly, not all his classmates at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NIE NTU, Singapore), saw it the same way. Two fellow students in the Master of Education (Curriculum and Teaching) programme – one from the military and the other from healthcare – shared a contrasting perspective. In their fields, strict adherence to instructions was often critical, with real consequences in life-or-death situations. This eye-opening insight into the need for different teaching approaches deepened Mr Lu's interest in education. Mr Lu had enrolled in the part-time graduate programme at NIE after a conversation with his supervisor sparked a realisation: He wanted to better understand education policy, pedagogy and curriculum, and how he could better support lecturers in their work. LEARNING FROM MANY, TEACHING FOR ALL With over 30 graduate programmes and courses designed to sharpen critical thinking, enhance professional skills and open up new career paths, NIE attracts a growing number of students from a wide range of industries and countries. Their diverse perspectives and experiences enrich classroom discussions and learning for everyone. This diversity mirrors the changing student population in polytechnics. Mr Lu observed that today's polytechnic students come from increasingly varied educational backgrounds and life stages. Many are working adults returning as full-time students or trainees, each with their own goals and life experiences. As a result, polytechnic lecturers must adopt a flexible mindset and be equipped to teach both technical and soft skills. 'They need to design meaningful classroom experiences that inspire and motivate students from all walks of life and help them work toward their aspirations,' Mr Lu explained. 'At the same time, they have to balance a rigorous curriculum that builds resilience with an awareness of students' well-being.' In such a setting, having a wide-ranging community of fellow educators is important. Mr Lu, who graduated in January this year, said that the diverse student body at NIE was his favourite part of the programme. 'I met classmates from countries like China and Vietnam, and others from fields like the military, nursing, human resources and private education. Each of them is an educator in their own way, and they brought very different yet valuable perspectives on curriculum and teaching.' Mr Lu added that his NIE chat groups remain active. One of his classmates even works in the same polytechnic, though in a different school, and they've explored opportunities to collaborate. For Mr Lu, the graduate programme at NIE offered more than just academic knowledge – it refined his understanding of the many factors and stakeholders involved in shaping curriculum decisions and education policy. 'The course on globalisation and curriculum reform gave me a broader view of Singapore's education landscape and helped me better understand why schools are structured and managed the way they are,' he shared. He especially appreciated how classroom assignments encouraged students to apply what they learned to real-world contexts. Rather than working through fixed case studies, Mr Lu and his classmates were asked to explore how key concepts played out in their own workplaces. 'This pushed me to think more critically about my work and how I can better support both lecturers and students in my school,' he said. Before taking on the role of director, Mr Lu led his school's transdisciplinary unit – a team focused on developing a curriculum that helps students build transdisciplinary skills. This approach encourages students to draw from different disciplines and integrate multiple perspectives when solving problems. With insights gained from NIE courses on curriculum development, Mr Lu and his team designed a series of transdisciplinary studio projects, where students from different creative disciplines worked together to solve social issues and industry briefs innovatively. These projects received positive feedback from industry partners, who were impressed by the students' ideas. Thanks to the research courses he took at NIE, Mr Lu was also able to collaborate with his colleagues on developing a three-year longitudinal study examining the impact of his school's transdisciplinary curriculum. The study has since been presented at both local and international academic conferences. 'Through the transdisciplinary curriculum, our students are becoming more comfortable with ambiguity and more willing to take creative risks – traits that are essential in any creative field,' Mr Lu noted. 'We're now working on developing our own instrument to measure transdisciplinary thinking.' Enrolling in NIE and becoming a student again has reshaped Mr Lu's perspective. Once focused mainly on day-to-day teaching, he now views his work through a broader, more philosophical lens. He is also keen to continue an educational journey that he finds deeply fulfilling. 'I believe continuous learning is a fundamental part of our work. We don't just teach for others to learn – we learn to teach, and we keep learning while we teach. Though I've completed my Master's programme at NIE, I am excited to learn more when I embark on my PhD in August.' Applications for the January 2026 graduate intake at NIE NTU, Singapore, are now open. Apply by Jun 19, 2025, for coursework programmes, and Jul 24, 2025, for research programmes.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
NIE, Amazon Web Services set up AI innovation hub in NTU to boost trainee teachers' tech skills
AWS Singapore country manager Priscilla Chong showing summit attendees on May 25 local enterprises that are using its services. PHOTO: AWS SINGAPORE – Trainee teachers, students and staff at the National Institute of Education (NIE) can get direct access to artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technology from industry giant Amazon Web Services (AWS). The institute has joined forces with AWS to set up a Technology for Education Centre at its Nanyang Technological University campus. Their three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) was announced at the May 29 AWS Summit held at Marina Bay Sands, which drew more than 5,000 attendees. NIE hopes the collaboration – the first for the 75-year-old institute with an industry player – will be the start of more such links so that student teachers will be better equipped in AI and cloud skills. NIE director Liu Woon Chia told a briefing that students will be mentored by both faculty and AWS specialists to apply AI to the real world, such as designing tools for students with special needs. The tech centre, which will be housed temporarily in a converted classroom when the new term starts in August, will eventually have its own premises in a new annex building. AWS training programmes will be included in the curriculum, with students earning credits on completion. There are also plans to co-host hackathons, hands-on workshops and student-led forums to discuss ethical AI in education. NIE director Liu Woon Chia (left) and AWS Worldwide Public Sector Singapore country manager Elsie Tan signed the MOU on May 26. PHOTO: AWS Professor Liu said the centre is 'going to be a space where students, faculty or staff can come in and say, 'Hey, I've got this problem in education that I think we should have a better solution. Now, let's discuss and talk to AWS experts.'' More than 1,000 trainees graduate from NIE each year and go on to teach in Singapore schools. It also enrols master and doctoral degree students. AWS also announced at the conference about its AI Spring Singapore programme, which it launched in 2024 to support Singapore's AI blueprint. The US company, which has operated here for 15 years, has pledged investments and support for the public sector, local workforce, enterprises and start-ups, community and research. Its programme activities over the past year include hosting a sandbox environment for Synapxe, Singapore's national HealthTech agency; providing computing and AI resources to Temasek Polytechnic; and working with AI Singapore to create the Asean Large Language Model League competition. The tech firm, which recorded revenue of US$107 billion (S$138 billion) in 2024, is the world's largest hyperscaler, or large-scale cloud service provider, with an almost one-third share of the market. At the summit, Mr Adrien Desbaillets, chief executive of food chain SaladStop!, demonstrated its AWS-hosted AI assistant LuLu, which it plans to launch in September. The conversational voice bot combines data of popular ingredient pairings, menu availability, customer order history and real-time request to personalise a salad bowl recommendation. It also listed the meal's carbohydrate, healthy fat and protein amounts. When a customer says she does not like edamame, the bot will suggest replacing the green bean with tofu, adding that there is no drop in protein value. SaladStop! plans to go beyond its stores to sell its food direct to organisations such as hospitals and fitness centres. Mr Desbaillets said: 'For us, the chatbot experience is incredible. We believe it's could be so much bigger than our 80 outlets today. We can really take things to a whole new level.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
NIE, Amazon Web Services set up AI-focused innovation hub for edtech research
[SINGAPORE] The National Institute of Education (NIE) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Thursday (May 29) announced the launch of the Technology for Education Centre (TEC) – a new initiative aimed at driving applied innovation and research in the space of education technology. A three-year memorandum of understanding was signed between the two organisations for this venture. The partnership is expected to facilitate research and experimentation with emerging technologies in education, including artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. NIE is an autonomous institute within Nanyang Technological University (NTU). TEC will be located on NIE's campus, and is designed as a collaborative hub where student teachers, academics and education researchers can prototype and test new learning tools. It will be housed in a new annex building at NIE, as part of an initiative to refresh the campus, and will be ready around the same time as the opening of Nanyang Crescent MRT station, which will serve the NTU Smart Campus. The centre is fundamentally intended to provide an environment for both the development of edtech and its application in real-world settings. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 3 pm Thrive Money, career and life hacks to help young adults stay ahead of the curve. Sign Up Sign Up The initiative supports Singapore's broader ambitions under the National AI Strategy 2.0 to develop an AI-ready workforce. It also aligns with the community pillar of AWS' ongoing AI Spring Singapore programme, which is designed to equip 5,000 individuals with AI skills from 2024 to 2026. In May 2024, AWS announced that it would be investing S$12 billion in Singapore's cloud infrastructure by 2028, with its expected contribution to Singapore's gross domestic product at S$23.7 billion, while supporting more than 12,000 jobs annually. One of TEC's early goals will be to advance cloud-based learning and upskilling for educators. Resources such as AWS Skill Builder and cloud simulations will be made available to help participants strengthen their digital competencies. Additionally, the centre will support applied research projects that seek to integrate AI and analytics into teaching practices and policy development in Singapore. NIE director Professor Liu Woon Chia said the partnership will help to 'shape the future through ethical and inclusive use of technology' at a media briefing. 'We must teach our teachers differently so they can ensure students learn differently, paving the way for an education that is future-ready.' The venture also includes student-driven service-learning initiatives that leverage generative AI tools such as Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Q Developer to address community challenges. TEC will serve as a training ground through workshops, hackathons and forums that explore ethical issues related to AI in education, such as data privacy and bias, in addition to prototyping and research. When asked about the number of students that will benefit from this initiative, Prof Liu said every student teacher at NIE will have the opportunity to experience the process of learning and solutionising with AI at TEC. 'Not all students may be involved in the creation of prototypes, but we are confident that many will want to be involved.' Elsie Tan, AWS' country manager, public sector (Singapore), said the partnership highlights the role of educators in preparing future-ready workers. 'We are helping to equip the education sector for the digital age by combining NIE's pedagogical leadership with AWS' cloud capabilities,' she said. Position on industry partners While AWS is the first industry partner, Prof Liu noted that it would not be the only one. 'Right now, AWS is a front runner in terms of technology expertise. At NIE, we know the pedagogy and our students, so this collaboration will allow us to accelerate a tech-enabled education we envision,' she said. Prof Liu said 'an experimental space' setting is envisaged for the TEC, where students, faculty and AWS specialists can collaborate in an environment where solutions can be developed to meet the needs of students and society at large. 'We want some student teachers working on certain projects to be able to work with the people at TEC to build their prototypes and create solutions with the technology available,' she said.
Zawya
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Emirates College for Advanced Education and National Institute of Education in Singapore host symposium
Abu Dhabi: The Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE), in collaboration with the National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore, and with the support of the UAE Embassy, held a high-level symposium in Singapore titled Reimagining the Future of Teaching & Learning in the Age of AI: Values-Driven Human Flourishing, highlighting the growing cooperation between the UAE and Singapore in future-focused education. The event brought together senior policymakers, academics, and researchers to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in education. The symposium explored key questions shaping the future of learning, including the evolving role of educators in the AI era and the design of education systems that prioritise student growth, equity, ethics, and professional excellence. In his welcome address, His Excellency Jamal Abdullah Al Suwaidi, UAE's Ambassador to Singapore, highlighted the longstanding relations between the two countries and their cooperation and strategic partnerships across multiple sectors, including education. Reflecting on the UAE's forward-looking approach, His Excellency noted: 'Just a few weeks ago, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, announced that starting next academic year, AI will be a subject in all stages of government schools in our country. This vision underlines our leadership's commitment to future-readiness and the development of human capital.' He pointed out that the UAE's aim is not merely to adopt new tools, but to fundamentally rethink education itself. His Excellency said: 'AI presents us with powerful opportunities to personalise learning, assist teachers and expand access. At the same time, it brings complex questions around ethics, data privacy, and digital wellbeing. These are not challenges one nation can solve alone - they require global collaboration. And that is where the UAE-Singapore partnership shines.' Dr. May Laith Al Taee, Vice Chancellor of ECAE, highlighted in her opening remarks the significance of the symposium in advancing ECAE's mission to serve as a bridge between educational policy, research, and innovation. She said: 'This gathering reflects a shared commitment to shaping education systems that are technologically advanced and deeply human. At ECAE, we believe that global collaboration is essential to creating meaningful, scalable change, and our partnership with NIE is a powerful example of what can be achieved when values and vision align.' A panel discussion brought together leading educators and academics, including Prof. Low Ee Ling, Dean, Academic & Faculty Affairs and President's Chair in Education at NIE; Associate Professor Dr. Seng Chee Tan, Associate Dean, Professional & Leadership Development at NIE; Prof. David Pedder, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic at ECAE; and Prof. Shaljan Areepattamannil, Director, Office of Research at ECAE. Prof. Low said: 'As AI transforms education, teacher education remains grounded in what truly matters. We stay values-anchored, student-centered, evidence-informed, and future-focused — principles that guide teachers to lead with heart, purpose, and professionalism. While AI can enhance how we teach, it cannot replace the human connection at the core of great teaching. These enduring anchors ensure that, beyond AI, teacher education continues to shape educators who are grounded, well prepared, and ready to thrive in an uncertain future.' Dr. Seng explored how AI is reshaping the very foundations of pedagogy and advocated for learning designs that preserve human insight and creativity. He pointed out how the rise of generative AI is challenging us to rethink the way we teach and learn. He said: 'Using the framework of learning from, with, about, and beyond AI, it emphasises that while AI can reshape education, enduring pedagogical principles must guide our journey, and holistic design considerations should be applied. 'Especially in learning with AI, we must develop approaches that are timeless, rooted in human agency, insight, meaningful interaction, and knowledge creation capacity.' Prof. Pedder discussed the critical threshold where digital tools and AI genuinely enhance learning, while still nurturing the cognitive, emotional, and social growth essential to education. He said: 'The potential of AI to augment cognition, promote dialogue, expand access and equity, and inspire creativity and curiosity is immense,' adding that this perspective is reflected in ECAE's National Competency Framework, developed in collaboration with the UAE's Ministry of Education. 'By embedding AI as a cross-programmatic theme in its academic offerings, ECAE ensures that future educators engage with emerging technologies in an informed and ethical way. 'This strategy prepares educators to create inclusive, learner-centered environments equipped for the challenges of a rapidly evolving educational landscape.' Prof. Areepattamannil explained how natural language and predictive models can track student engagement, achievement, and well-being in real time to support informed decisions on interventions, budgets, and curricula. 'It highlights the importance of equity safeguards like bias audits, privacy, and transparency,' he said, emphasising the need for ongoing impact evaluation that upholds human judgment and inclusive values in education systems. The symposium concluded with a speech by Prof. Woon Chia, Director of NIE, who highlighted the strength of the strategic partnership with the UAE in education. She emphasised how this collaboration supports the global shift towards agile, innovative and AI-driven education systems that are more inclusive and integrated. She also stressed the importance of increased joint efforts in policymaking and strategy development to keep pace with the rapidly evolving educational landscape. The event came on the heels of a strategic agreement between ECAE and NIE last year under the second phase of the ECAE-initiated Strategic Framework for Educational Excellence, aimed at advancing the UAE's educational sector by preparing educators as global leaders grounded in Emirati values and the nation's unique educational priorities. Through quality programmes, innovative research, and strategic partnerships, the framework emphasises the development of future-ready educators capable of implementing forward-thinking teaching methods and contributing to local and international educational standards.
Gulf Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Meeting highlights AI's role in shaping future-ready educators
The Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE), in collaboration with the National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore, and with the support of the UAE Embassy, held a high-level symposium in Singapore titled Reimagining the Future of Teaching & Learning in the Age of AI: Values-Driven Human Flourishing, highlighting the growing cooperation between the UAE and Singapore in future-focused education. The event brought together senior policymakers, academics, and researchers to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in education. The symposium explored key questions shaping the future of learning, including the evolving role of educators in the AI era and the design of education systems that prioritise student growth, equity, ethics, and professional excellence. In his welcome address, Jamal Abdullah Al Suwaidi, UAE's Ambassador to Singapore, highlighted the longstanding relations between the two countries and their cooperation and strategic partnerships across multiple sectors, including education. Reflecting on the UAE's forward-looking approach, he noted: 'Just a few weeks ago, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, announced that starting next academic year, AI will be a subject in all stages of government schools in our country. This vision underlines our leadership's commitment to future-readiness and the development of human capital.' He pointed out that the UAE's aim is not merely to adopt new tools, but to fundamentally rethink education itself. He said: 'AI presents us with powerful opportunities to personalise learning, assist teachers and expand access. At the same time, it brings complex questions around ethics, data privacy, and digital wellbeing. These are not challenges one nation can solve alone – they require global collaboration. And that is where the UAE-Singapore partnership shines.' Dr May Laith Al Taee, Vice Chancellor of ECAE, highlighted in her opening remarks the significance of the symposium in advancing ECAE's mission to serve as a bridge between educational policy, research, and innovation. She said: 'This gathering reflects a shared commitment to shaping education systems that are technologically advanced and deeply human. At ECAE, we believe that global collaboration is essential to creating meaningful, scalable change, and our partnership with NIE is a powerful example of what can be achieved when values and vision align.' A panel discussion brought together leading educators and academics, including Prof. Low Ee Ling, Dean, Academic & Faculty Affairs and President's Chair in Education at NIE; Associate Professor Dr. Seng Chee Tan, Associate Dean, Professional & Leadership Development at NIE; Prof. David Pedder, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic at ECAE; and Prof. Shaljan Areepattamannil, Director, Office of Research at ECAE. Prof. Low said: 'As AI transforms education, teacher education remains grounded in what truly matters. We stay values-anchored, student-centered, evidence-informed, and future-focused — principles that guide teachers to lead with heart, purpose, and professionalism. 'While AI can enhance how we teach, it cannot replace the human connection at the core of great teaching. These enduring anchors ensure that, beyond AI, teacher education continues to shape educators who are grounded, well prepared, and ready to thrive in an uncertain future.' Dr Seng explored how AI is reshaping the very foundations of pedagogy and advocated for learning designs that preserve human insight and creativity. He pointed out how the rise of generative AI is challenging us to rethink the way we teach and learn. He said: 'Using the framework of learning from, with, about, and beyond AI, it emphasises that while AI can reshape education, enduring pedagogical principles must guide our journey, and holistic design considerations should be applied. 'Especially in learning with AI, we must develop approaches that are timeless, rooted in human agency, insight, meaningful interaction, and knowledge creation capacity.'
