A Sharing On Learning Journey For Educators
Dr. Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian, National Institute of Education Singapore
• Please share with us about your professional journey so far
I have been working as a lecturer with the Psychology, Child and Human Development Academic Group at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NIE NTU, Singapore) for the last 10 years where I teach the pre-service, post-graduate and in-service programmes. My research work spans across the areas of child and family development, especially in low-income earning homes; transition to primary school from pre-school and the Home-School partnerships in Singapore schools.
• What attracted you towards pursuing a higher degree programme at NIE?
I was trained in teaching secondary English language, History and Social Studies after receiving my Bachelor’s Degree from the National University of Singapore. After teaching in secondary schools and junior colleges in Singapore, I became interested in learning and its associations to one’s environment, which eventually led me to pursue a higher degree education. I found the Master of Education (Early Childhood) very comprehensive in its scope. With NIE being renowned for imparting quality education, I decided to enroll in this programme.
• What programme did you opt for at NIE? Tell us about the unique learning benefits that you have received from National Institute of Education, Singapore.
The Master of Education (Early Childhood) is a very rigorous programme, taught by experienced educators who have a strong working relationship with the early childhood sector in Singapore. This means that the education which one receives at NIE is not just theoretical in nature but also includes many industry-level applications. The courses of the programme cover a large breadth of content which is up-to-date and builds on both international and local research findings.
“At NIE, the faculties share the possible areas for employment especially as the students look towards branching out into lecturing positions or leadership positions within the early childhood industry in Singapore.”
• How do you think the teacher-student relationship at National Institute of Education, Singapore is like? How are teachers guiding students towards the right career path?
The teacher–student relationship is seen as vital for holistic learning at NIE. Faculties emphasize on developing a partnership in education by building on the strengths of the students; leveraging on learners’ knowledge and skills of the local early childhood sector while enlarging their knowledge of key concepts by connecting it to cutting-edge research findings and applications from the international arena. The teachers also challenge students through robust assignments which consists of both individual and group elements. Peer assessments and learning are important road to success for the postgraduate students. When approached by students, the faculties share the possible areas for employment especially as the students look towards branching out into lecturing positions or leadership positions within the early childhood industry in Singapore.
• What do you think of the campus culture of National Institute of Education, Singapore? Please share with us some of your best experiences while studying at NIE.
The current postgraduate culture at NIE is robust! There have been greater opportunities for postgraduate students from different departments to come together to set up the Graduate Student Club. There is also an annual Graduate Student Conference where postgraduate students get the opportunities to showcase their research findings and projects happens. The event provides time and space for students from different specializations to share knowledge so the process of learning, especially for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)/ Doctor in Education (EdD) students, will not be so lonely. A Higher Degree Student Lounge was opened in 2016 to allow a conducive environment for postgraduate students to study and network.
To find out more information about the various postgraduate programmes offered at the NIE NTU, Singapore, please visit www.nie.edu.sg/gpl/hd. For information about the NTU MiniMastersTM, please visit www.nie.edu.sg/ minimasters.
I have been working as a lecturer with the Psychology, Child and Human Development Academic Group at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NIE NTU, Singapore) for the last 10 years where I teach the pre-service, post-graduate and in-service programmes. My research work spans across the areas of child and family development, especially in low-income earning homes; transition to primary school from pre-school and the Home-School partnerships in Singapore schools.
• What attracted you towards pursuing a higher degree programme at NIE?
I was trained in teaching secondary English language, History and Social Studies after receiving my Bachelor’s Degree from the National University of Singapore. After teaching in secondary schools and junior colleges in Singapore, I became interested in learning and its associations to one’s environment, which eventually led me to pursue a higher degree education. I found the Master of Education (Early Childhood) very comprehensive in its scope. With NIE being renowned for imparting quality education, I decided to enroll in this programme.
• What programme did you opt for at NIE? Tell us about the unique learning benefits that you have received from National Institute of Education, Singapore.
The Master of Education (Early Childhood) is a very rigorous programme, taught by experienced educators who have a strong working relationship with the early childhood sector in Singapore. This means that the education which one receives at NIE is not just theoretical in nature but also includes many industry-level applications. The courses of the programme cover a large breadth of content which is up-to-date and builds on both international and local research findings.
“At NIE, the faculties share the possible areas for employment especially as the students look towards branching out into lecturing positions or leadership positions within the early childhood industry in Singapore.”
• How do you think the teacher-student relationship at National Institute of Education, Singapore is like? How are teachers guiding students towards the right career path?
The teacher–student relationship is seen as vital for holistic learning at NIE. Faculties emphasize on developing a partnership in education by building on the strengths of the students; leveraging on learners’ knowledge and skills of the local early childhood sector while enlarging their knowledge of key concepts by connecting it to cutting-edge research findings and applications from the international arena. The teachers also challenge students through robust assignments which consists of both individual and group elements. Peer assessments and learning are important road to success for the postgraduate students. When approached by students, the faculties share the possible areas for employment especially as the students look towards branching out into lecturing positions or leadership positions within the early childhood industry in Singapore.
• What do you think of the campus culture of National Institute of Education, Singapore? Please share with us some of your best experiences while studying at NIE.
The current postgraduate culture at NIE is robust! There have been greater opportunities for postgraduate students from different departments to come together to set up the Graduate Student Club. There is also an annual Graduate Student Conference where postgraduate students get the opportunities to showcase their research findings and projects happens. The event provides time and space for students from different specializations to share knowledge so the process of learning, especially for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)/ Doctor in Education (EdD) students, will not be so lonely. A Higher Degree Student Lounge was opened in 2016 to allow a conducive environment for postgraduate students to study and network.
To find out more information about the various postgraduate programmes offered at the NIE NTU, Singapore, please visit www.nie.edu.sg/gpl/hd. For information about the NTU MiniMastersTM, please visit www.nie.edu.sg/ minimasters.
