【Article by College of Education】

A delegation from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) visited the College of Education at National Chengchi University (NCCU) on October 5 for an academic exchange. The SUSS delegation consisted of Associate Professor. Nicholas Sim, Assistant Provost from the Office of the Provost; Dr. Yao Shih-Ying, Lecturer representing the Teaching & Learning Centre; and Dr. Ong Chong Hao Nathanael, Provost’s Chair and Assistant Director of the University Research Office. Dr. Yao Shih-Ying is also a distinguished alumna of NCCU’s Department of Education.

The symposium was chaired by Dean Yueh-Luen Hu of the College of Education and attended by faculty members from diverse academic backgrounds. Participants exchanged views on a wide range of emerging topics, including adult and lifelong learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and educational technology, micro-learning, flexible pathways to higher education, faculty professional development, and interdisciplinary Master of Education programs.

The SUSS delegation introduced the university’s emphasis on applied social sciences and andragogy as key areas of development. In addition to academic contributions, SUSS places considerable importance on addressing societal needs and generating meaningful impact on policy and practice. Its research also engages with issues such as social inclusion, ageing with dignity, and sustainable development.

The SUSS scholars also shared experiences from Singapore’s education system, including flexible approaches to academic qualifications and examination results that allow working adults to return to higher education and pursue upskilling opportunities later in life. They also discussed government-funded initiatives for assessing the impact of adult learning. Such flexible educational pathways and adult education models offer perspectives that differ from those commonly found in Taiwan. For example, Singapore’s A-Level qualifications were described as credentials that can be used for university applications at a later stage. Students who choose to enter the workforce rather than immediately pursue higher education may still apply to universities in the future using their existing qualifications, without necessarily having to retake the examinations.

In the area of teaching innovation and technology-enhanced learning, the SUSS Teaching & Learning Centre introduced a range of support initiatives for higher education faculty and adult learners. These include a micro-learning model designed specifically for adult learners, featuring short video and audio learning modules that enable busy working students to make effective use of fragmented periods of time to learn professional concepts. These online learning resources are complemented by face-to-face workshops to further deepen learning outcomes.

SUSS also introduced its Master of Education program, which extends beyond the traditional population of education professionals. The program welcomes learners from diverse professional backgrounds, including physicians, pilots, and publishing editors, responding to the growing need for professionals to develop skills in training, teaching, and facilitating the learning of others as their careers progress. This interdisciplinary approach demonstrates an alternative model of professional education. Faculty members participating in the discussion noted that such a model challenges conventional boundaries and offers the College of Education new perspectives on the future possibilities of adult education and professional development.

Dean Hu remarked, “Viewing existing systems through the perspectives of scholars from different countries not only brings greater diversity to our thinking, but is also a truly wonderful opportunity.” During the exchange, the NCCU College of Education also shared its research and teaching achievements in areas such as educational technology, counseling and guidance, and psychological assessment. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on how higher education can respond to social transformation and the impact of AI technologies, while exchanging perspectives on the educational systems and teaching models of Taiwan and Singapore.

The participants also discussed how higher education institutions might broaden the traditional boundaries of their student populations by incorporating more research and practice related to adult education and lifelong learning. Such efforts could better respond to the needs of learners at different stages of life while encouraging universities to reconsider their roles in lifelong learning and broader social development.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Dean Hu presented commemorative gifts to the SUSS delegation, followed by a group photo. The delegation then visited Dah Hsian Seetoo Library, where they learned more about NCCU’s learning environment and academic resources. Conversations on educational innovation and international collaboration continued over lunch, providing further opportunities for exchange between the two institutions.

The visit deepened mutual understanding and shared perspectives between SUSS and NCCU in the areas of adult education, teaching innovation, and the transformation of higher education, while also laying a foundation for future academic collaboration and faculty and student exchanges. As societies face new educational challenges arising from declining birth rates, rapidly ageing populations, and advances in AI technologies, the two universities will continue to explore possibilities in adult and lifelong learning, interdisciplinary professional education, and flexible learning pathways, creating new opportunities for collaboration in shaping the future of education.