Developing educational leaders
Jac Woo
April 2, 2019
When educator Tan Gim Hoon thought of pursuing a doctorate at the age of 45 in 2015, she was not sure if she could cope with its demands.
But with the support of her family, friends and superiors, she mustered the courage to embark on the Doctor in Education (EdD) programme at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University.
With hard work and determination, she graduated within three years with flying colours, winning the Tan Poey Quee Doctor in Education (NIE EdD) Gold Medal Award for Best Overall Student in 2018.
Dr Tan, who is currently the senior assistant director (Regulation and Standards, and Quality Assurance) at the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), shares her learning journey:
Why did you choose to study this field?
“My interest in early childhood education began when I joined ECDA in 2013.
“I was holding a Master of Arts (Curriculum & Instruction) degree from NIE then. As I was keen to contribute to the advancement of educational practice in the early childhood sector, I decided to pursue a doctorate on educational leadership and anchor my research in the context of early childhood education.”
Why did you pick the EdD programme in NIE?
“Firstly, NIE has a strong reputation in teacher education and educational research.
“Secondly, I liked the programme design, which guides students closely to achieve the degree. I was also interested in its courses in the area of educational leadership and change, which I wanted to specialise in.
“Lastly, the programme has the rigour and expectations of a PhD but with a professional focus. It allowed me to leverage my professional knowledge in early childhood education to research on current practices.”
How did the programme benefit you?
“I liked the interactive mode of delivery in the programme as classes were conducted via self-reading, discussions, presentations and peer-critique.
“I enjoyed every course in my specialisation, which allowed me to have extensive discussions and critique leadership theories, management practices and professional ethics.”
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
Degree
Doctor in Education
University
National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University
Duration
Up to five years (full-time), up to seven years (part-time)
Core courses
Literature Review Methods, Quantitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Methods
Website
www.nie.edu.sg/edd
This article was first published in The Sunday Times on March 31, 2019.
