S$10 million fund to boost research on innovative learning methods

SINGAPORE – A new S$10 million Tertiary Education Research Fund will be set up to encourage institutes of higher learning (IHLs) to research on innovative teaching and learning.

This was announced today (Dec 4) by Education Minister Heng Swee Keat at at the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL).

Currently, the Ministry of Education funds research targeted at the school level.

This new fund will be available on a competitive basis to all researchers in IHLs and is targeted at promoting research on teaching and learning across all levels of education from preschool to tertiary.

“By learning about learning, by trying new ways, by rigorous evaluation and integrating promising approaches into a coherent whole, we can make meaningful education innovation,” said Mr Heng, who was speaking at the conference hosted by Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

He also noted schools and universities have already embarked on initiatives and projects to pursue innovation in various areas like ICT-enabled learning but more still needs to be done.

“Education innovation is critical to help our people realize their potential (and) we must strive to find better ways to help people learn,” Mr Heng said, adding that the new fund will complement current efforts at the school level.