Back
Associate Professor Chen Zan
IAL Staff
Principal Researcher, Research Division
Areas of Expertise: Learning Practice, Assessment, Evaluation & Quality, Workforce and Skills Development, Research & Data Analytics, Policy & Systems Thinking
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zan-chen-12b355129/
Zan Chen is Associate Professor and Principal Researcher at the Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore University of Social Sciences. Her research investigates adult education and lifelong learning systems, with a focus on workforce development, AI in education, educator professionalisation, and the changing relationship between work, learning, and skills. She has led international and nationwide research that has informed higher education and adult training policy and practice in Singapore. She also teaches leadership, boundary-crossing innovations and learning, as well as the science of learning, at undergraduate and graduate levels.
A/P Chen is the Asian Co-ordinator of Research Network 3 of the ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning, an Associate of the Centre for Higher Education Transformations at the University of Bristol, and an Associate Trainer with Civil Service College, Singapore. She also serves on journal editorial boards and contributes as a national expert to international adult education projects.
Chen, Z., Cordie, L., Schröter, H., & Zeng, X.D. (Eds.). (forthcoming, June 2026). Navigating the AI frontier in adult education: International practices and perspectives from adult learning, training and higher education. Routledge: Link
Chen, Z., & Tan, L. S. (2025). Unveiling the impact of job quality on work outcomes: the mediating role of motivation among adult educators. Cogent Education, 12(1): Link
Azhari, A., Rai, A., Ho, H.S., Jegathisan, A., Gill, S., Norfor, N., and Chen, Z. (2025). Inter-brain synchrony between undergraduate students during a naturalistic online seminar predicted greater relational satisfaction and task performance. Front. Neurosci. 19:1705767: Link
Chen, Z., Pavlova, M., Tangen, C. (2024). Adult Educators as lifelong learners in Singapore: factors influencing lifelong learning participation and professional growth, Asia Pacific Education Review, 2024: Link
Chen, Z., Murphy, I., Tan, B.Z., Choo, A., Ang, B., Chan, S., & Tangen, C. (2024). Elevating TAE business, jobs and skills: findings from the Training and Adult Education landscape study 2. Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore: Link
Chen, Z., & Murphy, I. (2023). Domain and pedagogical competency and currency: A framework for capability development of adult educators. Journal of Adult and Continuing Education, 29(1), 273-293: Link
Chen, Z., Chia, A., & Bi, X. (2021). Promoting innovative learning in training and adult education – a Singapore Story, Studies in Continuing Education, 43(2), 196-207. Link
Chen, Z., Ramos, C., Puah, L.D., & Cheng, S. C. (2020). Training and Adult Education Landscape in Singapore: characteristics, challenges and policies. Singapore: Institute for Adult Learning: Link
Chen, Z., & Tan, L. S. (2025). Unveiling the impact of job quality on work outcomes: the mediating role of motivation among adult educators. Cogent Education, 12(1): Link
Azhari, A., Rai, A., Ho, H.S., Jegathisan, A., Gill, S., Norfor, N., and Chen, Z. (2025). Inter-brain synchrony between undergraduate students during a naturalistic online seminar predicted greater relational satisfaction and task performance. Front. Neurosci. 19:1705767: Link
Chen, Z., Pavlova, M., Tangen, C. (2024). Adult Educators as lifelong learners in Singapore: factors influencing lifelong learning participation and professional growth, Asia Pacific Education Review, 2024: Link
Chen, Z., Murphy, I., Tan, B.Z., Choo, A., Ang, B., Chan, S., & Tangen, C. (2024). Elevating TAE business, jobs and skills: findings from the Training and Adult Education landscape study 2. Institute for Adult Learning, Singapore: Link
Chen, Z., & Murphy, I. (2023). Domain and pedagogical competency and currency: A framework for capability development of adult educators. Journal of Adult and Continuing Education, 29(1), 273-293: Link
Chen, Z., Chia, A., & Bi, X. (2021). Promoting innovative learning in training and adult education – a Singapore Story, Studies in Continuing Education, 43(2), 196-207. Link
Chen, Z., Ramos, C., Puah, L.D., & Cheng, S. C. (2020). Training and Adult Education Landscape in Singapore: characteristics, challenges and policies. Singapore: Institute for Adult Learning: Link