Our Research Team

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Our Research Team
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Our Research Team

Our research team champions research in CET system design and practices, adult education, lifelong learning, jobs, skills, careers, labour market issues, pedagogy, andragogy, and praxis, among others, using a range of interdisciplinary approaches employing both quantitative and qualitative techniques.

Assistant Executive Director and Director of Research

Associate Professor Renée Tan

Assistant Executive Director and Director of Research

renee_tan@ial.edu.sg

Deputy Director

Nur Sahara Sadik

Deputy Director

nur_sahara@ial.edu.sg

Principal Researchers

Sheng Yee Zher

Principal Researcher

sheng_yee_zher@ial.edu.sg

Dr Ruby Toh

Principal Researcher

ruby_toh@ial.edu.sg

Dr Chen Zan

Principal Researcher

chen_zan@ial.edu.sg

Associate Professor Priscilla Pang

Principal Researcher

priscillapangyn@ial.edu.sg

Senior Researchers

Dr Bi Xiaofang

Senior Researcher

bi_xiaofang@ial.edu.sg

Chia Ying

Senior Researcher

chia_ying@ial.edu.sg

Tan Bao Zhen

Senior Researcher

tan_bao_zhen@ial.edu.sg

Aggie Choo

Senior Researcher

aggie_choo@ial.edu.sg

Researchers

Jazreel Tan

Researcher

jazreel_tan@ial.edu.sg

Ong Yong Liang

Researcher

ylong@ial.edu.sg

Bryan Ang

Researcher

bryanangsj@ial.edu.sg

Sophia Koo

Research Assistant

sophiakoosh@ial.edu.sg

Adult Learning Collaboratory

Dr Albert Liau

Head (Experimentation)

albertliaukf@ial.edu.sg

Dr Tommie Chen

Head (Ecosystem)

tommiechensc@ial.edu.sg

Research Management and Administration

Jane Lim

Principal Manager

janelimmc@ial.edu.sg

Magdalene Yip

Senior Manager

magdalene_yip@ial.edu.sg

Hafizah Binte Abdol Rahim

Manager

hafizah_abdol_rahim@ial.edu.sg

Joel Wee

Manager

joelweeqr@ial.edu.sg

Musfirah Musa

Manager

musfirah@ial.edu.sg

Associate Professor Renée Tan

Assistant Executive Director and Director of Research

renee_tan@ial.edu.sg

As the Director of the Research Division, Renée leads IAL’s research efforts to inform policy and practice in the Continuing Education and Training sector. Her research interests are in adult learning pedagogies, lifelong learning policies, skills development, national narratives and narrative inquiry and diversity and inclusivity.
Renée holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Bristol, Master and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the National University of Singapore, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the National Institute of Education.

Academic Profile

LinkedIn

Research Gate

Nur Sahara Sadik

Deputy Director

nur_sahara@ial.edu.sg

As the Deputy Director of the Research Division at IAL, Dr Sahara co-leads research initiatives to shape policy and practice within the CET sector. Her expertise lies in comparative political economy, focusing on the evolving landscape of businesses, jobs, skills, and learning opportunities across different economies. Sahara also leads the Adult Learning Collaboratory, IAL’s research translation unit that serves a community platform for collaborative experimentation. This initiative aims to foster adult learning innovations with demonstrable outcomes.

Before joining IAL, Sahara gained experience in corporate communications and policy planning across various government bodies.

She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Sciences from Cardiff University, a Master of Science (MSc) in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in European Studies and Political Science from the National University of Singapore.

LinkedIn

Research Gate

Research

Developing Non-permanent Workers In Singapore-Full Report
Haphazard Occupational Narratives: The Work and Developmental Experiences of Non-permanent Workers I
Masters of Their Destiny? Identities, Learning & Development of Freelance Workers In Singapore’s Tec
Talent Management in an Age of Digital Disruption-Implications for Skills Policy-Full Report
Talent Management in Dynamic Times - From 'War for Talent' to 'Wealth of Talent'-Research Note
The Entrepreneurial Self: Becoming a Freelancer In Singapore’s Film and Television Industry-Full Rep
Towards A New Understanding of Workplace Learning: The Context of Singapore

Sheng Yee Zher

Principal Researcher

sheng_yee_zher@ial.edu.sg

Yee Zher holds a BA (Hons) degree in Social Sciences (Economics) and Master of Science (Statistics) from National University of Singapore. He has been conducting quantitative research after graduation. His research interests include adult training, high performance workplace practices, job and education mismatch. He has been part of the following research teams: Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) (2012-2016); Business Performance and Skills Study (BPSS) (2014- 2016); Employment Facilitation (EF) (2014- 2015) and Evaluation of WSQ ICDL Digital Literacy Training (completed).

Research

The Adult Learners’ Perception of Online Learning Due to COVID 19-Research Note

Dr Ruby Toh

Principal Researcher

ruby_toh@ial.edu.sg

Ruby specialises in career and employment studies. She has researched in areas of manpower, human resource management, tourism, retailing, globalisation and economic competitiveness of Singapore, ASEAN and other countries.

Academic Profile: Dr Ruby Toh | SUSS

Research

The Right Servicing Approach to Social Services Delivery-Research Note

Dr Chen Zan

Principal Researcher

chen_zan@ial.edu.sg

Chen Zan conducts research on learning technologies, capability development of adult educators and workplace learning. She is currently leading a research project to understand the TAE (Training and Adult Education) landscape to support future development of the TAE sector.

Research

COVID-19 Educator Survey-Research Note, Extract, Infographic & Full Report
TAE Landscape in Singapore-Characteristics, Challenges and Policies-Full Report

Associate Professor Priscilla Pang

Principal Researcher

priscillapangyn@ial.edu.sg

Priscilla is the Head of Programme for the Master in Boundary-Crossing Learning and Leadership graduate programme. Her professional background is in applied linguistics and her research interests lie in linguistic ethnography, professional interactions and qualitative research methods. She has taught diploma-level, undergraduate and graduate students, and supervised graduate research projects. Her interest in professional talk and interactions has led her to study workplace interactions and learning, and she continues to engage in research in these areas.

Dr Bi Xiaofang

Senior Researcher

bi_xiaofang@ial.edu.sg

Xiaofang is currently researching CET learners’ sense-making to inform pedagogical innovations in blended learning. She has years of experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative educational research.

Research

Critical Core Skills Profiling in Singapore - Research Note
Moving from Fragmented to Seamless Learning Experience in Blended Learning Environments - Research N
Quality of Adult Learners' Sense-making and its implications for Design and Delivery Blended Learnin
Supervisors' Key to Unlocking Sense-making at Workplace - Research Note
Understanding Adult Learners’ Sense-making to Inform Pedagogical Innovations in Blended Learning (BL
Critical Core Skills Profiling and Development in the Singaporean Workforce -Final Report

Chia Ying

Senior Researcher

chia_ying@ial.edu.sg

Chia Ying researches on jobs, skills, and lifelong learning in the changing contexts of work, with particular focus on skills research in relation to workplace performance and productivity and on the impact of learning provision on the workforce. Her research interests also include the exploration and application of data-driven methodologies to understand the future of work.
Chia Ying has a Master of Science in Statistics and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Mathematics from the National University of Singapore.

Research

Business Performance and Skills Survey (BPSS)-Full Report & Research Note

Tan Bao Zhen

Senior Researcher

tan_bao_zhen@ial.edu.sg

Bao Zhen holds a Master of Science in Skills and Workforce Development from the Cardiff University, and a Bachelor (Hons) of Arts in Psychology from the Nanyang Technological University. She conducts local and international large-scale quantitative research on adult skills, adult education and lifelong learning, which involve stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education Singapore, SkillsFuture Singapore, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). She is currently the National Sampling Manager of the Singapore team that is implementing the second cycle of the International Survey of Adult Skills, under the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), which is an initiative of the OECD. She is also part of the Digital Futures of Work team, a global team of twenty researchers who will undertake a systematic analysis across different national contexts on the future of work and the impact of digital technologies on skills, jobs, and the wider economy.
Prior to joining IAL, Bao Zhen worked with children with special needs for five years.

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bao-Zhen-Tan-2

Research

Critical Core Skills Profiling in Singapore - Research Note
The Adult Learners’ Perception of Online Learning Due to COVID 19-Research Note
The Determinants of Adult Education: Evidence from an International Study-Conference Paper
Critical Core Skills Profiling and Development in the Singaporean Workforce -Final Report

Aggie Choo

Senior Researcher

aggie_choo@ial.edu.sg

Aggie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the Murdoch University. She conducts local and international large-scale quantitative research on adult skills, jobs and adult education. She is currently the National Data Manager of the Singapore team that is implementing the second cycle of the International Survey of Adult Skills, under the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), which is an initiative of the OECD.

Research

The Determinants of Adult Education: Evidence from an International Study-Conference Paper

Jazreel Tan

Researcher

jazreel_tan@ial.edu.sg

Jazreel does quantitative research relating to skills and productivity.

Research

Business Performance and Skills Survey (BPSS)-Full Report & Research Note

Ong Yong Liang

Researcher

ylong@ial.edu.sg

Yong Liang holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Psychology from National Technological University (NTU). His research interest is mainly on skills, employee well-being and benefits, and is currently involved in research projects that study adult skills and workplace discrimination, harassment and injury.

Bryan Ang

Researcher

bryanangsj@ial.edu.sg

Bryan does qualitative and quantitative research on local and international Training and Adult Education systems, as well as labour markets and skills.

Sophia Koo

Research Assistant

sophiakoosh@ial.edu.sg

Sophia is a research assistant involved in studies related to adult learning in the digital age.

Dr Albert Liau

Head (Experimentation)

albertliaukf@ial.edu.sg

Dr Albert Liau strategises and drives experimentation in authentic settings using innovative methods. He oversees the design, implementation and evaluation of experiments together with stakeholder communities to generate collaboratory output that enhances adult learning.

Dr Tommie Chen

Head (Ecosystem)

tommiechensc@ial.edu.sg

Dr Tommie Chen steers the strategic direction of the collaboratory and its activities towards building a high-trust, high-efficacy ecosystem of co-innovation and co-experimentation. This includes co-conceptualising and implementing the relevant research parameters with stakeholders.

Jane Lim

Principal Manager

janelimmc@ial.edu.sg

Jane oversees research grant management and administration in Research Division, Institute for Adult Learning. She looks after the implementation of Workforce Development Applied Research Fund (WDARF) grant calls and the management of WDARF grant-approved projects. She also manages internal grants and administrative process of the Research Division.

Magdalene Yip

Senior Manager

magdalene_yip@ial.edu.sg

Magdalene provides operational and administrative support to the division’s work, develop and implement policies and guidelines for research projects and activities.

Hafizah Binte Abdol Rahim

Manager

hafizah_abdol_rahim@ial.edu.sg

Hafizah provides operational and administrative support to the division's work.

Joel Wee

Manager

joelweeqr@ial.edu.sg

Joel is part of the Research Management and Administration (RMA) team in IAL-RD. As Secretariat for the Workforce Development Applied Research Fund (WDARF) Grant, Joel administers and implements the WDARF Grant Calls, as well as manage and monitor WDARF projects.

Musfirah Musa

Manager

musfirah@ial.edu.sg

Musfirah is part of the Research Management and Administration team. She is the Secretariat for the workforce Development Applied Research Fund (WDARF) Grant. As Secretariat, Musfirah administers and implements the WDARF Grant Calls, as well as manage and monitor WDARF projects.

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