NTU Impact Series: Prof Liu Woon Chia on inspiring every learner
Supported by the C J Koh Professorship in Education, Prof Liu Woon Chia is advancing research on student motivation, strengthening teacher education, and helping educators inspire every learner to reach their full potential.
Text: Jesmine Ong
Learn more about Prof Liu’s work from this video.
Every student's journey begins with a teacher. For Prof Liu Woon Chia, C J Koh Professor in Education and Director of the National Institute of Education (NIE), empowering teachers is one of the most powerful ways to shape society.
"I began my teaching journey as a secondary school chemistry teacher," she recalls. "That experience stayed with me because I saw how one teacher can change the course of a young person's life."
Today, Prof Liu leads efforts to strengthen teacher education at NIE while researching how motivation and self-belief influence learning and personal growth. Her work has shown that there is no single way to motivate every student. Instead, effective teaching recognises that every learner has different strengths, needs and aspirations.
"My research focuses on motivation and self-belief, because the way students see themselves today influences how far they believe they can go tomorrow."
As co-founder of NIE's Motivation in Educational Research Laboratory, Prof Liu has helped deepen understanding of how motivation shapes student achievement, well-being and growth.
These research insights are translated directly into teacher preparation programmes, equipping educators with evidence-based approaches that help every learner thrive.
Prof Liu (2nd from left) interacting with her students.
Preparing educators for tomorrow
At the same time, she is leading innovations in teacher education, from AI-enabled learning environments to new approaches that strengthen the connection between educational theory and classroom practice.
"We are constantly rethinking how teachers learn, strengthening the theory-practice nexus, embracing innovation, and building teacher identity and professionalism from day one."
The C J Koh Professorship in Education provides sustained support for this work, enabling NIE to innovate in teacher education, advance impactful research and prepare educators for the classrooms of tomorrow.
"Behind every student's breakthrough is a teacher. And behind every teacher is the depth of work that makes that breakthrough possible."
Through research, innovation and leadership, Prof Liu is helping prepare generations of educators who will shape not only classrooms, but the future of Singapore and beyond.
Learn more about NTU’s Professorships here.
