The 14th Lau Teng Chuan Physical Education and Sports Science Symposium
The 14th Lau Teng Chuan Physical Education and Sports Science Symposium, hosted by the Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS) Department, is scheduled to take place on Friday, 7 November 2025, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. The main venue for this event will be Lecture Theatre 12 at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. This year's symposium revolves around the theme of "From Passion to Profession - Pathways in Sport and Wellness".
We are honoured to announce the presence of keynote speakers, Professor Mark Williams, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University, and Sport Science & Management (SSM) alumnus, Ms Cho Jia Yan, Senior Account Director, CAA Brand Consulting.
During the symposium, Associate Professor Adrian Kee, Head of PESS, will deliver a welcome address. Mr Lau Cheng Soon, the son of the late Dr Lau Teng Chuan, will also share his insights and thoughts on this occasion.
The event will include research project presentations conducted by final year students from the Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS) and Sport Science and Management (SSM) programmes. These presentations will be complemented by the participation of international undergraduate students from Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Deakin University (Australia), and Korea National Sport University (South Korea).
All are welcome!
Registration closes on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, 11:59 pm.
Programme
Note: All events will be held at Lecture Theatre 12 (LT12) unless otherwise stated
8:30 am - 9:15 am - Arrival of Guests / Breakfast Reception (Function Space 1 - in front of LT1 / next to LT12)
9:15 am - Guests to be Seated
9:30 am - 9:35 am - Opening Address by Associate Professor Adrian Kee, Head/PESS
9:35 am - 9:45 am - Address by Mr Lau Cheng Soon, son of the late Dr Lau Teng Chuan
9:50 am - 10:30 am - Talk by Keynote Speaker, Professor Mark Williams, followed by Q&A session
10:35 am - 11:15 am - Talk by Keynote Speaker, Ms Cho Jia Yan, followed by Q& A session
11:15 am - 11:30 am - Presentation of Tokens of Appreciation and Photo-Taking
11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Lunch Reception (Function Space 5 - linkway between Block 4 & 5)
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm - Student Research Project Presentations Session 1 (Seminar Room - Block 5, Level 1, Room 4)
1:15 pm - 1:45 pm - Student Research Project Presentations Session 2 (Seminar Room - Block 5, Level 1, Room 4)
2:00 pm - 2.30 pm - Student Research Project Presentations Session 3 (Seminar Room - Block 5, Level 1, Room 4)
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm - Student Research Project Presentations Session 4 (Seminar Room - Block 5, Level 1, Room 4)
3:30 pm - 3:45 pm - Announcement of Project Presentation Winners
3:45 pm- End of Programme
3:45 pm - 4:00 pm - Lab Tour for Foreign Delegates (Assemble at LT12 Foyer)
Dr Lau Teng Chuan BPE, MSc (1929-2012)
The Father of Physical Education in Singapore
Introduction
Dr Lau Teng Chuan was a distinguished Singaporean sportsman, coach, teacher, and sports administrator, often hailed as the 'father of physical education' in Singapore. Born on April 13, 1929, he left an indelible mark on the world of sports in the island nation and was instrumental in shaping its sporting landscape.
Education
Dr Lau's journey into the world of sports and physical education began at Victoria School in Singapore, where he demonstrated remarkable prowess in various sports disciplines. His formal education continued at Loughborough College in the United Kingdom, where he pursued physical education, eventually graduating with DLC 1st Class Honours in 1956. Later, in 1973, he earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Oregon in the United States.
Career
Dr Lau's illustrious career spanned various facets of sports and education. He represented Singapore as a national badminton player from 1956 to 1958 while simultaneously serving as a lecturer and later as the Chief of Physical Education at the Institute of Education until 1975.
His contributions extended beyond the badminton court as he assumed the role of Singapore's chief badminton coach from 1963 to 1965 and later served as the honorary visiting coach of the New Zealand national badminton team.
From 1975 to 1992, Dr Lau served as the Executive Director of the Singapore Sports Council. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in shaping and implementing Singapore's strategy for physical education and sports. He spearheaded initiatives to enhance coaching education and development in the country and introduced the National Physical Fitness Award/Assessment (NAPFA) test for students. This test later evolved into the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) used by the Singapore Armed Forces.
In 1995, Dr Lau was appointed to the Singapore National Olympic Council, where he took over as Secretary-General in 1996. His leadership and dedication to sports administration were evident as he actively promoted physical education in schools and advocated for sports facilities in the community. He also championed mass sports participation events, leaving an indelible legacy in Singapore's sporting culture.
Additionally, Dr Lau served as a Vice-President of the Singapore Amateur Athletics Association and held the position of Honorary Secretary of the Football Association of Singapore from 1982 for over a decade.
Autobiography and Philanthropy
Dr Lau's passion for sports and desire to share his experiences led him to write an autobiography titled "Lau Teng Chuan: Sportsman, Teacher, Sports Administrator" in 2012. Over 400 copies of this book were distributed to the sporting community in Singapore, with the proceeds going to the Lau Teng Chuan Scholarship Fund, benefiting physical education teachers.
Awards and Recognitions
Dr Lau Teng Chuan's remarkable contributions to sports and education earned him numerous accolades. He received the National Day Public Service Administration awards in 1969 (bronze) for education and 1981 (silver) for sports. In 1997, he was honored with the International Badminton Federation's Distinguished Service Award. In recognition of his significant contributions, Loughborough University conferred upon him an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in 2003.
Personal Life and Legacy
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr Lau had a close-knit family, being married to Mary and fathering two sons and a daughter. His family expanded to include seven grandchildren.
On May 8, 2012, Dr Lau Teng Chuan passed away at the age of 83 due to stomach cancer, leaving behind a profound legacy. His dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence in the field of sports and education continue to inspire generations of athletes and educators in Singapore.
Source: Wikipedia
Professor Mark Williams
Professor, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University
Professor Mark Williams is a Distinguished Professor in the School of Physical Education and Sports Science at South China Normal University, Guangzhou. He has worked at several of the top institutions globally in the field of sport and exercise science/kinesiology in the UK, US, and Australia. He has published almost 300 journal articles, 22 books, and 100 book chapters and is one of the most highly cited academics globally in areas associated with skill acquisition, perceptual-cognitive expertise, and talent identification and development. He has a H index of 124 with over 66,000 citations and is the Editor-in-Chief of several journals including the Journal of Sports Science, Human Movement Science, and Research Quarterly for Exercise in Sport.
Ms Cho Jia Yan
Senior Account Director, CAA Brand Consulting
Theme: From Passion to Profession: Pathways in Sport and Wellness
Title: The Best: How Elite Athletes are Made
Speaker: Professor Mark Williams
Synopsis: A significant body of research now exists focusing on the development of expertise in sport. This research has focused on three primary areas: a) the environmental factors that impact on its development, such as place and time of birth; b) the changes that occur over prolonged engagement in sport; c) the types of practice activities and learning environments that facilitate the optimal development of the skills need for expert performance. I review recent work from these three areas of research activity. Notably, I concentrate specifically on the psychological and neural adaptations that occur with practice, and with a particular focus on perception and decision-making in sport. Implications for talent identification and development are discussed. The talk is based on a popular science book with the same title published recently.
Title: From Hobby to Career: Navigating the Sport Landscape
Speaker: Ms Cho Jia Yan
Synopsis: This session explores how a personal love for sport can evolve into a rewarding professional pathway. Ms Cho Jia Yan will share her experiences and struggles —from balancing her studies at SSM while pursuing internship opportunities, to securing her first full-time role in Singapore’s sports industry, and later expanding her experience through overseas stints in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Now back in Singapore, she continues to chart her path within the sport ecosystem, remaining steadfast in her commitment to her passion.
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Registration closes on Wednesday, 5 November 2025.
We wish to bring to your attention that photography (which includes virtual snapshots and screen captures) and video recording may be conducted during the event for use in our publicity materials such as our website and social media. By attending this event, we deem that we have your consent to use your photo(s) and/or video recording(s) for publicity. Please notify us via email at [email protected] by 5 November 2025 if you wish to withdraw the consent.
For "live" stream of the event highlights, please click here.
Available on Friday, 7 November 2025, from 9.30am to 11.30am only.