Continuing to Shape the Future of Learning: Science of Learning in Education Centre (SoLEC) Hosts 5th Anniversary Symposium

To celebrate its fifth anniversary as a research centre, the Science of Learning in Education Centre (SoLEC) hosted a symposium titled "SoLEC at 5: Continuing to Shape the Future of Learning" on 5 November 2026. Held at the National Institute of Education (NIE), the symposium welcomed more than 250 guests from diverse institutions and organisations, including the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), National Gallery Singapore, and Changi General Hospital.

Key Takeaways from the Opening Addresses

A key highlight of the symposium was the series of opening addresses delivered by Professor Liu Woon Chia, Professor David Hung, and the Guest-of-Honour, Ms Liew Wei Li, which set the stage for the subsequent research presentations.

• NIE Director, Professor Liu Woon Chia, delivered the opening remarks, reflecting on the complementary roles of NIE and SoLEC in strengthening the connections between research on learning and the everyday decisions educators make to support learners in Singapore.
• MOE Director-General of Education, Ms Liew Wei Li, emphasised SoLEC's significant role in integrating insights from multiple disciplines and translating research findings into practical support for educators and students. She also encouraged researchers to continue exploring how learning takes place within Singapore's unique and ever-changing educational context.
• Centre Director of SoLEC, Professor David Hung, reflected on SoLEC's progress over the past five years and outlined the Centre's continued efforts to make learning processes, such as cognition and socioemotional regulation, more visible to educators. He also highlighted the importance of nurturing learners who can think and act independently in the face of uncertainty.

Presentations by SoLEC Researchers

The symposium featured presentations by five SoLEC researchers, who shared insights from their respective research projects.

• Dr Imelda Caleon and Dr Nastassja Fischer, who collaborated on the Arts for Cultivating Creativity, Emotional and Social Outcomes (ACES) research project, discussed the impact of arts engagement on creative thinking and socioemotional development among youths.
• Dr Jack Fogarty introduced a multimodal approach to classroom research, drawing on his study conducted in secondary school mathematics classrooms to illustrate how such an approach could inform educational practice.
• Dr Teo Chew Lee explored the concept of cognitive flexibility, highlighting how findings from laboratory-based studies could be applied to contemporary classroom settings.
• Finally, A/P Azilawati Jamaludin shared insights from the DRivers, Enablers, and pathways of Adolescent developMent in Singapore (DREAMS) project, discussing how the Science of Learning (SoL) can help shape a future of learning that enables young people to thrive and realise their potential.
• Guests were also invited to tour the SoLEC Classroom, where Dr Tan Aik Lim and Dr Eleanor Koo introduced the laboratory space and showcased various research technologies and equipment, including electroencephalography (EEG) systems.

The symposium provided an opportunity for researchers and guests to reflect on and celebrate SoLEC's achievements over the past five years, while looking ahead to the Centre's continued contributions to advancing the Science of Learning in education.

We extend our appreciation to the organisers, speakers, and guests for making the SoLEC 5th Anniversary Symposium a meaningful and insightful event.