Imagine training for a global skills competition and nearly giving up. That's what happened to SEG graduate and WorldSkills Lyon competitor Low Jia Xin, who was initially overwhelmed by the demands of her training. Thankfully, her lecturer, Eunice Chia, was there to support her.

"Ms Eunice did so much for me," Jia Xin shares. "She encouraged me to persevere and even trained alongside me, sacrificing her own time." 

Inspired by her NYP lecturers, the Class of 2013 Graduate from the Diploma in Digital & Precision Engineering (now Diploma in Advanced & Digital Manufacturing) knew she wanted to pay it forward. 

Today, as a lecturer at the School of Engineering, Eunice channels the values of knowledge, passion, empathy, and dedication into her profession. She believes in building strong character and life skills in her students, adapting her lessons according to her learners' needs.

Using technologically-relevant setups to simulate real-world situations, learners are encouraged to think critically as they tackle problems with engineering concepts. Even project groupings are carefully designed to ensure that every student can contribute and learn from their peers. 

Eunice's dedication to her students is evident in her consistent check-ins and unwavering support, which helped many of them overcome challenges and develop a broader worldview. Through their chats, her students learnt to resolve conflicts, and accepted her coaching on weaker subjects. Eunice also counselled Common Engineering Programme students on selecting Diploma programmes that align with their goals and aspirations.

Today, like Jia Xin, many of her students emerge as confident leaders who lead projects, graduate with outstanding grades, and continue seeking her advice for their studies and future careers. 

Beyond her role in the classroom, Eunice's innovative ways of teaching has been shared with her peers. Together with her colleagues, the team jointly submitted a paper on their pedagogy and were invited to share in-person at a global conference in Norway. 288 educators from 78 institutions across 33 countries attended the event.

Eunice's dedication to continuous improvement is also evident in her innovative use of technology. One time, she explored the use of AR/VR technologies to guide over 700 ST Microelectronics employees from global offices through virtual tours of a state-of-the-art technology center and facilitating effective online collaboration. This successful creation of a global learning community demonstrates her commitment to staying at the forefront of educational innovation to bridge even geographical barriers.

Eunice credits her students' success and the ongoing learning opportunities as her motivation in education.

"A struggling student I had mentored over the years came back to thank me for believing in him," Eunice said. "They had overcome significant obstacles and found success, and their gratitude and growth reinforced my belief in the importance of what we do as educators."