National Institute of Education

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National Institute of Education campus

The National Institute of Education (NIE) is an autonomous institute of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. The institute is the sole teacher education institute for primary- and secondary-level teachers in Singapore. NIE provides all levels of teacher education, ranging from initial teacher preparation, to graduate and in-service programmes, and courses for serving teachers, department heads, vice-principals and principals. Its current enrolment stands at more than 5,000 full-time equivalent students. The institute was established in July 1991.

Programmes

NIE is organised in a programme-driven matrix system comprising Programme Offices with 12 supporting Academic Groups to provide edge and responsiveness. The Foundation Programmes Office administers the initial teacher preparation programmes, leading to diploma, degree and postgraduate diploma qualifications, to equip student teachers with the necessary values, skills and knowledge to lead in the service of learners.

The Graduate Programmes and Research Office offers master’s and doctoral degrees to suitable candidates. The office also delivers in-service and leadership programmes to enhance the career pathways of serving teachers and educators.

The External Programmes Office was set up in October 2005 with a key mission of emplacing NIE as a leading educational consultancy to meet the bespoke training demands of local and international clients.

Research

NIE established the Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice in 2002 with funding from the Ministry of Education (MOE). As the largest education research centre in the Asia Pacific, the centre sits in the Education Research Office. It brings together researchers, educators and administrators research in and to develop new and innovative ways of teaching and learning. These research outcomes aim to help Singapore's schools and students address the complex challenges of new economies, cultures and technologies.

In January 2005, NIE established the Learning Sciences Lab. The Lab aims to be the champion of transformation of pedagogy enabled by ICT in the schools. Based on the learning sciences foci, the agenda is to exploit the findings of research and translate ideas and concepts into tangible processes, tools and technologies that will be used in a sustainable way in the schools.

International Recognition

Through the years, NIE has positioned itself as a bedrock of education in Singapore and a unique brand name in teacher education internationally. One of NIE’s executive programmes, the Leaders in Education Programme (LEP), has attracted much international attention. The six-month programme prepares senior education officers for principalship, introducing a new paradigm in preparing school leaders where the importance of innovation is emphasised.

Enhancing NIE’s global standing was the endorsement of its five-year strategic plan by an MOE-appointed International Advisory Panel, comprising eminent academics from renowned overseas universities, in August 2007.

Additionally, Singapore’s education system and teacher education programmes were ranked among the world’s best in a report by McKinsey & Company in September 2007.