Chua Joon Eng is Member #121 of the MACS OBA and from Class of 1955
This very interesting, inspiring and motivational article is a reproduction of an NUSS article "Lifelong Learner" by April Chua.
Chua Joon Eng is really someone who practises what he preaches. The former chairman of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Executive Development Programme and vice-dean of the university’s Faculty of Business Administration talks about how he and former NUSS President Lai Kim Seng spearheaded the Society’s collaboration with the Council for Third Age (C3A) and the National Silver Academy (NSA) to bring a range of lifelong learning courses to members.
HE WITNESSED THE SHIFT IN ADULT
EDUCATION IN SINGAPORE.
“In the past, education for adults in Singapore was largely vocational in nature.
But around 2015, as the C3A and NSA collaborated to fund adult education in a big way, it
took on a new meaning. Adult education became lifelong and non-vocational, with the main
aim of promoting and enriching the lives of seniors.”
HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING ADULT EDUCATION TO NUSS.
“In 2016, the NUSS Active-Ageing & Lifelong Learning (ALL) Sub-Committee, under the leadership of former NUSS President Lai Kim Seng, was tasked with collaborating with
the NSA and C3A to make these courses available to NUSS members. Mr Lai and I set out
to find trainers for courses we thought would meet the needs and interests of seniors. The
idea was to get NUSS seniors to teach other seniors, so we put up an advertisement
in The Graduate, calling for trainers and suggestions for courses suitable for seniors. We
were flooded with applications.”
IT WAS NOT ALWAYS SMOOTH SAILING FOR THEM AT THE BEGINNING.
“The most challenging part was when we had to rewrite the course outlines and the
curriculum vitae of the trainers. Most of the trainers were not skilled in writing course
outlines that fit the NSA’s requirements, and this took us nearly two weeks or so. Twelve courses were shortlisted and submitted to the NSA for approval — all of which were
approved and supported.”
TWO YEARS ON, THE COURSES HAVE GROWN FROM 12 TO OVER 30.
“In early 2017, we advertised and promoted the courses to NUSS members and the general
public. It was very fulfilling to see many of the courses fully subscribed, and the feedback
was very encouraging. We decided to continue offering the same slate of courses, while
adding new ones as we went along. From here, NUSS took over the running of the courses.”
HE BELIEVES IN SENIORS HELPING SENIORS.
“I believe more senior members of NUSS should conduct the courses, as this will give
them an opportunity to be more involved in the Society’s activities. It will also help keep
them mentally and physically active and allow them to bond with other senior members.
“I find that this, in turn, will attract more seniors to attend the courses, as many prefer
others in their age group, rather than younger trainers, to teach them.”
HE IS STILL AN ACTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO CONTRIBUTES HIS TIME AND SKILLS TO TEACH OTHER SENIORS.
“I serve as a committee member of ALL and lead a book club meeting once a month. I have
also attended courses on creative writing and taught seniors to write short stories.
I even managed to get the participants in my creative writing course to compile and publish a book of short stories, entitled Golden Nuggets. With the help of one participant, Mr Lim Soon Hock, we managed to raise more than $200,000 for Halogen Foundation Singapore,
a youth development charity.”
HE IS A WALKING EXAMPLE OF ACTIVE AGEING AND LIFELONG LEARNING, LIVING HIS LIFE TO THE FULLEST.
“I am retired now and I live my life in chapters, like focusing on learning new things one at
a time. For example, I began learning to play the piano and the violin, but stopped when I took up Japanese, Thai and Mandarin courses. At 78 years old, I even went as far as attending a short Mandarin course at Xiamen University. “I keep myself active by doing
qi gong exercises two to three times a week and working in my garden once or twice a week.
I also participate in a weekly meditation group meeting. For mental stimulation, I read novels, short stories and non-fiction. “I also find time for my family by visiting my siblings in Malaysia a few times a year, having meals with my wife and children a few times a week and going on vacations with them during the school holidays. I used to travel with friends to nearby countries at least twice a year. Now, I meet with them weekly. I feel that I have lived my retirement years to their fullest.” “I am retired now and Iive my life in chapters, like focusing on learning new subjects one at a time. For example, I began learning to play the piano and the violin, but stopped when I took up Japanese, Thai and Mandarin courses.”
(Visit nuss.org.sg to find out more about NUSS’ lifelong learning courses).
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