On the surface, Dr. Lai Yin Ling is a Pro Vice Chancellor at INTI International University who oversees academic operations, but there is more than meets the eye than just her title. With 20 years of experience in the education industry under her belt, she is a firm believer that learning is a lifelong process and is not one without its challenges.
With 20 years of experience in the education industry under her belt, Dr. Lai Yin Ling, Pro Vice Chancellor of INTI International University (Academic Operations), has played a role in the success and growth of the university.
She started her career as a research assistant before she was offered a grant to support her master’s research paper in chemical process modelling and simulation
“Upon completing my master’s research degree, I secured my first job as a lecturer and taught subjects like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, mass, and heat transfer. As I taught students, I realised that learning itself should not stop as one progresses from one stage to another. Hence, why I decided to upskill myself by pursuing my postgraduate studies under the tutelage of the supervisor who has been my guide and support system since my undergraduate studies,” shared Dr. Lai who hails from Kampar, Perak.
Having served as the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Quantity Surveying at INTI International University from 2016 to 2021, Dr. Lai is now a Pro Vice Chancellor at the institution. She administers the University’s academic operation matters where all faculty deans and Director of Teaching and Learning report to her directly.
Despite her heavy managerial portfolio, Dr. Lai challenged herself further and earned herself a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia on a part time basis.
“I am proud to say that my humble beginnings have taught me to be an all-rounder today. The expertise and knowledge I have acquired in nearly two decades have contributed to my immense growth. Therefore, the responsibilities and skills that I have harnessed throughout the years have seen me grow professionally from a lecturer to a head of faculty and then a founding Dean at INTI International University,” she added.
Having channeled all her time and dedication towards education management in the past, Dr. Lai has now found time to conduct research related to education, teaching, and learning in between.
“With such dramatic changes in the education system, I knew it was time that I equip myself with data and information around it, and I began looking for ways that would further improve and strengthen how we deliver education at INTI. I believe it is easier to nurture a team if we ourselves are well read,” explained Dr. Lai.
According to her, there is no denying that the growth in internet and digital technologies have transformed the state of education over the past 20 years or so, even more after the pandemic struck. “But we have only seen the beginning. The way to reach a greater and sustainable future in education must still be thought about,” she said.
Dr. Lai agrees that effective use of digital learning tools in classrooms can increase student engagement, help educators improve their lesson plans, and facilitate personalized learning besides helping students build essential 21st century skills. Moreover, virtual classrooms, video, augmented reality (AR), robots, and other technology tools not only make class livelier, but they also creates a more inclusive learning environment that fosters collaboration and inquisitiveness while enabling teachers to collect data on student performance.
“Our challenge is to find ways to change our education system so that the students as well as educators can take advantage of this rapidly moving digital present, consciously and reflectively. How we meet this challenge depends on how educators address the fundamentals of delivering education in their schools and higher education institutions, and how this digital age demands a changed mindset about learning, teaching, and assessments. It is important to note that technology is a tool used in education and not an end. The promise of educational technology lies in what educators do with it and how it is used to best support their students’ needs,” she emphasized.
Dr. Lai is one of the University’s pillars, continuously striving to put the institution on the world map. The foundation of FabLab INTI under Fablab.io in 2017, BIM Development Centre powered by Glodon in 2018, founder institution for the Asian Society for Engineering Education in 2019 are some of her significant contributions. Moreover, the International Higher Education Conference 2022 (IHEC 2022) if one of the initiatives that highlight Dr. Lai’s passions and strengths.
“The conference gathered leaders, scholars, and researchers from higher education institutions across the globe to share their vision on international higher education, their experience, and tactical approaches to dealing with challenges in times of uncertainty. The organizing team was honoured to receive the support of both local and international institutions, namely Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Amity University Mumbai, India, and the Islamic University of Maldives at the conference. The two-day event featured a diverse line up of speakers and moderators from 19 institutions in 12 countries around the world who shared insights on various topics,” said Dr. Lai.
She added that IHEC 2022 had paved the way for further collaborations outside the conference like sealing a partnership with Universitas Abulyatama (UNAYA), Indonesia, through a Memorandum of Understanding which enables students from UNAYA to take courses at INTI with financial assistance provided under the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka programme.
“My professional journey in the educational industry, especially at INTI International University, provided me with opportunities in areas like business development and growth management, partnership management and contract negotiation, resource management, strategic industrial partnership management, curriculum design and development, quality monitoring and review, management of day-to-day operations, and other special projects. It is a privilege to be able to offer my services and expertise in order to strengthen the governance from the perspective of quality assurance,” she concluded.