Learn at IAL

IAL is recruiting participants for a study exploring how stronger thinking skills can enhance adult learning. Those who are eligible to take part will attend three language workshops as part of the Enhancing Metacognition in Adults Through a Tech-Augmented Learning Programme. Recruitment is now open. You will receive S$10 upon completion of the entire screening form, with eligible participants able to receive up to S$350 for their time throughout the study. Complete the screening form here: https://tinyurl.com/IAL-Screening-Form For more details, view the FAQ here: https://tinyurl.com/IAL-Research-Study-FAQ

Not every source deserves a place in your lesson, report or learning design. Critical evaluation is the habit of checking whether information is credible, accurate, relevant and fair before using it. It helps adult educators and learning professionals look beyond what sounds convincing, and ask whether the source can be trusted. In a time where information is easy to find but not always reliable, critical evaluation helps us make better decisions about what we teach, share and apply.

[UPCOMING COURSES IN OCT: LEVEL UP YOUR SKILLS!] Sharpen your edge with October courses built for workplace-relevant learning. Topics include facilitation, teaching for industry change, problem-based learning and workplace scenarios. All courses are approved for CPD hours under TAEPP. Register here: 🔗 Future-Oriented Facilitation Studio: https://tinyurl.com/Future-Oriented-Facilitation 🔗 Teaching with Impact: Aligning Adult Learning with Industry Transformation Roadmaps: https://tinyurl.com/IAL-Teaching-With-Impact 🔗 PBL for Learning Reimagined: The “What”: https://tinyurl.com/PBL-For-Learning 🔗 Scenario-Based Learning in Action: Designing Workplace-Relevant Experiences: https://tinyurl.com/IAL-Scenario-Based-Learning #IALSG #AdultEducation #WorkplaceLearning #CPD

What does “Skills-First” actually look like in practice? Building a future-ready workforce starts with how Skills-First is applied in everyday decisions, whether you lead a business or navigate your own career as an employee. More than a mindset, Skills-First is about putting practical behaviours into action and strengthening them where needed. For employers, this means understanding the tasks, skills and capabilities needed for the business and using these to inform workforce decisions. For employees, it means being able to identify, articulate, develop and demonstrate their skills as they navigate their careers. Swipe through to see how employers and individuals can turn Skills-First into practical action. Want a more thorough framework? Stay tuned for more updates on IAL’s new “Skills-First: Framework for Action”, launching this October.

How do you get your team to respond? Turns out, the secret to a great give-and-take discussion is knowing how to ask the right questions. Adult learners bring a massive wealth of real-world experience into the classroom. When we spend the entire session lecturing, we miss out on leveraging that internal expertise. True behaviour change happens when participants actively discover the insights for themselves. Next time you catch yourself reading off a slide or over-explaining a framework, try flipping the statement into an open-ended question. It instantly shifts the room from passive listening to active problem-solving. ✨ Save this post to keep these simple phrasing shifts handy for your next training session! 💬 Adult educators, what is your absolute go-to question to get a quiet classroom talking? Let us know in the comments!

Many teams are investing in AI training, but moving beyond generic prompts and basic tool walkthroughs can help unlock greater value. Domain+, developed by IAL’s Adult Learning Collaboratory (ALC), takes a different approach to AI training by starting with workers’ domain expertise and real workplace challenges, then exploring how AI can support them. Across eight experiments involving 292 learners, this approach led to gains in originality, AI readiness, engagement and the ability to connect AI with domain expertise. When we treat learning as a team effort built straight into everyday work, AI becomes a partner in solving real challenges. Ready to move your workforce from basic AI awareness to true fluency? Find out more here: https://tinyurl.com/IAL-Domain-Plus

Is AI adoption secretly deskilling our workforce? While generative AI delivers immediately efficiency gains, relying on it heavily can bypass the crucial “messy middle” — the drafting, refining, and problem-solving where deep professional judgement is forged. According to Assoc Prof Chen Zan, Principal Researcher, Research Division, IAL, true AI leadership is about achieving, “Co-Intelligence Synergy”, using AI to augment and expand human capabilities rather than replace them. Discover how adult education institutions and corporate leaders can move from simple AI adoption to strategic capability building. For a deeper dive, read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/IAL-AI-Human-Expertise

The world of work is changing quickly. How is your country responding to new workforce needs? IAL’s International Unit partners with agencies to build a future-ready skills ecosystem that’s more responsive, inclusive and sustainable. Through research, proven programmes and practical experience, solutions are tailored to a country’s priorities and stage of development. Ready to strengthen your workforce and adult education systems? Connect with IAL’s International Unit: https://tinyurl.com/IAL-Global-Partners

The most significant leadership breakthroughs often happen when we step outside our own perspectives. Leading today means navigating complexity, crossing boundaries and bringing people together around a shared purpose. That's why many participants describe the Master in Boundary-Crossing Learning and Leadership (MBX) as a genuinely transformative journey. Join us at our MBX Dialogue Session on 29 September 2026 to learn more about the programme, meet the Head of Programme, Dr Tay Wan Ying, have your questions answered, and discover how MBX can help you lead across teams, organisations and solve complex challenges. Register Now: https://tinyurl.com/MBX-Dialogue-29-Sep

Great teaching and effective facilitation are only part of being an effective Adult Educator (AE). That’s where whitelisted Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes come in, helping you build skills and stay current in your practice. Through the National Adult Educator (NAE) Registry under the Training and Adult Educator Professional Pathway (TAEPP) framework, AEs can find whitelisted CPD programmes to support their ongoing development, and submit and track their CPD hours. These programmes are mapped to different Domains and Dimensions, helping you identify the capabilities that align with your goals. This month, we’re spotlighting Domain 2: Professional Development and Growth. Swipe through to discover the five Dimensions under Domain 2 and identify your next capability to build. Learn more about the programmes here: https://tinyurl.com/TAEPP-CPD-Programmes

“Not every learner learns the same way.” As adult educators, we rarely teach a group with the same needs or confidence levels. Learners may differ in how they process information and participate in activities. By using Universal Design for Learning (UDL), adult educators can design flexible learning experiences that offer different ways to access, participate, and demonstrate learning. This allows learners to engage meaningfully, regardless of their background or learning style.

As Singapore advances a skills-first and AI-enabled economy, capability building can no longer happen in silos. Join our latest innovLogue, “Building Capability Ecosystems: How Organisations, Institutes, and Industry Must Co-Create”, to learn how stronger partnerships can support workforce development and adult learning in practice. Register now: https://bit.ly/4w0RVx1

Why do some online courses feel engaging while others feel lonely and transactional? Learn to build social, cognitive, and teaching presence into your online courses, using the Community of Inquiry framework and AI tools to design learning that connects. Creating Dynamic Online Courses: The Power of CoI and AI 📅 5 Oct 2026, 9am – 5pm 🔍 Build learning that connects: https://bit.ly/COI-AI

Still using Al to generate content one prompt at a time? Learn how to create reusable learning assets, workflow tools, and knowledge systems that continue creating value long after the workshop. AI Creation Studio: Learning Resources, Media, and Workflow Prototypes 📅 1 Oct 2026, 9am – 5pm 📋 Build your AI portfolio: https://bit.ly/AI-LRMWP

Have an idea, solution or learning innovation that could shape the future of adult learning? Don’t miss your chance to make it happen. IAL’s Innovation Grant Pathways are currently open, with 3 funding opportunities to help you move from idea to action. 💡 Ideation Award – S$5,000 🧪 Incubation Award – S$50,000 🚀 Prototyping Grant – Up to S$150,000 If you missed our recent Applicants Briefing Session, you can still watch the recording, view the presentation slides and apply here: https://tinyurl.com/IAL-innovation-grant-pathways Applications close 4 Sep 2026, 6:00pm (SGT).

The most productive professionals aren't the ones doing the most. They're the ones who know how to manage their time, energy, and focus.   Spend one day rebuilding that foundation. Walk out with a self-management and well-being action plan built around your own priorities, stressors, and strengths. Personal Mastery - Self-Management for Holistic Well-Being 📅 15 Oct 2026, 9am – 5pm 🎯 Work better, not just harder: https://bit.ly/PMSM-HW

Over the past year, we have shared about what Skills-First means, what it looks like in practice, and how it can shape the way we recognise, develop and grow the workforce. Here’s a quick TRUE or FALSE recap of some of the key points we have covered. At its core, Skills-First puts skills at the centre of how we understand what people can do, identify opportunities for development and support career and workforce growth. Now, the conversation is moving towards action. This October, IAL will launch a new "Skills-First Framework for Action" to help individuals and employers put Skills-First into practice. Stay tuned for more updates. #IALSingapore #SkillsFirst #WorkTransformation #LifelongLearning #CSFP

In an AI-enabled economy, our human edge lies in deep learning, the ability to think critically and apply knowledge creatively. Yet, IAL research reveals that less than 1 in 3 workers in Singapore are deep learners, while 41% fall into the "defeated" category. Access to training alone does not guarantee equal outcomes. The solution? A shift in the workplace environment. When employers design roles that encourage experimentation and problem-solving, an employee's internal drive to learn surges by nearly 50%. It is time to shift from simply counting training hours to driving true workplace impact. 💡 Read the article to discover how we can build a nation of deep learners: https://tinyurl.com/IAL-Deep-Learners

How do you scale a boutique craft-based business without diluting its heritage? For Rumah Kim Choo, the answer lay in transforming how their people contribute to the business. They embarked on a Learning Enterprise Alliance project with IAL to redesign their employees' roles from transactional sales staff into knowledgeable "Peranakan Heritage Ambassadors". Through practical, shop-floor coaching structured around daily constraints, the team built critical storytelling and curation capabilities. This workforce transformation not only elevated employee morale, it unlocked entirely new revenue streams through public cultural workshops, turning workplace learning into a direct driver of sales. Read the full story: https://tinyurl.com/IAL-Rumah-Kim-Choo

Are we using AI to work smarter, or letting it replace our critical thinking? A global study led by IAL's Principal Researcher, Associate Professor Chen Zan, found that while 63.6% of educators use AI to save time, most organisations still lack a clear AI strategy. This creates a gap between individual adoption and institutional support. Assoc Prof Chen Zan is also one of the editors for the book "Navigating the AI Frontier in Adult Education: International Practices and Perspectives from Adult Learning, Training, and Higher Education". The publication introduces the Co-Intelligence Matrix, a framework for intentional and responsible use of AI to automate routine tasks, augment human expertise, and free people to focus on higher-value work such as creativity, collaboration and decision-making. Read the book for free and discover how to lead in an AI-driven world: https://tinyurl.com/AI-Frontier-AE