Move to raise teaching standards at Han Culture & Education

Group sets up advisory committee with aim to offer more high-quality programmes

Han Culture and Education Group has assembled experts and professionals from fields such as technology, education and entrepreneurship to form an advisory committee.

It aims to strengthen the courses and teaching standards of the group, which is owned by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).

The group will also launch a cultural course for adults at the end of this month.

Chief executive officer Ooi Ching Ya said: "With the support of this advisory committee, I believe Han Culture and Education Group will be able to better integrate our strengths and expertise to offer more high-quality programmes to our learners."

Members of the committee include Dr Foo Suan Fong, executive director of the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language, and Mr Eugene Wong, chairman of CrimsonLogic, as well as vice-chairman of Japan Foods Holdings and the Singapore Business Federation's China-North Asia Business Group.

National University of Singapore's Department of Chinese Studies lecturer Chan Cheow Thia is also on the committee, along with Ms Anita Chen, director of technology at the International School of Helsinki.

The group will launch a Chinese business and cultural course that will help working professionals understand the business culture, politics and economy of modern China.

It will integrate resources from Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao, such as news reports, with its curriculum.

Ms Ooi said: "Our unique cultural content highlighting the developments of modern China and Singapore-China relations is what differentiates Han's adult courses from other language schools.

"We hope to support our adult learners in mastering the Chinese language in a creative and vibrant way, and help more students to continuously use their mother tongue. We see this not just as a vision, but as our mission as well."

Han Culture and Education Group's current adult offerings include Chinese language for beginners and intermediate Chinese language.

The group was established after the successful acquisition of Han Language Centre by SPH on Nov 1 last year. It currently operates 16 Han Language Centres islandwide, providing courses for primary and secondary school students, and adults.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 22, 2018, with the headline Move to raise teaching standards at Han Culture & Education. Subscribe