News & Updates

Our latest e-news and updates about online learning program in Malaysia. We leave no student behind.

Subscribe

The Malaysia Influential Educators (MIE) is a recognition given to the outstanding educators who have achieved excellence in education services by demonstrating their strong acumen and talent.

Today we have an exclusive interview with MIE awardee Dr. Cheryl Chan.

Could you share with us your family background? (e.g. how you were brought up, value instilled by your parents/families etc)

I was from a poor family, I have four siblings in the family and I am the youngest in the family. My parents were not highly educated due to their deprived family background.

Nevertheless, I was very fortunate to be able to pursue tertiary education to Ph.D level through various means, including the PTPTN loan from the government to pursue my first degree, followed by the grants provided by the college where I worked for over 10 years, to pursue my Master’s degree qualification. I was also highly fortunate to be awarded a full scholarship by Yayasan Khazanah to pursue my doctorate degree.

Though I was brought up in a not well-to-do family, my values and philosophy in life were nurtured throughout my involvement and participation in the Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM)’s activities since young. I grew up through the nurturing of the various activities and study groups organised by SGM. Thus, my outlook on life, values, and philosophy gradually took root from the Nichiren Buddhism teachings, my mentor Mr. Daisaku Ikeda’s guidance & SGM activities.

Could you share with us your education background or academic qualification?

2017 – Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Management and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur (Awarded the Yayasan Khazanah Scholarship in 2012)

Thesis Title – Protean and Boundaryless Career Attitudes and Employee Work Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Job Crafting

2004 – Master of Business Administration, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya (Graduated with CGPA 3.85/4.0)

2001 – Certificate in Human Resource Management, Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management, Petaling Jaya (Awarded Best Student Award by MIHRM, 2001 )

2000 – Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology & Sociology (Honours), Minor in Economics, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur (Graduated with Second Upper-Class CGPA 3.37/4.0)

The institution you currently work for, and your position.

Institution: VKids Trend Sdn Bhd
Position:
– Education Consultant
– Public Speaker
– Digital & Network Marketing Trainer

Could you share with us your experience in education industry?

I have over 10 years of experience in education and human resources. I have exceptional planning, administration, and leadership skills, particularly in program design, implementation and management. Below is a summary of my experiences in the education industry:

  • As a trainer in Issamay School of Beauty, I provided counselling and training for learners who study confinement and postnatal care courses, and helped in developing Issamay Confinement Care Diploma and Certificate courses
  • As a founder of Confinement Care Malaysia agency, I trained, coached, and mentored partners to ensure the smooth adoption and running of the business operation. We have partnered successfully with hundreds of freelancers who are homemakers, single mothers and postnatal therapists to deliver quality postnatal care services
  • As the Vice President, Student Experience\ of Educity Iskandar Malaysia (Oct 2017-Oct 2019), I organised numerous activities for students and received encouraging feedback from participants. I also spearheaded the establishment of the Student Representative Council of an Integrated Education Hub, a platform for voices and collaboration among student leaders from 7 Higher Learning Institutions
  • As the Head of Program cum Senior Lecturer, Northwood University, USA (July 2010-Jan 2012), I liaised directly with the university on accreditation, quality assurance, and delivery of programs. I also lectured Y2-Y4 students on business management courses and worked directly with the marketing department for program promotion and roadshows to achieve improved student enrollment numbers. I also spearheaded the preparation of COPPA documentation and successfully obtained MQA Accreditation for two twinning programs
  • In First City University College (May 2001-July 2010), I secured FOUR promotions (from Student Counsellor- Lecturer -Course Coordinator- Senior Lecturer -Deputy Head of School). I have successfully improved student participation in the classroom through the integration of games and creative role-playing exercises
  • As the Training & Development Executive (May 2000-May 2001), I implemented the company’s first Sports Club and spearheaded the sports events and staff get together events
Why did you choose to pursue a career in education industry?

I chose to pursue a career in the education industry because I am passionate about creating a meaningful life and an improved society through education. I strongly believe that through education we can change one’s life and education can bring a better life to mankind.

Please share with us - your view of education

As an educator, I have the mission to use my knowledge, wisdom, and skills to help those who are in need. Learning from my mentor Daisaku Ikeda, he regards education as fundamental to peace and positive social change. Through his dialogues, writings, and collaborations, he has been active in reorienting education toward those values and approaches. Education has a profound mission within society. It is not simply the transmission of knowledge. It is not simply the development of talent. Education is in fact a process of becoming fully human. According to Mr. Daisaku Ikeda, the development of a humanistic, nurturing society largely depends on a humanistic orientation in education, one that directs students toward the richness of their inner lives and the interdependence of their lives with the lives of others and with the planet itself. Thus, I strongly believe that nothing is more important today than the kind of humanistic education that enables people to sense the reality of interconnectedness, appreciate the infinite potential in each person’s life, and cultivate that dormant human potential to the fullest.

Please share with us - who has influenced you the most in your career

The person who influenced me the most in my career is my mentor, Mr Daisaku Ikeda. Mr. Daisaku Ikeda is a peacebuilder, Buddhist philosopher, educator, author, and poet. He was president of the Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist organisation in Japan from 1960–1979 and is the founding president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), one of the world’s largest and most diverse community-based Buddhist associations, promoting a philosophy of empowerment and social engagement for peace. He is also the founder of the Soka Schools system and several international institutions promoting peace, culture, and education.

So far, what was the greatest challenge in your career? Please share with us how you overcome the challenge.

Nurturing human beings and talents is considered the greatest challenge in my education career. I am still learning to be a good leader and educator as I truly believe that leaders/educators should lead by example in everything, which will not only bring victory, but also bring good fortune to themselves. If I grow and develop to be a better leader/educator, my juniors will follow suit, and the team/organisation will expand accordingly. Therefore, it is important to bring “hope” to every team member so that they may experience the “joy” and not to give up. In order to bring hope and joy to others, I must have hope and joy in myself.

What do you think is the critical success factor in this industry?

The key success factor in the education industry lies in its philosophy and purpose: The ultimate purpose of education is for human; thus emphasizing the humanistic education believing in every child’s unlimited potential, and regards education as the lifelong pursuit of self-awareness, wisdom, individual and social development, and the ability to make meaning, or ‘create value,’ in any circumstance.

Have you ever thought about giving up as an educator? Why did you choose to persist instead?

I have never thought of giving up as an educator. I consider education to be the ultimate undertaking of my life.

As quoted by my mentor Mr. Daisaku Ikeda, “the victory of education means the victory of the people.” and “education deals with the essence of what it means to be human. No undertaking is more valuable, more sacred.” Therefore I will not give up as an educator as I am always upholding the values thought by my mentor.

What drives you forward?

I am driven to use my knowledge and wisdom to empower people to lead genuinely happy and creative lives. Like my mentor’s teaching, the purpose of education must be fundamental to ensure that knowledge serves to further the cause of human happiness and peace.

Could you share with us your career plan?

To continue my journey as an educator, I wish to continue contributing whatever I could, including my knowledge, wisdom, skills, and time for those in need. I would like to empower people around me to discover their infinite potential and cultivate that dormant human potential to the fullest.

Have you received any educational award before? Kindly share the details if you have.

Achieved VKids Gold Club Hall of Fame in 2022.

Appointed as Women Division Chapter Chief of the Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) at the Kota Damansara, PJ region in 2016-2018 and in Nusa Bestari, JB region since 2019, leading a team of more than 30 leaders and over 200 members.

Awarded the Yayasan Khazanah Scholarship in 2012.

Awarded Best Student Award by Malaysia Institute of Human Resource Management in 2001.

Have you published any articles and/or papers in any educational publications before? Kindly share the details if you have.
  1. Boundaryless Career Attitudes, Employability and Employee Turnover. Perspective from Malaysian Hospitality Industry. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Volume 7 Issue 12, 2014
  2. The Effectiveness of Entrepreneurship Education in Malaysia. Education+Training, Volume 51 Issue 7, 2009
× Live Chat