Before studying at the department, Wan-Ying worked as an Education Officer with the Ministry of Education, Singapore.

What did you like most about studying in the Department of Education?

Being a part of a vibrant and diverse student community, and having the opportunity to engage in academic discourse with other students and academics.

What attracted you to the programme of study here?

Academic and research excellence of the Department; the well-planned and rigorous course programme

What qualities do you think an Education student at Oxford needs to have in order to be successful?

Has a passion for knowledge; is determined and focused; has good time and project management skills; demonstrates ability to work independently as well as with others; demonstrates ability to think critically about others’ as well as own’s work; demonstrates ability to write and articulate ideas clearly.

We hope that you would recommend the Department of Education as a place to come and study. What reasons would you give for this?

The Department is a centre of pedagogic and research excellence and is highly regarded internationally. The knowledgeable, dedicated and approachable staff members provide students with a wonderful level of support. On the personal front, the explosion of stimuli from interacting with friends from all over the world has been the most enriching experience thus far.

What are your career ambitions after you complete the course?

I hope to pursue an academic career and plan to take up a postdoctoral position after completing the course.

If I knew before I started the course what I know now, I would….

I think, during the course of the study, like in life, situations develop and opportunities arise along the way, and decisions have to be made accordingly, whether it turned out to be good or bad. Doing this course wasn’t something that I’ve planned for when I first came to Oxford, but I’m really glad that I’ve had this opportunity, one that I’m grateful for and cherish dearly.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Very often, research students describe doing a doctorate to be a rather solitary experience. However, this is not the case for most students in the Education Department. Here, we are well-supported by staff members and by peers. One of my favourite activities is attending the Coffee morning every Wednesday where members of the Department gather in the Common Room to take a well-deserved break from work, and to interact and chat with others. Personally, the department is like a second home to me, and I feel very much a valued member of the department.