Training & Events

What is well-being? Why is it important? How can we improve well-being? The first part of the session will explicate what well-being is and how it is conceptualised across the lifespan. Key arguments for why it is important across different life stages will be presented. The second part will dive down into the speaker's research programme on student well-being. The different enablers and barriers to students' well-being will be elucidated. Furthermore, the speaker will also showcase his lab's latest research on Singapore students' well-being. This research draws on cutting-edge data science and classical statistical approaches and leverages on the public availability of international large-scale assessments such as PISA and TIMSS. The last part of the session will focus on the how of well-being and will delve into practical implications of well-being research in the Singapore and broader East Asian context.

The Mindfulness Initiative @ SMU is excited to offer new rounds of our Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course in 2022. The course is open to the general public and invites anyone who would like to live a life with less stress and more awareness. Beginners are welcome. No prior knowledge or, or experience with, mindfulness practices is required.

By the end of this course, participants will have had the opportunity to learn the following:

• Understand the difference between stressors and stress, consequences of stress, and different ways of reacting towards stressors;
• Learning both informal and formal mindfulness practices
• Learn about what mindfulness is, including the relevance of attention, intention, and attitudes of mindfulness
• Experience a variety of formal and informal mindfulness practices to increase awareness and reduce and prevent stress
• Develop a personal practice of mindfulness

Positive  Education  is the  incorporation  of  the  science  of  positive psychology  into  the  life  and  work  of  schools (Seligman,  Ernst,  Gilham,  Reivich  & Linkins,  2009). It is aimed first at benefitting teachers personally and schools, in working towards transformational teaching and learning.  Positive Education inevitably works to create a school culture that supports caring, trusting relationships that distinguish excellent schools from their mediocre peers.

The 21st Century Competencies call for schools to place greater emphasis on imparting both “traditional skills” and teaching “well-being”. They also call for students to develop greater insights of the “self” as an agent for change and knowledge creation.  Schools that embark on the journey of positive education are more likely to be able to develop the future-ready child we want in a time of change and volatility.

The Positive Education Summit, to be held on a biennial basis, aims to provide strategies for schools in introducing and integrating Positive Education in Schools. It provides an in-depth exploration of the science of well-being through a two-day virtual conference. The focus is on transformation through teaching practical skills, and reinforcing the significant and lasting impact that positive psychology has on well-being and learning.

Through the conference, participants will gain valuable insights into the science of Positive Psychology and concepts of Positive Education and be equipped with the skills and knowledge to integrate Positive Education principles into their school or organisation.

Sha-En Yeo is the 1st Singaporean graduate of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program at the University of Pennsylvania. Sha-En has been featured on national TV documentary 'Chasing Happiness', MyPaper, Business Times; and shared 938LIVE & MONEY 89.3FM. Sha-En has more than 10 years of experience in education. Formerly Founder of Positive Education (now Founder of Happiness Scientists), she has trained more than 10000 people in schools, organizations, equipping them with the science and tools to be happier. Sha-En's first book, The Road to Success Vol. 2, reached the #1 Best-Seller Status in September 2016. Her second book, A Journey of School-wide Implementation of Positive Education, was launched in Oct 2020.

Claire is The Positive Movement's co-founder, lead trainer and coach. She specializes in designing and delivering programs in Positive Psychology, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and Coaching.

Claire holds a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), where she studied under the founding Professor of the field, Dr Martin Seligman, and other leading Professors including Angela Duckworth and Adam Grant.

She is an associate faculty at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) where she teaches Social-Emotional Learning and Positive Psychology in Coaching. Claire is a certified ontological coach with Newfield Network.

Claire has led training programs for both schools and corporates across Asia Pacific. Her previous clients include Hwa Chong Institution, Singhealth, National Healthcare Group and Novartis. She has also worked with the Family Justice Courts and Singapore Prison Service to embed Positive Psychology in public services.