1st Edition
Coaching Students in Higher Education A Solution-Focused Approach to Retention, Performance and Wellbeing
This practical guide for educators in higher education encourages readers to ask effective coaching questions and apply relevant coaching techniques to empower and engage students to grow and perform at their best.
Filled with authentic examples and handy tips, the book takes readers from the ‘how to’ of coaching, through the practicalities, challenges and honing of existing skills and new capabilities. The authors recognise that in educators’ daily encounters and interactions with students, there are many timely coachable moments for authentic learning. These opportunities can enable students to learn beyond what is squarely in their curriculum and develop their own pathways to become work-ready graduates. Through coaching, educators help students discover more about themselves while guiding them to innovate and generate solutions to perceived and real-world problems. This guide offers in depth discussions along with tools and tips to provide invaluable guidance for educators to get acquainted with the key skills needed to coach students for success in various academic and professional contexts. The content covers multiple varied scenarios, from classrooms and assignments, to internships and group work, and highlights various coaching opportunities with practical strategies.
This is a resourceful text for educators, teachers and professionals working in higher education and learning institutions. It provides training material for institutions that want to conduct faculty development programmes to prepare educators for effective coaching conversations in their universities.
Section 1: The What, Why and How of Coaching in Higher Education
Chapter 1. Coaching in Higher Education: Creating Impact
May Sok Mui Lim and Nadya Shaznay Patel
Chapter 2. Coaching for a Preferred Future: The Solution-Focused Approach
May Sok Mui Lim, Joe Chan and Ramesh Shahdadpuri
Chapter 3. Identifying Coachable Moments
May Sok Mui Lim and Ramesh Shahdadpuri
Chapter 4. Empathetic Coaching Conversations: Being Emotionally Present and Connected with Students
Kyrin Liong and Nadya Shaznay Patel
Section 2: Coaching for Academic Performance
Chapter 5. Coaching Dialogue as Feedback to Improve Performance
Mara McAdams, May Sok Mui Lim and Nadya Shaznay Patel
Chapter 6. Coaching To Promote Retention: Supporting Academically At-Risk Students
Karina Dancza, May Sok Mui Lim and Kyrin Liong
Chapter 7. Using a Coaching Approach for Group Work
Holly Andrews
Chapter 8. Adopting a Coaching Approach to Doctorate Supervision
Rebecca J. Jones
Section 3: Coaching To Prepare the Future Workforce
Chapter 9. Coaching For Workplace Internships: Is My Coachee a Student or an Employee?
Peng Cheng Wang, Rendell Kheng Wah Tan, May Sok Mui Lim and Chee Ming Ong
Chapter 10. Coaching in Clinical Supervision
Karina Dancza and Valerie P. C. Lim
Chapter 11. Career Coaching and the Application of Career Theories in Higher Education
Boon Yong Kwok, Jeffrey Thng, Gin Yong Ong and Weili Zhang
Section 4: Leveraging The Potential of Coaching for Educators and Students
Chapter 12. Coaching in a Student Support Programme
Bavani Divo, Fun Man Fung, Ramesh Shahdadpuri, Peng Cheng Wang and Eric C. P. Chua
Chapter 13. The Coaching Journey: Pathways for Institutions and Educators to Build Coaching Competencies and Culture
Ramesh Shahdadpuri and Cheryl Pei Ling Lian, May Sok Mui Lim
Biography
May Sok Mui Lim an Associate Professor and Assistant Provost (Applied Learning) at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). May is on a mission to promote coaching and transform the learning experience in higher education, and focuses on competency-based education, transition, and improving learning. Recognised for her contributions, she received the National Day Honours: Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 2022 and the SIT Teaching Excellence Award in 2016, 2019, and 2020. May is also an experienced occupational therapist by profession, she has been working with children with developmental delay and disorders in Singapore and Australia. A certified Solution-Focused Coach, she is dedicated to establishing a coaching culture for educators, aiming to develop students beyond the confines of the classroom.
Nadya Shaznay Patel is an Assistant Professor in the Business, Communication and Design cluster at Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and has over twenty years of experience as an educator, a researcher and trainer. With a passion for critical design futures thinking for interdisciplinary learning, she regularly facilitates workshops for educators and students. She recently published a journal article on Modelling Intellectual Empathy and Communicating Care. Committed to bridging the research-practice gap, she engages industry partners in applied research projects that leverage her expertise in Critical Design Futures (CDF)TM and interests in GenAI. Over the years, she has also worked with partners to offer industry-relevant workshops on empathetic leadership communication, personal branding, and corporate coaching and mentoring.
Ramesh Shahdadpuri is an executive coach and educational development specialist with Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). He leads coaching training and programmes for faculty development at the university for advancement of their professional capabilities as academics and in becoming effective educational leaders. Ramesh is credentialed International Coaching Federation (ICF) coach and a Professional Certified Corporate Coach from Singapore Management University. He has served on the Board and Committees of ICF Singapore Chapter, and is an active member in various coaching communities of practice. His coaching practice and research interests include academic, leadership, positive psychology, solution-focused, supervision, team and youth coaching.
“Coaching has proven to be an essential tool for students in institutions of higher learning. Done right it will help solve problems and reduce any anxieties face by students. Done well it can unleash hidden potential in students. This book is indeed timely as it provides some insights for those keen to embark on the journey of coaching. I am confident existing and new practitioners of coaching will benefit immensely from this book. Congratulations to the authors.”
Professor Yaacob Bin Ibrahim
Professor and Advisor to President, Singapore Institute of Technology
Former Ministers for Ministries of Communications and Information (2011-2018), Environment and Water Resources (2004-2011), Community Development and Sports (2002-2004).
“This book clearly highlights the role of coaching, especially with a solutions focus, in readying students for their lifetime of learning. I like its emphasis on the human touch, preparing the world of higher education for what’s most predictable about the future – it’s unpredictability.”
Paul Z Jackson
co-author of The Solutions Focus, TranSForming change for coaches, consultants and leaders
“This book offers a holistic approach to coaching that will enhance student learning, engagement and overall success. It is a comprehensive guide for those interested in practical pathways which focuses on strengths, and foster a positive and empowering approach to professional development. Plenty of nuggets of wisdom for meaningful dialogues.”
Simon TP Lee
Accredited Master Executive Coach (AC)
EMCC Global Accredited Master Practitioner (EIA)
Coach|Mentor Supervisor (ESIA)
"This is a book the world of HE sector has been waiting for: In depth, insightful and innovative. The editors explore the key themes from group work to PhD supervision, careers to internships to create an essential guide for Higher Education coaching”
Professor Jonathan Passmore
Henley Business School & EZRA Coaching
“Students in higher education today are faced with complex personal struggles, impacting their academic performance and growth. This invaluable book is a gem of resource for educators who wish to use coaching to enable and empower their students to tackle the various challenges they face. It provides varied scenarios and useful tips to guide faculty as they work with students individually and in groups. The systems perspective presented here is useful for educational institutions to consider as they plan to support student coaching and development holistically.”
Josephine Teo
EdD, MBA, PCC
ICF Singapore Board 2023-2024; Instructional Coach, Leadership Consultant and Coach, Certified Coach Supervisor
“May Lim, Nadya Patel and Ramesh Shahdadpuri’s excellent and timely contribution reminds us of the importance of the human connection in higher education. This is just what is needed right now. Highly recommended for anyone who supports students at university!”
Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh
Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
“This is a forward-looking and comprehensive book that highlights the importance of coaching in education in the 21st century. In this rapid changing world and the introduction of AI, the role of educators has evolved to be one that holds space for the development of students. I love how the emphasis is on the approach of using coaching to bring out the best to support the new generation for a better future.”
Amily Ang
President of International Coaching Federation (ICF) Singapore Chapter and Managing Director of The Growth Coach
