The 13th Lau Teng Chuan Physical Education and Sports Science Symposium

The 13th Lau Teng Chuan Physical Education and Sports Science Symposium, hosted by the Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS) Department, is scheduled to take place on Friday, 8 November 2024, from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm. The venue for this event will be Lecture Theatre 1 at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. This year's symposium revolves around the theme of "Sport Science and Management: From Research to Practice."

We are honoured to announce the presence of Mr Koh Peng Keng, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Health Promotion Board, as the Guest of Honour and invited speaker for the event. Additionally, our distinguished keynote speaker will be Ms Tessa Cho, Director, CEO Office, World Table Tennis.

During the symposium, Associate Professor Adrian Kee, Head of PESS, will deliver a welcome address. Mr Lau Cheng Hock, the son of the late Dr Lau Teng Chuan, will also share his insights and thoughts on this occasion.

The event will include research project presentations conducted by final year students from the Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS) and Sport Science and Management (SSM) programmes. These presentations will be complemented by the participation of international undergraduate students from Chulalongkorn University, Deakin University, and Waseda University.

All are welcome! 

Registration closes on Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 11:59 pm.

Programme

9:00 am - 9:15 am - Arrival of Guests

9:15 am - Guests to be Seated 

9:30 am - 9:35 am - Opening Address by Associate Professor Adrian Kee

9:35 am - 9:45 am - Address by Mr Lau Cheng Hock

9:50 am - 11:15 am - Talks by Invited Speakers, Mr Koh Peng Keng and Ms Tessa Cho

11:15 am - 11:30 am - Presentation of Tokens of Appreciation and Photo-Taking

11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Lunch Reception

12:30 pm - 2:00 pm - Student Research Project Presentations

2:10 pm - 2:25 pm - Announcement of Project Presentation Winners

2:30 pm - End of Programme

Dr Lau Teng Chuan BPE, MSc (1929-2012) 

The Father of Physical Education in Singapore

Introduction

Dr Lau Teng Chuan was a distinguished Singaporean sportsman, coach, teacher, and sports administrator, often hailed as the 'father of physical education' in Singapore. Born on April 13, 1929, he left an indelible mark on the world of sports in the island nation and was instrumental in shaping its sporting landscape.

Education

Dr Lau's journey into the world of sports and physical education began at Victoria School in Singapore, where he demonstrated remarkable prowess in various sports disciplines. His formal education continued at Loughborough College in the United Kingdom, where he pursued physical education, eventually graduating with DLC 1st Class Honours in 1956. Later, in 1973, he earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Oregon in the United States.

Career

Dr Lau's illustrious career spanned various facets of sports and education. He represented Singapore as a national badminton player from 1956 to 1958 while simultaneously serving as a lecturer and later as the Chief of Physical Education at the Institute of Education until 1975.

His contributions extended beyond the badminton court as he assumed the role of Singapore's chief badminton coach from 1963 to 1965 and later served as the honorary visiting coach of the New Zealand national badminton team.

From 1975 to 1992, Dr Lau served as the Executive Director of the Singapore Sports Council. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in shaping and implementing Singapore's strategy for physical education and sports. He spearheaded initiatives to enhance coaching education and development in the country and introduced the National Physical Fitness Award/Assessment (NAPFA) test for students. This test later evolved into the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) used by the Singapore Armed Forces.

In 1995, Dr Lau was appointed to the Singapore National Olympic Council, where he took over as Secretary-General in 1996. His leadership and dedication to sports administration were evident as he actively promoted physical education in schools and advocated for sports facilities in the community. He also championed mass sports participation events, leaving an indelible legacy in Singapore's sporting culture.

Additionally, Dr Lau served as a Vice-President of the Singapore Amateur Athletics Association and held the position of Honorary Secretary of the Football Association of Singapore from 1982 for over a decade.

Autobiography and Philanthropy

Dr Lau's passion for sports and desire to share his experiences led him to write an autobiography titled "Lau Teng Chuan: Sportsman, Teacher, Sports Administrator" in 2012. Over 400 copies of this book were distributed to the sporting community in Singapore, with the proceeds going to the Lau Teng Chuan Scholarship Fund, benefiting physical education teachers.

Awards and Recognitions

Dr Lau Teng Chuan's remarkable contributions to sports and education earned him numerous accolades. He received the National Day Public Service Administration awards in 1969 (bronze) for education and 1981 (silver) for sports. In 1997, he was honored with the International Badminton Federation's Distinguished Service Award. In recognition of his significant contributions, Loughborough University conferred upon him an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in 2003.

Personal Life and Legacy

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr Lau had a close-knit family, being married to Mary and fathering two sons and a daughter. His family expanded to include seven grandchildren.

On May 8, 2012, Dr Lau Teng Chuan passed away at the age of 83 due to stomach cancer, leaving behind a profound legacy. His dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence in the field of sports and education continue to inspire generations of athletes and educators in Singapore.

Source: Wikipedia

Mr Koh Peng Keng

Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Health Promotion Board

Mr Koh Peng Keng is a seasoned public sector leader with over 16 years of experience in health promotion, operations management, and sports administration. He is currently serving as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Health Promotion Board since April 2023, following a successful tenure as Chief Operating Officer from 2021 to 2023. Mr Koh previously played a crucial role in Singapore's COVID-19 response as Group Director of the Testing Operations Task Group. Prior to that, spent six years as Group Director of Operations at the Ministry of Health Singapore, demonstrating expertise in healthcare management and policy implementation. Earlier in his career, Mr Koh contributed significantly to Singapore's sports development as Senior Director of Sports at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth for over five years. His diverse background showcases a strong track record in strategic leadership, operational excellence, and driving national initiatives across health and community sectors.

Ms Tessa Cho

Director, CEO Office, World Table Tennis (WTT) and International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)

Tessa Cho is the Director of the CEO office at both World Table Tennis (WTT) and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). Since first joining the ITTF in 2019, Tessa has held a variety of roles across the organisations, from partnerships marketing and operations to stakeholder engagement and management. A graduate from the NTU SSM course, Tessa’s experience from the strategic level of both the institutional and start-up environments, has allowed her to grow into a confident sport management professional. Tessa looks forward to sharing her experiences to grow the local sport business community.

Theme: Sport Science and Management: From Research to Practice

Title: Getting the Nation to “Move It” – Challenges and Opportunities”

Speaker: Mr Koh Peng Keng

Synopsis: “Move It” is the umbrella term for HPB’s physical activities programme. The speaker would highlight some challenges in uptake of physical activities, share HPB’s strategies and areas to strengthen and calling out potential roles Physical Education and Sports Science graduates can play.

Title: Changing the Future of Sports Business: Insights from World Table Tennis

Speaker: Ms Tessa Cho

Synopsis:  Arguably the fastest growing global sports IP in recent years, World Table Tennis has revolutionised the way table tennis is now viewed and consumed. What makes WTT so special? Why was there change? The session will explore the changing future of sports business through the lens of WTT and also hopes to provide insights into opportunities in the sports management industry.

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Registration closes on Wednesday, 6 November 2024.