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Recently, Asia Pacific Language Centre (APLC), specialist language centre of Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), and recipient of Malaysia’s Best Centre of Excellence in Language Education Award at the Malaysia Education and TVET Awards 2026, strengthened its professional development efforts through a specialised training programme organised by the English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC), an agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Education (MOE).

Held at ELTC, Bandar Enstek, Negeri Sembilan, the training brought together more than 20 APLC lecturers for a focused session on andragogy and adult learning principles; providing them with an opportunity to explore approaches relevant to teaching adult learners. 

Strengthening Professional learning

With APLC serving students from more than 130 nationalities, its lecturers work with learners from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds; making an understanding of varied learning needs an important aspect of effective language teaching. 

Against this backdrop, the training introduced the lecturers to key concepts related to andragogy and adult learning, allowing them to explore how adults differ in their motivations, experiences, expectations, and approaches to learning.

Through discussions and exchanges, they shared classroom experiences, gained different perspectives from one another, and explored approaches that could be adapted to suit different learner needs.

These activities allowed the lecturers to broaden their understanding of how adult learners engage with learning, while considering how the principles discussed during the training could be applied to support greater participation and engagement in the classroom. 

Continuing a Culture of Professional Development

Overall, the training reinforced APLC’s commitment to continuous professional development, while encouraging its educators to keep learning, reflecting, and refining their teaching practices to support effective English language learning in a changing higher education environment.

Ms Bawani Pathmanathan (Lecturer, APLC at APU) described the opportunity as particularly meaningful, reflecting on how APLC’s ongoing efforts to expose its educators to new experiences have kept them motivated throughout their professional journeys.

“APLC has never stopped exposing us to new experiences, whether through events, professional development, or now, learning directly from MOE’s ELTC. 

“These opportunities push us beyond our comfort zones, keep us learning, and continually renew our motivation as educators; reminding me that even after 18 years with APLC, there is always something new to look forward to,” she said.

Building on this perspective, Ms Raziah Sultan Kabeer (English Proficiency Test and Teacher Training Coordinator, APLC at APU) highlighted the importance of actively pursuing professional development opportunities to broaden educators’ knowledge and teaching capabilities.

“By immersing our lecturers directly into ELTC under MOE, we are bringing national expertise into our teaching team.

“This collaboration broadens our capabilities and equips our lecturers with new approaches that can support effective language learning,” she said.

Similarly, Ms Sharen Kaur (Senior Manager, APLC at APU) emphasised the role of continuous professional development in keeping educators’ teaching approaches relevant to the changing needs of students.

“We cannot prepare students for a changing world if our teaching methods remain stuck in the past, especially as today’s students think, live, and learn differently than they did a decade ago.

“At APLC, we lead by example; recognising that great educators never stop learning, which is why we take part in advanced external training to develop modern teaching skills and bring global best practices into the classroom,” she said.