When Life Education Enters Mainstream Education (Part II) – University Edition

Bringing Life Education into the classroom is about more than simply introducing a new course. It is about recognising that some of life’s most important questions cannot be answered by a textbook or a syllabus and giving students the space to explore them, to have conversations that matter, and to form their own answers.

Education prepares us with the knowledge and skills to build a future. But perhaps it should also prepare us for the life we are going to live.

Before Educating Others, Educators First Learn to Live with Death in Mind

In early 2025, Professor Mok Soon Chong, Vice-Chancellor of New Era University College, led a group of faculty and staff to Xiao En for Life Education Learning Tour. The first to step into the realities of life and death were educators themselves. Through learning about bereavement care, caregiving, farewells and companionship, they gained a deeper understanding of what it means to care for others and be present through life’s most difficult moments. In confronting death, they were also reminded of what it means to be alive, to cherish the people around us, and to take responsibility for the relationships that matter.

Among the participants was Associate Professor Tey Shi Bin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of New Era University College. She described “ Living with death in mind ” as a learning journey that takes courage and companionship, and called on more teachers and adults to “ hold space for their students, and for themselves ”. She also highlighted the importance of Life Education at the tertiary level, and expressed her appreciation to Xiao En Group for creating an authentic and meaningful space for learning, one that is willing to “ make time for what takes time ”, while respecting and accompanying students as they encounter questions about life.

That same year, New Era University College and Xiao En came together to develop Life Education as a general education elective. It was formally introduced as a credit-bearing course, open to students across different disciplines.

Launched in 2025, the course has since completed two academic years. Rather than ending in a conventional examination, each semester culminates in a Life Education exhibition and graduation showcase, where students bring their reflections to life and inviting more students and educators to come closer to the realities of life’s final moments, and in doing so, rediscover what makes life meaningful and worth cherishing.

“ Higher education should be about more than preparing students with the skills and capabilities they need for employment. It should also nurture a sense of care for the society we are part of. In an age of rapid advances in artificial intelligence, it is increasingly important to learn how to engage in meaningful dialogue with ourselves and build meaningful relationships with those around us. Life Education provides a valuable space to reflect on what it means to be alive, and to develop the resilience to navigate life’s challenges.” —  Professor Mok Soon Chong, Vice-Chancellor of New Era University College, in his address to students at the Graduation Showcase.

Life Education does not have to be a compulsory subject, but it deserves a place in education today. Education prepares us for what lies ahead. Life Education reminds us that preparing for the future is only part of the journey; we must also learn how to live in the present.

This Original article first appeared in《 PUMEN普门 》magazine. [ Click Here ]

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