Making Accounting Meaningful: Ella Siu Receives President’s Award for Teachers 2019
President’s Award for Teachers
4 September 2019
Ella Siu believes learning should be engaging, relevant, and accessible to every student. The Senior Lecturer from RP School of Management and Communication was recognised with the President’s Award for Teachers 2019 for her innovative approach to teaching and student development.
Ms Ella Siu, Senior Lecturer, RP School of Management and Communication, receiving the President’s Award for Teachers Winner 2019 from President Halimah Yacob
Ella Siu believes that learning is most effective when students are actively involved in the process. As a Senior Lecturer from RP’s School of Management and Communication, she continually looks for new ways to make accounting approachable, engaging, and relevant to everyday life.
Her efforts were recognised when she became one of seven recipients of the President’s Award for Teachers 2019, selected from thousands of nominations submitted by school leaders, teachers, parents, and students across Singapore.
Having once struggled with accounting herself, Ella understands the challenges students face when learning the subject. This inspired her to develop innovative teaching approaches that help students overcome their fears and build confidence.
One example is an e-learning simulation she created to teach relevant costing decision-making. In the activity, students help a virtual character choose between two guitars by considering factors such as budget and cost implications. Through a series of interactive questions, students learn how accounting concepts can be applied to real-life decisions.
Beyond innovative teaching methods, Ella is committed to creating a classroom culture where students feel comfortable asking questions and participating in discussions.
To me, no question is a silly one and I will address all questions to the best of my ability. I appreciate students posing questions to make the learning environment an engaged, open and non-judgemental one.— Ms Ella Siu, Senior Lecturer, RP School of Management and Communication, President’s Award for Teachers Winner 2019
She is especially encouraged when students share that classroom discussions have helped them better appreciate the relevance of accounting and how it applies to their daily lives.
For Ella, education is not only about academic success. She also encourages students to think beyond themselves and contribute to the wider community.
“To be able to contribute to society helps students develop a sense of purpose, and this would eventually help them become better individuals.” she shared.
Driven by this belief, she mobilised students to partner with SunLove Seniors Activity Centre (Marsiling), where they organised monthly visits to interact with and befriend elderly residents living in one-room flats. What began as an initiative has since grown into an ongoing project led by students from the Diploma in Business.
Following the award ceremony at the Istana, where she received her award from then-President Halimah Yacob, Ella was also awarded a professional development grant to participate in an overseas study trip. The opportunity allowed her to gain fresh insights and ideas that she could bring back to enhance learning experiences for her students.
Through her innovative teaching, commitment to student development, and passion for community impact, Ella continues to inspire students to learn with confidence, purpose, and curiosity.
Congratulations to Ella on receiving the President’s Award for Teachers 2019.