From November 12 to 14, 2024, Dr. David Yap, CEO of Yelaoshr Education Group, attended the HundrED Innovation Education Summit in Helsinki, Finland. The summit gathered education leaders, scholars, and innovators from around the world to discuss the future direction of education, particularly the application of educational technology (EdTech) and the latest trends in educational reform. As one of Malaysia’s representatives of academic innovation, Dr. David Yap was deeply inspired during the summit, especially regarding educational innovation, educator empowerment, and the application of innovative technologies.
Revelations from Finnish Educational Philosophy
In Finland, their education system emphasizes student autonomy, personalized development, and a student-centred approach, which is fundamentally different from traditional educational models. As someone who grew up in Malaysia and attended a Chinese independent school, Dr. David Yap understands the importance of traditional culture in education. However, through Finland’s educational philosophy, he sees a whole new possibility.
“Finnish education made me deeply realize that education is not just about transferring knowledge, but about cultivating students’ ability to think independently and creatively. Through this approach, students can gain a broader space for growth—not just for exam results, but for future independence and self-fulfilment,” Dr. David Yap said.
The Key Role of Educational Technology
At this summit, Dr. David Yap also gained a deeper understanding of how educational technology (EdTech) plays an increasingly important role in enhancing teaching effectiveness, reducing teacher workload, and driving educational innovation. Finland’s education system, through the introduction of technology, has not only reduced teachers’ administrative and clerical tasks but also provided educators with more time to focus on teaching content and student development.
“We are promoting the application of educational technology in Yelaoshr’s ‘From Educator to Edupreneur’ program, helping teachers reduce their workload so they can focus more on showcasing creativity and enhancing teaching quality,” said Dr. David Yap. “Educational technology is not just a teaching tool; it is a powerful support system that helps educators improve themselves and drive educational innovation.”
Education Innovation: Integrating Tradition with Modern Approaches
After attending the HundrED Summit, Dr. David Yap became even more determined to push for educational reform. He believes that the future of education should not only preserve the wisdom of traditional culture but also integrate modern educational philosophies and technological applications in order to effectively respond to the rapidly changing demands of today’s society.
“We must, based on respect for traditional culture, learn from the innovative educational philosophies of countries like Finland, and use educational technology to drive the modernization of education. Only in this way can we cultivate the next generation with innovative spirit and independent thinking abilities,” said Dr. David Yap.
Future Outlook
In the future, Yelaoshr Education Group will continue to uphold its mission of empowering educators and promoting educational innovation, particularly through the application of technology, to create a more flexible and efficient education system that supports the growth of both teachers and students. Through global communication and collaboration in the education sector, Yelaoshr also hopes to make greater contributions to education in Malaysia and around the world, driving educational reform toward higher quality, more personalized, and developing an innovative direction.
Dr. David Yap said, “Education is a powerful force for change in the world. Only through continuous innovation and breakthroughs can we truly realize the value of education and cultivate outstanding talents who are better equipped to meet the needs of future society.”
From National Recognition to the International Stage: My HundrED Application Journey
In 2019, I submitted the “From Educator to Edupreneur” program application to the HundrED Global Collection for the first time, with a clear goal in mind: to validate the impact of the program through recognition from an internationally authoritative platform. For me, this was not only an affirmation of my work but also a continuation of my sense of responsibility. Through HundrED’s recognition, I hoped to not only enhance the credibility of the program but also expand its reach to a wider educational scene, bringing change to more teachers and students.
The creation of “From Educator to Edupreneur” stemmed from my long-term observation and deep reflection on the education industry. Over the years, I have witnessed many outstanding teachers who give their all in the classroom but face limited career development due to traditional constraints. I firmly believe that educators’ abilities go far beyond the classroom; they should have more autonomy and can be leaders in educational innovation and societal value creation. Therefore, I came up with an ambitious idea—to help teachers transform from being purely educators to “edupreneurs” with entrepreneurial thinking. Through systematic training and resource support, I aimed to help them create more value for themselves and their students.
However, the result of my initial application was not as expected. HundrED’s rejection made me realize that no matter how excellent the concept of the program is, it is difficult to gain widespread recognition without sufficient data, results, and evidence to support it. This experience became an important turning point for me. I began to seriously reflect on how to accumulate influence through practice and how to communicate the core value of the program more clearly to a larger audience.
In the following years, my team and I continuously optimized the program’s content, conducted in-depth research into teachers’ actual needs, and injected more innovative elements into the plan. We started with the most basic teacher training, offering practical courses and hands-on guidance to help participants truly experience the value of the program. At the same time, we actively expanded our influence, promoting the program to larger areas and collecting a wealth of real-world cases and data. These results not only validated the effectiveness of the program but also provided strong support for our subsequent application to HundrED.
This year, when I submitted my application to HundrED again, I felt a sense of calm. This time, I was no longer simply hoping for recognition; I truly believed that this program could serve as a reference for global education. When I learned that “From Educator to Edupreneur” was successfully selected for the HundrED Global Collection, my joy was beyond words. This recognition is not only an affirmation of past efforts but also an international acknowledgement, marking the higher-level validation of the program’s impact.
Through the HundrED platform, my program was able to connect with a broader international education community. I was invited to attend the Education Innovation Summit, where I shared our story with educators from around the world and listened to their experiences and insights. These exchanges further strengthened my belief that educational innovation knows no boundaries. Its true value lies in providing inspiration and tools to educators from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling them to create change within their fields.
From the setback of my first application to the success of being selected today, my journey has been filled with challenges and growth. Initially, I simply hoped to validate the impact of this program through HundrED’s recognition. Now, I have come to realize that the significance of this recognition goes beyond enhancing the program’s credibility; it is also a driving force for pushing educational reform. In the future, I hope to influence more educators through the “From Educator to Edupreneur” program, helping them break through their limits and collectively contribute to the future of education.
