Looking at him now, you would find it difficult to believe that Dr Shaun Teo from NUS Geography, recent winner of the prestigious Urban Geography Early Career Researcher Prize, was once a young, disengaged student at school. Now, he has established himself as a fine educator, winning multiple Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards and recently the Annual Teaching Excellence Award. Shaun is popular among students for his unique teaching philosophy and methods. To find out how this came to be, we sat down for a chat with him.

A Nudge in the Right Direction
For most of his school life, Shaun was a terrible student by traditional standards. He was disinterested in what was being taught in class and did not pay attention, almost causing him to retain in his first year in Junior College. He was excited to enter NUS as an undergraduate to finally pursue subjects he was interested in—or so he thought.

Like most of us, Shaun was also victim to the many twists and turns of university life. He started his foray into university with linguistics, something he long wanted to try his hand at. However, after giving it a taste, he noticed that he wasn’t performing very well in class (this was not his major concern), and that it was far too ‘mathematical’ for him (this was the deal-breaker).

Coincidentally, a peer encouraged him to give geography a try. “Back then, my impression of geography was the same as most people – studying rocks and mountains,” shares Shaun. “Little did I know that geography in NUS would change my entire outlook on education.” Talk about a nudge in the right direction.

After just a few lectures in geography, the previously disinterested student began looking forward to going to class. Shaun’s first two courses were Nature and Society and Cities in Transition. The content taught in these courses captured his attention, a phenomenon quite rare in his education journey. Particularly, Shaun appreciated the high degree of engagement he received. “The opportunities for engagement in the geography department were plenty. The fact that I could just make an appointment with my professors or chat with them along the corridors really made me feel like I mattered – that these important people had time for me,” says Shaun. “More importantly, they were often willing to share their personal stories, which got me interested in academia and education.”

The School of Life: A Geography Student in the Private Sector
And that’s how Shaun found his major. But what about life after NUS? “In my cohort, people usually saw geography as a degree largely suited for jobs in the public sector. I was one of only three people who went into the private sector,” shares Shaun. “I firmly believe geography is a way of thinking and doing—so you can pursue whatever you want.” Shaun has always been a jock – fascinated and entertained by sports. It is no surprise then that his first two jobs after graduation were in sports marketing where he helped clients brand themselves through sport. Some of his most exciting memories involved working with world-class athletes and racing luxury sports cars. The job at BMW Motorsport also exposed him to the world of High Net Worth Individuals.

While he did not go down the ‘standard’ public sector route, Shaun has always believed in the value of his degree. “Geography helped me to understand the important of creating contextually-specific branding strategies which at the same time resonate with the world, not unlike the drive to world-classness by city governments around the world. There often isn’t a direct application of the content in your degree; you need to figure out the relevance of what you learn for yourself,” he says.

The Nurturing Educator
When asked about his return to NUS and academia, Shaun insists that it was serendipitous. Contrary to the norm, he applied for the NUS geography Master’s programme on a whim (and maybe because his professors had always suggested this transition). He was greatly surprised when he received a call notifying him that his application was successful, and that he was being offered a scholarship.

As Shaun was doing his Master’s degree, thoughts of wanting to pursue academia as a career came naturally to mind. “When you’re in this department as a Master’s student, it is really easy to say – 'Let’s do it, become an academic',” he shares. “You’re in an environment where everyone is talking about research, and they’re all very inspiring and supportive.” Even in this environment, pursuing academia remains an arduous path and there were many times when Shaun wanted to call it quits, especially when he alone abroad doing research. However, he persevered, driven by his desire to come back and teach in the NUS geography department.

When asked about his current job, Shaun shares, “I feel very privileged to do a job that I dare say I like. We know so many people who go out there and hate their jobs, I’m one of the fortunate few that enjoys what I do.”

And this isn’t a one-way street. As much as Shaun loves teaching, many students love taking his classes. A big reason why is Shaun’s emphasis on instilling practical skills, seen through specialised public speaking and interview masterclasses he conducts throughout the semester for his students. His goal is to guide geography majors to find and articulate their value to society.

Apart from his enriching classes, Shaun is also known for his ethics of care which he bases on the quote - 'Those who are loved, learn'. “Learning is emotional,” he shares. “It’s about creating an environment where students know that I care for them as an individual, and that I personalise my teaching to their learning style.” Shaun has shown this level of care through numerous ways, whether it be checking up on students who seem down or offering advice to those with concerns.

Through Shaun’s journey, we can see that life is almost always uncertain. For those stressing over their next chapter, it may be a comfort to know that Shaun too did not have everything figured out. He was constantly faced with different pathways ahead of him and had to adapt along the way, only finding his calling long (7 years!) after graduation. Even now, he continues to innovate and is now working closely with social media to enliven his teaching.

We can’t always be prepared for what’s ahead. But if like Dr Shaun Teo we’re open to opportunities and willing to embrace change, then we’re certainly on the road to figuring things out.

Dr Shaun Teo is Assistant Professor at NUS Geography. His current research involves youth urban futures in Asia, and he teaches GE3204 Cities and Regions: Planning for Change and GE4204: New Geographies of Urban Theory.