Academic Board

What does the Ascend Academic Board do?

The Academic Board’s principal responsibility is to maintain the highest standards in English language programs and teaching at Ascend Education Centre. The Academic Board is also responsible for overseeing the development of all academic activities at Ascend Education Centre, formulating and reviewing policies, guidelines and procedures in relation to academic matters and playing an active role in assuring the quality of teaching. In short, the Academic Board shall have the responsibility for monitoring and upholding the academic standards of the school and for regulating teaching. Specifically, the Academic Board:

• Engages in the process of design, development and review of the contents of all courses offered by Ascend Education Centre to ensure relevance and rigour.
• Approves the curriculum design and development outcomes of all courses.
• Approves outcomes and recommendations of the curriculum review process.
• Stipulates the optimum teacher-student ratio for every course and the mode of delivery to maximize learning outcomes.
• Sets the selection criteria and minimum qualifications for part-time academic staff.
• Approves short listed teacher applicants before recruitment.
• Approves the academic staff deployment.

David Doyle BA, CELTA, MA David is an Irish citizen, is the CEO of Ascend with a diverse background in the education and finance industries. David was a research and teaching assistant at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth where he was a British Council Chevening Scholar in International Relations from 1996-1998. He holds a primary degree in Economics and a Masters Degree in International Relations. Since 2001, David has made Singapore his home, working and teaching in the Education industry. In 2003 he completed his CELTA with the British Council Singapore. In June 2004, David, in partnership with fellow Irishman Gareth O’Brien, started Ascend Education Centre.

Ranitha Naidu BA CELTA Ranitha is a Singaporean and a graduate from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts. She has a Cambridge CELTA from The International House, London. Ranitha's work experience in the private education industry in Singapore spans over 16 years. Ranitha has worked as a Marketing Manager and Product Development Manager in an MNC. She has also taught and managed students from across the globe and specialises in the teaching of English.

Lauren Swieter MA Lauren is from the USA and has taught English in various parts of America, Hong Kong and Singapore. She has taught general, business, and academic English to children, adults, and business professionals. Lauren has a master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, as well as a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish. She is passionate about teaching and learning, and wants to see all Ascend students succeed in reaching their goals.