JOHOR BAHRU, 14 Nov. – From the rural town of Kapit, Sarawak, to receiving Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s (UTM) prestigious Chancellor’s Award, Dr. Shirley Ling Jen demonstrated how dedication, perseverance and lifelong learning could take an educator from the classroom to international recognition.

A secondary school English teacher with 22 years of teaching experience, Dr. Shirley completed her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in just two years and four months, achieving Graduate-on-Time (GOT) status while balancing her professional responsibilities, family commitments and research activities. Her academic excellence earned her the Chancellor’s Award in the Social Science  category during UTM’s 70th Convocation Ceremony. She was among four recipients recognised across different fields of study.

Recognised as the university’s highest and the most prestigious academic honour for outstanding graduating students, the award acknowledged her achievements in research, scholarly publications and educational innovation. She was also named among the recipients of the Best Postgraduate Student Award, further recognising her academic achievements throughout her doctoral studies.

Dr. Shirley Ling Jen, recipient of the Chancellor’s Award (Social Science) and Best Postgraduate Student Award at UTM’s 70th Convocation Ceremony.

Dr. Shirley pursued her doctoral research in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) at UTM’s Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahim Hj Salam, Chair of the Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Her doctoral thesis, titled ‘The Use of Generative AI Tool for English Essay Writing Performance and Learners’ Perceptions in a Malaysian Secondary School Context’, investigated how generative artificial intelligence (AI) could support English essay-writing skills among Malaysian secondary school students.

Recognising the challenges faced by students learning English as a second or third language, she developed an innovative AI-assisted essay-writing approach known as Bard G.

Dr. Shirley Ling Jen delivering a presentation on educational innovation (left), alongside selected findings from her published research on the use of Google Bard to improve secondary school students’ English essay-writing performance (right).

The approach incorporated a structured framework, a rainbow chart, instructional video materials and two learning modules designed to guide students through three stages of essay writing: pre-writing, while-writing and post-writing.

Her research findings demonstrated that generative AI tools, including Google Gemini, were effective in supporting students’ essay-writing performance across four key assessment components: content, communicative achievement, organisation and language.

Beyond its classroom applications, Bard G received five Gold Awards at international innovation competitions, reflecting its contribution to technology-enhanced English language education.

Throughout her doctoral studies, Dr. Shirley also established an impressive publication record as the main author of nine journal articles and four conference proceedings. Her publications included articles indexed in Web of Science, Scopus Q1 and Q2 journals, ERA, MyJurnal and MyCite.

Her contributions extended beyond academic publishing. In 2026, she was recognised among the Bett Asia EdTech 10, an initiative celebrating ten women contributing to educational innovation across Southeast Asia.

Figure 3: Dr. Shirley Ling Jen was recognised among the Bett Asia EdTech 10 in 2026 for her contributions to educational innovation in Southeast Asia.

According to Dr. Shirley, the recognition held special significance because she was the only recipient representing a secondary school, while the other awardees represented teacher education institutes, colleges and universities. Her professional achievements also included being recognised as a Ministry of Education (MOE) Edufluencer in 2023, one of Malaysia’s Top 100 Digital Teachers in 2024 and a Google Pioneer Teacher in 2025.

Despite these remarkable accolades, her academic journey was shaped by extraordinary personal discipline and determination. While waiting for her daughters to complete their tuition classes, Dr. Shirley regularly studied at a nearby 7-Eleven. She also used holidays and journeys back to her hometown to read research articles and work on her thesis.

To maintain consistent progress, she committed to writing her thesis for at least one hour every day. Whenever she missed a session, she compensated by spending additional time in the library during weekends. Her determination enabled her to complete her doctoral studies within two years and four months while continuing her teaching career and fulfilling family responsibilities.

“The single most important indicator of my success is to be humble and keep on learning. I never think that I am above anyone with my doctorate degree,” she shared.

For Dr. Shirley, receiving the Chancellor’s Award represented more than academic recognition. It reflected years of dedication to professional development and her belief that educators needed to continuously adapt to the changing demands of teaching and learning. Having achieved international recognition and completed her doctoral studies, she remained committed to expanding her professional expertise.

Dr. Shirley Ling Jen with her beloved husband on convocation day, celebrating the successful completion of her PhD journey at UTM.

At the time of the interview, she was undertaking additional courses towards becoming a Professional Technologist (Ts.). Her success demonstrated how the integration of academic research, classroom experience and digital innovation could empower educators to develop meaningful teaching solutions while strengthening the international visibility of Malaysian education.

Encouraging fellow educators and younger generations to embrace technological change, she emphasised: “Let us empower the digital tools rather than be the victims of the rapid growth of the technology.” Dr. Shirley’s recognition at UTM’s 70th Convocation Ceremony celebrated not only her outstanding academic achievements but also her commitment to lifelong learning and educational innovation.

Her journey from a rural community in Sarawak to international educational platforms served as an inspiring reminder that determination, humility and the pursuit of knowledge could transform individual aspirations and contribute to the advancement of education.