Synopsis: The book aims to present a collection of stories from SoTL practitioners in Asia. These narratives will be reflective and woven around their experiences of undertaking one or more SoTL projects in their social, historical, and cultural contexts. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is a field of research and practice that focuses on the systematic study and improvement of teaching and learning in higher education. SoTL involves educators, faculty members, students, and sometimes staff conducting scholarly inquiry into various aspects of teaching and learning to enhance the quality of education and student learning outcomes. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is a well-established and growing field in higher education in the Western world, particularly in North America and Europe. Institutions of higher education have embraced SoTL in various ways, including the establishment of dedicated centers for SoTL, offering faculty development programs, and funding to conduct SoTL. There are institutional and external agencies that recognize and reward faculty engagement in SoTL. Numerous peer-reviewed journals, publications, and conferences are dedicated to SoTL research in various disciplines. The involvement of students as partners, encouraging them to be active participants in improving their own learning experiences, is a rising and distinct feature of SoTL in the West.
Higher education in Asia has been receptive and welcoming to adopting SoTL practices. However, the process has been complex and evolving process, shaped by a blend of cultural, historical, and global influences. In Asia, where cultural, social, economic, and historic legacies are often built upon complex colonial histories and where multiple races and religions coexist, the philosophy guiding SoTL practices might be framed using a distinct, diverse, and multifaceted approach to SoTL in the region. For instance, Confucian values that emphasize respect for authority, hierarchy, and the importance of education can influence teaching methods, assessment practices, and the role of the teacher-student relationship in SoTL. The increasing globalization of education in Asia may lead to the challenge of integrating traditional cultural values and practices with modern educational approaches, which can result in diverse SoTL research topics.