Many individuals may experience coaching for the first time in their corporate roles. We argue that coaching should begin earlier, during their educational journey. Like the analogy of gravity pulling us back, students can often be stuck with certain maladaptive habits of learning, and educators may find it hard to move away from telling or giving advice. With effective coaching conversations, we can help students "learn, unlearn, relearn" new habits to be more effective. Research evidence suggests that coaching helps students achieve higher academic performance, improved well-being, and overall development. Introducing coaching in an institution also fosters a positive coaching culture, benefiting diverse stakeholders within the ecosystem.

What exactly is coaching in education, and how does it differ from executive and life coaching? How can an institution embark on the coaching journey and prepare its members to adopt a coaching mindset and become coaching practitioners? How can professional coaches contribute to this educational ecosystem? Singapore Institute of Technology's coaching journey has led to numerous discoveries and practical insights that go beyond the realms of education and coaching, providing answers to the above questions. The journey has involved adapting professional coaching frameworks to the context of higher education, collaborating with international practitioners and scholars, and contributing to academic and practitioner publications.

In this session, the presenters will share their stories and insights from their coaching journeys within higher education, emphasizing lifelong learning. Key lessons from a new book, "Coaching Students in Higher Education: A Solution-Focused Approach to Retention, Performance, and Well-Being" (published by Routledge) will be discussed. The presenters believe that the field of coaching in education in Asia, especially in higher education, is nascent and holds great potential for growth. This, in turn, can positively impact the evolving learning ecosystem and benefit all stakeholders.