Freedom through truth for service. 因真理，得自由，以服务。

Teaching

Modules

Developed and convened at UoS
PAIR6068: Professional Skills for the 21st Century Policy World (MPA elective, Spring 2023)
PAIR2065/3071: Education Policy and Reforms: Global Experiences and Local Contexts (UG elective, Fall 2023)

Developed and delivered at LSE
SP101: Foundations of Social Policy Research (UG core, 2019, 2020, 2021; sample evaluation)
SP200: Comparative and International Social Policy (UG core, 2019, 2020)
  • "The group discussions were great. The teacher is good at having a free and open discussion, which is often very interesting. Efforts are made to ensure the discussion is from various stakeholders, opening our eyes to different perspectives." (student comment from anonymous course evaluation)
SP201: Research Methods for Social Policy (UG core, Fall 2019, 2020, 2021; sample evaluation)
  • "She is good at explaining complex concepts, always involves students in class. She is always really helpful in office hours as well." (student comment from anonymous course evaluation)
SP400: International Social and Public Policy (PGT core, Fall 2019, 2020, 2021; sample evaluation)
  • ​"The teacher is very clear at reinforcing foundational ideas and making the basics clear for everyone. Amazing work at providing slides and keeping a tight schedule for class." (student comment from anonymous course evaluation)
  • "Yifei is very good at including everyone in the class in discussions, and makes sure to “wrap up” the debates in concise and clear ways so that we understand how different views and examples relate to the topic. She gives positive feedback on why an example is appropriate, and is very constructive when critiquing anything that might not be directly related to the topic. She has also set up lots of online resources to help us even after the class has ended." (student comment from anonymous course evaluation)
SP432: Education Policy, Reform and Financing (PGT elective, Spring 2021, 2022; sample evaluation)
  • "She creates the slides of the seminar session as we go, so we are able to access what we have talked about afterwards. It allows us to focus on the discussion instead of taking notes, and makes it easier to engage." (student comment from anonymous course evaluation)
  • "The seminar presentations and follow-up comments on our seminars were extremely impressive and useful in my learning. Yifei is an excellent teacher whom I have been lucky to have been taught by for two modules this year. Her enthusiasm is motivating and also comforting when I feel less confident on certain topics." (student comment from anonymous course evaluation)
In this challenging year, I consider myself extremely lucky to have had Professor Yifei as my class teacher. Throughout this year, Yifei explained complex research methods clearly and always made sure that we were comprehending the content... thanks to her kindness, I felt very comfortable asking questions which improved my learning experience in the course." (Student comment from anonymous course evaluation on SP201)
Dr Yifei Yan is fantastic. She is thorough, creative and encouraging. She allows us to share our ideas and helps us to shape them. I never feel shut down in her classroom. Everyone's thoughts count. She inspires confidence in her students. Some people are meant to teach." (Student comment from anonymous course evaluation on SP400)
​Dr Yan effectively included everyone and made sure voices were heard. Her belief in our thoughts and her constant encouragement were very motivating. She is by far one of the best seminar leaders I have had during my time at LSE, and her ability to engage with students so positively is truly inspiring." (Student comment from anonymous course evaluation on SP432)

Student supervision

Undergraduate dissertations (LSE)
  • Supervised 2 BSc ISPP students, AY2020-21; supervising 3 BSc ISPP students, AY2021-22
  • Dissertation topics include early childhood education and care in England, emergence of increased surveillance in China, etc.
Postgraduate dissertations (UoS, LSE)
  • Supervised 14 MSc ISPP students, AY2019-20 & AY2020-21; supervising 6 MSc ISPP students, AY2021-22
  • Dissertation topics include early childhood education and care for international migrants in China, implications of education technology on Malaysia's education quality during COVID-19, role of Buddhist charity organizations in providing hospice care in China, experiences of mothers in the Indian formal sector beyond motherhood pay gap, etc.
Student research assistantship (LSE)
  • Supervised Emily Tan, a BSc ISPP student, in conducting a systematic literature review on accountability mechanisms used in education systems in developing countries, support by LSE COVID-19 Impact Fund, June 2021-February 2022

Guest lectureship

At UoS
Postgraduate Studies Seminar Series on Research Methodology Issues (Postgraduate elective, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, Spring 2023)

At LSE
Educational Leadership in the Tertiary Sector (Postgraduate elective, Education University of Hong Kong, Fall 2021)
Planning of Case Study Research Projects in the Design-Oriented Professional Discipline of Public Management (Faculty development, Escola Nacional de Administração Pública (ENAP) in partnership with Instituto Unibanco (IU), Fall 2020)
Research Methods in Public Policy (PhD core, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Spring 2020 and 2021)
Political Development in Modern China (Undergraduate elective, CIEE Global Institute London, Spring 2020)
Striving for Excellence: Best Practice in Urban Governance (Undergraduate elective in Chinese, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Spring 2020)

At LKYSPP
Workshop on Public Management Methodology in China (Postgraduate summer school, Lanzhou University, Summer 2019) Education Policy (Undergraduate elective, FGV/EAESP São Paulo, Fall 2018)
Qualitative Research Methods for Public Policy (PhD core, LKYSPP, Fall 2018)
Social Policy Design (Postgraduate elective, LKYSPP, Spring 2018)