Dr Grace Chai, FHEA

Dr Grace Chai brings more than a decade of experience working with teenagers and young adults in higher education.

Prior to founding Grace Development Centre, she spent over 11 years at the University of Southampton Malaysia, where she served in academic and student-support roles, including Programme Coordinator, Assistant Professor and Senior Tutor.

As Senior Tutor, Grace provided pastoral support and guidance to students navigating academic, personal and wellbeing challenges. Her role involved mentoring young people, supporting students experiencing difficulties, and helping them adjust to the transitions and demands of university life.

As Programme Coordinator, Grace led projects to support students with diverse learning needs, including using technology to create more accessible and inclusive learning environments. Working with many bright students who learned in different ways, she saw how teaching that responded to individual needs could help them engage more confidently and make progress in their learning.

These experiences shaped her belief that, with an inclusive environment and appropriate support, teenagers and young people can build on their strengths and thrive. They also helped her recognise the importance of social skills, communication and teamwork in enabling students to participate fully, build relationships and succeed alongside others.

She also served as a member of the Special Consideration Board at the University of Southampton Malaysia, contributing to the review of requests from students whose assessments had been affected by exceptional circumstances.

Through her work across these roles, Grace developed a growing passion for supporting young people’s social and emotional development alongside their academic learning. This led her to pursue professional training in counselling and specialised training in the PEERS® for Young Adults programme.

Grace subsequently founded Grace Development Centre to create a welcoming and supportive environment where young people can develop practical social skills, build confidence, strengthen relationships and navigate the challenges of young adulthood. Her approach is guided by a belief in understanding each person’s needs, recognising their strengths and supporting their individual path towards growth.

Grace holds a PhD in Physics and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Her fellowship recognises her professional practice in teaching and supporting learning in higher education. She is currently a Trainee Counsellor.