[16 August 2008]
SMU welcomes record intake of students for Academic Year 2008

Singapore, 16 August 2008 – Singapore Management University (SMU) welcomes its ninth batch of freshmen at its Convocation Ceremony today. SMU's 2008 intake of over 1,660 students is the university's largest to date. Selected from record applications received this year, the 2008 intake of freshmen will pursue existing undergraduate degree programmes in business management, accountancy, economics, social sciences, information systems management and law.

SMU's holistic admissions criteria ensures an annual intake of freshmen who displays not only academic excellence but are also multi-talented with a wide range of skills, aptitude and leadership qualities. Many amongst the present intake are national sportsmen, accomplished artists, young entrepreneurs and passionate community service volunteers. Amongst this year's intake are Jenn Lim Pei Xin ??? (national table tennis player and SEA Games gold medallist), Stephanie Loi Shu-Ning ??? (national golfer and accomplished pianist), Leonard Tan Jin ?? (national swimmer, represented Singapore in SEA Games and Asian Games), Zabrina Chew Weiqing ??? (1st violinist with the Philharmonic Orchestra), Wong De Ming ??? (National Youth Achievement Award 2004 (Gold)), Derek Chan Hua Jie ??? (national rugby team player) and Chan Kai Min ??? (writer and published poet, debating champion in Methodists' Cup and junior college production director). This attests to the growing popularity of SMU as a university of choice among all-rounded, academically accomplished students.

Incoming students can tap on some 240 scholarships in SMU, including the University Study Awards introduced this year, as well as a wide range of bursaries and financial grants and subsidies for their studies. Over 200, or 1 in 7, freshmen have been awarded scholarships.

Amongst the international students, who make up 17% of the intake, over 90% come from India, China and ASEAN countries. With foreign students that also come from other non-Asian regions such as The Czech Republic and Mauritius, SMU students will benefit from the richness of the international diversity and cultural vibrancy, and enjoy the opportunity to study, network and bond with overseas students from 22 countries.

A hallmark of a global-oriented education at SMU, all local and international students will also have the chance to receive global exposure through programmes such as overseas university exchanges, Business Study Missions, overseas internships and community involvement projects, summer study, overseas conferences and work and travel programmes. The global exposure complements SMU's American-style interactive teaching pedagogy and broad-based curriculum that emphasises compulsory internships and community service. Some 400 SMU freshmen have already participated in starringSMU 2008 a community project. Focussing on the concept of racial harmony, the freshmen worked in collaboration with the North-West Community Development Council and brought people of different backgrounds together in a series of activities to celebrate National Day. starringSMU 2008 also raised $10,000, over their initial target of $8,000, for 5 social-welfare beneficiaries, through a fund-raising car wash service held in the Buona Vista neighbourhood. Their efforts culminated with the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC National Day Observance Ceremony, where SMU freshmen volunteers organised the SAMBA parade segment put up by 500 students from 6 schools and 500 students from SMU. The all-rounded undergraduate experience at SMU is aimed at shaping undergraduates into visionary business leaders who possess cross-cultural understanding, are compassionate and selfless towards society, civic-minded, and who are also equipped with highly relevant industry and out-of-classroom experiences.

In SMU tradition, all freshmen attended the university's unique team building camp in July-August. The camp is led by senior student facilitators with the objective of introducing freshmen to SMU's collegial environment and inculcating the important SMU ‘CIRCLE' values of Commitment, Integrity, Responsibility, Collegiality, Leadership and Excellence, the university's clarion call for newcomers.