[4 September 2009]
Singapore Management University Signs Memorandum of Understanding with University Of Western Australia for Varsity Sports and Adventure Development and Exchange

? First Singapore university to establish international relations for cooperation and development of undergraduate sporting talent

? Skins Sports Award set up by Teamlink Marketing Pte Ltd to support students for sports programmes and exchanges

Singapore, 4 September 2009 - The Singapore Management University (SMU) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Western Australia (UWA) to establish collaborative ties and exchange in the sporting and adventure arena.

The MOU seeks to strengthen the sports and adventure development skills and networks of undergraduates from both universities through sports, adventure learning and leadership training exchange programmes. Through these programmes, the MOU also hopes to foster goodwill, friendship, closer cooperation and collaboration between undergraduates from both universities, and enhance holistic learning and student life experience beyond the classroom.

With the MOU, SMU and UWA can better tap into each other's expertise in sports management and sports excellence. UWA is one of the leading Australian universities in sports and adventure programmes. With over 35 clubs and programmes for sports development and a comprehensive range of sports centres and facilities, UWA is a strong partner in SMU's efforts to develop the sporting interests and capabilities of its undergraduates. Together with other Australian universities, UWA also started the Indian Rim Asian University Games (IRAUG) in 2005, a major varsity sporting event in the Asia-Pacific region.

As young management university, SMU has made great strides in nurturing the sporting interest and talent among its students. The university has some 40 active sports clubs, with 14 of them under its Sports Excellence Programme receiving focused coaching and facilities. These clubs have been winning medals at various local and international competitions. The university's sports clubs are instrumental in initiating and organising major national and international competitions, such as the SMU-Raffles Marina Western Circuit Sailing Regatta, MR500 Dragon Boat Race, Asian Varsity Fencing Championships and Diva La Futbol all-women's soccer tournament. Today, the university is a member of the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic Council and jointly established the Singapore Universities Council to promote sporting activity in Singapore.

SMU also pioneered the unique Student Active Involvement Leadership (SAIL) programme in 2004 to develop leadership and teamwork in its students through a structured 40-hour sailing certification programme. SAIL is designed as an experiential learning platform for students. It translates and complements classroom-based theories in management, communications, leadership and teambuilding, among others, with real-time hands-on experience on the yachts covering areas including command, seamanship knowledge, boat handling, risk assessments, navigation and crew communications.

Besides sports exchange programmes and tours, under the MOU, UWA will support an annual adventure expedition for SMU students, provide research and learning opportunities in the areas of sports science, sports management and recreation, and provide sport practicum and related internship programmes for SMU students. SMU will support UWA in engaging Singapore universities and tertiary institutions to participate in the IRAUG, and share knowledge and training of its SMU SAIL programme. Some of these exchanges and tours between the universities have already started.

To support and motivate outstanding SMU student talent in sports, sports goods distributor Teamlink Marketing Pte Ltd has contributed $12,000 to set up the Skins Sports Award. Mr Alfred S H Toh, General Manager of Teamlink Marketing Pte Ltd, set up the Award “as a form of encouragement and assistance to SMU student athletes so that they are able to do well in both their studies and sports.” Three Awards, worth a total of $6,000, will be given to exceptional students to participate in training and sports advancement programmes in Singapore or overseas, including at UWA. The Award will be given out in Academic Years 2009/10 and 2010/11.

“The MOU with UWA enhances our efforts to give our students a holistic undergraduate experience at SMU. UWA has excellent sports facilities and established programmes. I hope our students will enjoy and benefit greatly from the exchanges and friendships built with students from UWA and other varsities in the spirit of sports and adventure. At the same time, the Skins Sports Awards will be invaluable to support further development of top sporting talent studying at SMU,” said Associate Professor Low Aik Meng, Dean of Students, SMU.

“We are delighted to partner with SMU to support sporting and adventure interest among our students. As a management university, SMU will offer interesting insights into the application of sports and adventure programmes to develop well-rounded students. We also look forward to the closer networks and friends that our students can establish with their Asian counterparts,” said Bruce Meakins, Executive Director, UWA Sports and Recreation Association Inc.

Annex – Sporting Excellence and Achievements at SMU

About the University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia (UWA) was the State of Western Australia's first university, and was established in 1911. Today the University has over 19,000 students enrolled in nine faculties: Architecture, landscape and Visual Arts; Humanities and Social Sciences; UWA Business School; Education: Engineering, Computing and Mathematics; Law; Life and Physical Sciences; Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences; and Natural and Agricultural Sciences. The University excels in research and teaching, and have won numerous awards, the most noteworthy being the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, won by Professor Barry Marshall and Robin Warren.

The University's vision is to achieve international excellence and the MOU with Singapore Management University will assist in achieving these standards for our students in a global environment.

UWA Sport Development

The University, through UWA Sport and Recreation Association supports over 35 clubs and programmes, in sports ranging from ultimate Frisbee, cricket to waterpolo and sailing. Students have opportunities to compete at local, national and international level through events such as the Australian University Game and the Indian Rim Asian University Games. These pathways enable students to develop their potential in their chosen sport, whilst maintaining their academic achievements.

About Teamlink Marketing Pte Ltd and Skins

Teamlink Marketing is a Singapore-based sports company representing international brands such as Skins (Australia), Diadora (Italy) and Uhlsports (Germany). It is a 9 year old company with distribution channel in Singapore and across South East Asia.

Skins an Australian sportswear brand synonymous with innovation in performance. Its gradient compression technology in its sporting apparel helps sportsmen perform better and recover faster by delivering more oxygen to their muscles.