[Photo - SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer (Left) and SSC CEO Mr Lim Teck Yin joining hands with the signing of the MOU at Siloso Beach, Sentosa. (Picture by Yeo Kai Wen)]
Singapore, 26 Feb 2012 (Sunday) – Singapore Management University (SMU) and Singapore Sports Council (SSC) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a framework for collaboration to promote sport and explore possibilities of working together in sport-related initiatives.
An exciting new development in the pipeline as part of the MOU will be the launch of new sports electives, such as Sports Coaching, to provide SMU students the relevant knowledge and skills to prepare them for the sports industry in the future. The first SMU sports elective (refer to Annex 1), titled “Principles of Coaching in Sports” will commence classes in August 2012. The content of this elective is jointly developed by SSC and SMU.
SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer said, “We are delighted to cement what has been, to-date, an informal and ad hoc relationship with SSC. It is therefore fitting that our first sports elective is co-developed with SSC. We see a lot of synergy between Vision 2030 and SMU's holistic model of education. Our goals go beyond winning medals and scoring high grades. We both aim to nurture values and address the larger community's genuine concern, which is to be ready with skills and knowledge to face future challenges."
Under this partnership, a new Lifeskills Centre will also be established. It will develop courses that will provide practical lessons in not just sports-related skills, but also in character-building and community spirit development.
Commenting on the partnership, Mr Lim Teck Yin, Chief Executive Officer, SSC said, “The Singapore Sports Council is delighted to collaborate with the Singapore Management University. Sport instills a winning spirit; it encourages team work, it builds character and leadership. With Vision 2030, we want to create more opportunities and access for our youth to harness the value of sport. Through the Lifeskills Centre and sports electives, we can give our youth a competitive edge as they enter the workforce and better prepare them for the future.”
Professor Arnoud De Meyer added, “Currently, SMU's broad-based education already provides SMU students with electives that emphasize SMU's core values, such as ethics and social responsibility, leadership and team building. SMU Office of Student Life also provides experiential training in skills such as facilitation, conflict resolution, and safety management. This MOU provides the opportunity to develop joint offerings to a higher level to benefit a wider audience.”
Other possible areas of collaboration include the co-sharing of facilities and co-organisation of conferences and seminars. In addition, SMU students will have a chance to engage in industrial attachments at SSC and National Sports Associations.
Currently, SMU has 40 Sports Clubs, run by its students. To encourage greater participation from the public, SMU has, over the years, made available seven signature sports events in which members of the public can join as participants. These events include SMU Adventure Race, SMU annual soccer competition for girls (Diva La Futbol), SMU-SAVA Dragon Boat Race and Western Circuit Sailing Regatta.
About the Singapore Sports Council
Formed in 1973, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) is tasked with developing a holistic sports culture for the nation. The SSC creates opportunities for people to excel in sports; opportunities for people to be engaged in sports as, coaches, officials, volunteers or fans; and opportunities for people to do business in sports as sponsors and investors. The SSC has changed the way Singaporeans view and participate in sports. Through sports, we now have an enhanced national identity thanks to our sports participation programmes; greater national pride as a result of high performance results at international and regional games; and more diversified economic stability through our vibrant sports industry initiatives.
To find out more, visit our websites www.ssc.gov.sg and SingaporeSports.sg
Follow SSC on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Lets_PlaySG.
For a range of photographs, visit www.flickr.com/photos/ssc-sportsphotography
Under a new initiative called Vision 2030, SSC and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports are engaging people from all walks of life, the business community and the public sector to explore and develop proposals on how sport can best serve Singapore's future needs. Vision 2030 will look at how sport can be used as strategy to develop individuals, our communities, our economy and our nation. Members of the public who wish to share ideas, experience and information are invited to post on the official website www.Vision2030.sg