It was a stimulating afternoon of project presentations by four teams from the pioneer batch of SMU’s Management Development Programme (MDP) and keenly observed by their project sponsors. Armed with intellect, innovative ideas, financial acumen, humour, wit and one-hundred-per-cent enthusiasm, the MDP teams went all out to persuade the judging panel chaired by SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer of their ideas and viability of their projects.

Institutional Vitality at SMU

Each team comprised mid-management staff from different departments across the whole University. The MDP is SMU’s talent development initiative that is integral to the building of institutional vitality in the University.

Project ideas for SMU that germinated from the four-day programme included developing a culture of staff volunteerism; strengthening service excellence in the University, growing a new sustainable business through professional education, and creating a one-stop student services centre.       

A Rewarding Learning Experience

In reviewing the various team projects, Professor De Meyer and members of his Talent Management Committee commented that they were delighted with the quality of all the ideas and presentations, and the ability of the teams to leverage on the expertise of individual team members. Nonetheless, they unanimously agreed that one particular project - on growing a new sustainable business through professional education – stood out as it contained all the necessary elements of a feasible project including the prospective client base. The other projects were good ideas but the panel agreed that some adjustments and refinements would need to be made before they could be implemented.

Speaking on behalf of her jubilant team whose project was picked by the panel, Ms Kuo Pey Juan thanked Professor De Meyer and the Talent Management Committee for their “foresight in investing in SMU’s middle managers through MDP”. She shared, “It was a rewarding learning experience for all of us. Beyond knowledge gained, it enabled us to form lasting friendships and bonds outside the classroom.”

Talent Development and Innovative Ideas

In summing up the session, Professor De Meyer was heartened by the rousing success of the MDP when he remarked, “Due to the way most universities are organised, which is by disciplines, it is not a natural thing for members of staff to work across schools and departments. The MDP is the first but important step towards breaking down silos, and building up the opportunities for collaboration within teams and across the University. I am confident that through the MDP, we will not only be able to develop our talent but also continue to generate innovative ideas that will help SMU to stay ahead.”

Keeping up the momentum, Mr Terence Tan, Vice President, Human Resources and Faculty Administration shared that the next MDP has been planned for the first half of 2013. Watch this space!

 [Picture caption:The enthusiastic pioneer batch of MDP with SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer (first row centre), members of the Talent Management Committee and project sponsors.]

(First row, L-R) – Francis Lim, Director, Business Process Improvement Unit; Bernadette Toh, Director, Office of Global Learning; Terence Tan, Vice President, Human Resources and Faculty Administration; Associate Prof Annie Koh, Vice President, Business Development and External Relations; SMU President Prof Arnoud De Meyer; Gulcin Cribb, University Librarian, Li Ka Shing Library; Alan Goh, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Marketing; Leila Thayalan, Head, Corporate Communications, Office of Corporate Communications & Marketing.

(Back row, L-R) – Alan Koh, Senior Associate Director, Sports and Adventure, Office of Student Life; Ivan Low, Associate Director, Alumni Relations, Office of Advancement and Alumni; Steven Burton, Deputy Director, Office of Postgraduate Professional Programmes; Kuo Pey Juan, Senior Deputy Director, Centre for Professional Studies; Jeffery Tan , Associate Director, Office of Finance; May Lit, Associate Director (Learning Systems and Technologies), Integrated Information Technology Services (IITS); Tang Ai Chee, Senior Associate Director (IT Governance), IITS; Lim Jade Hsia, Associate Director, Undergraduate Admissions; Moira Anne Lesslar, Debbie Chua, Senior Associate Directors, Office of Career Services; Rajendra Munoo, Head of Learning Services and Research Librarian (Business), Li Ka Shing Library; Christine Teo, Associate Director, Behavioural Sciences Institute; Christopher Chow, Associate Director, International Trading Centre@SMU; Priscilla Cheng, Senior Associate Director (Operations), Sim Kee Boon Institute For Financial Economics; Yeo Pin Pin, Head, Information Services and Research Librarian, Social Sciences, Li Ka Shing Library; Enna Tan, Associate Director, UOB-SMU Asian Enterprise Institute; Eugene Wong, Associate Director, Human Resources and Faculty Administration; Serene Yap, Senior Associate Director (Technology Support Services), IITS; Linda Cheong, Associate Director, Office of Dean, Lee Kong Chian School of Business; Ben Goh, Associate Director, Office of Facilities Management.