With over 7,000 visitors thronging to SMU’s annual Open House this year, on 2 and 3 March 2013, many of the talks were filled to capacity, with eager potential SMU students and their family members standing at the back of the halls, sitting in the isles and even on the stages.

The event was spread over five floors of SMU’s Administration Building on Victoria Street, with the ground floor being the shop window. A stage outside the main entrance featured regular live shows by performing arts Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) clubs. Locals and tourists who were passing by stopped to enjoy the acts and take photos. Several CCAs also had stalls on the walkway outside to promote the holistic educational experience that SMU offers.

Each school had a booth and held two to three talks each day. The booths were staffed by faculty members, current students and even alumni who all answered detailed and often searching questions about the school, the university and its unique educational experience. The helpful talks on admissions, scholarships and financial aid were popular and those staffing the booths for admissions and postgraduate studies were kept busy throughout the weekend.

SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer visited the Open House on Saturday and spent over an hour trying out some of the CCA club activities and touring the booths. He seemed clearly impressed that such a huge event was the result of a great many people from every part of the University working together as one highly professional team. That’s the dynamic SMU team spirit!

[Tan Yoo Guan, Associate Dean, Associate Professor of Philosophy (Education) talking to visitors at the School of Social Sciences booth.]
[Featured photo: SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer enjoying a photo opportunity with some of the student volunteers.]