[Shanghai, April 11, 2013] – A senior delegation from the Singapore Management University (SMU) led by President Professor Arnoud De Meyer visited and signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Fudan University to enhance partnership in academic education and research. The MOUs cover collaborative research, lectures and symposia; exchange of scholars, researchers and students; exchange of information and materials in fields which are of interest to both sides.

Shanghai is the first stop in SMU’s week-long tour of China that will also take the delegation to Beijing and Chengdu. During the visit, SMU will engage in meetings with university heads and participate in MOU signings.  SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer will also deliver keynote lectures to university faculty and students in Shanghai and Chengdu.

With strengths in single and multi-disciplinary research, close links with the corporate sector in Asia and distinguished teaching, SMU generates cutting edge research with a global impact and produces broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy. Of SMU’s faculty, 80 per cent hold PhDs from top universities around the world, and among international authoritative academic rankings, SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business and School of Economics are ranked 3^rd in Asia¹. Additionally, the University is ranked 1^st in Asia and 10^th worldwide in accounting² and 2^nd in Asia and 25^th worldwide in finance³.  The University, through its Lee Kong Chian School of Business and School of Accountancy, has also earned accreditation from AACSB International and EQUIS for its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.⁴

Professor Arnoud De Meyer said: “With our vision to become a premier university for the World of Business and Management, SMU has been committed to working with the world’s top universities in combining our strengths to create educational and research collaborations. Over the years, we have established strong partnerships with many distinguished universities in the United States, Europe and Asia.  By way of this trip, I am happy to reinforce our China ties.  This is in line with our efforts to strengthen our international reputation and brand in this part of the world. I firmly believe that our collaboration with Fudan will add great momentum to this endeavour.”

SMU’s MOUs with Fudan University’s School of Management and School of Software marks a renewal of their collaboration signed in 2008.  Additionally, two new agreements were signed with Fudan University’s School of Social Development and Public Policy, and School of Economics today.

Currently, SMU has collaborations with leading educational institutions which include the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and San Francisco); Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania); Booth School of Business, University of Chicago (Chicago); Babson College (Massachusetts) and Stanford Graduate School of Business (Stanford) in the United States. In Europe, SMU has also established partnerships with Swiss Finance Institute (Switzerland); University of St. Gallen (Switzerland); Cass Business School, City University London (United Kingdom); as well as the five institutions under the prestigious THEMIS law network⁵; among others.