SMU has inked 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with five Chinese universities, in an effort to shift the focus of its exchange programmes “eastward”, closer to the pulse of economic development in Asia. These pacts include the setting up of a joint research centre on development studies by SMU and Fudan University in Shanghai. SMU president Arnoud De Meyer, speaking at a press conference in Beijing on Friday morning, highlighted the need for students to strengthen their knowledge of China given the important role it plays in global affairs. Prof De Meyer added that as the epicentre of economic activity shifts towards Asia, SMU would provide more opportunities for students to interact with their counterparts in other parts of Asia including India and South East Asian countries. SMU would also explore new collaborative projects with more Chinese universities, while further strengthening its relationships with existing partners. Since its founding 13 years ago, the SMU student population has surged 25-fold, from 306 in 2000 to 8,000 last year. SMU is also in talks with the Sichuan Administration Institute, a Communist Party school in Chengdu, south-west China to bring SMU faculty to the school to teach short-term courses on topics like private-public partnerships to mid-level officials.