The May 2014 issue of SMU's corporate newsletter, SMU Engage, is now available to be downloaded in PDF format here. This is what Alan Goh, Vice President Corporate Communications & Marketing, wrote in his "Editor's Note".

EDITOR’S NOTE

The announcement of the new School of Law Building and Kwa Geok Choo Law Library ranks as one of the most momentous developments for SMU since our move from Bukit Timah to the city campus in 2005. Its ground-breaking ceremony was graced by several luminaries, students, friends and partners from the SMU community. Our Guest-of-Honour was Attorney-General, Mr Steven Chong, S.C. who gave an inspiring and encouraging address to the audience. Its students continue to do the school honours, writing, mooting and rooting for success in several competitions. Small wonder that the school is fast developing a reputation of one that continues to ‘raise the bar’.

Patron’s Day 2014 kept up the energy and dynamism that characterise SMU with a flurry and flourish of student activities and creativity – the fearsome, raucous annual Tug of War amongst the schools; the art, music and entertainment galore; and the food, of course.  A highlight surely is the participation of some of the best known Made-In-Singapore brands, showcasing the innovativeness of their products and services.

In the Academia section, we report that the School of Accountancy faculty members had won an award for a mobile app that make learning on-the-go and ‘fun’. In addition, the School of Information Systems faculty members won an international award for teaching innovation in Business Intelligence and Analytics.  You can learn more about how SMU is enriching our teaching pedagogy through the introduction of ‘blended learning’ in our undergraduate programmes.  A partnership is formed between SMU and Singapore Armed Forces that resulted in the launch of a breakthrough SMU Warriors Scholarship Programme for retiring SAF personnel, to prepare them for a second career. The first five of these scholars will pursue an MBA or a Master of Tri-sector Collaboration degree.

In Connections, we report on how SMU is raising its international reputation with the inaugural SMU China Forum. Stanford professor and leading China scholar Andrew Walder also spoke at SMU under the Ho Bee Professorship in Chinese Economy and Business. SMU’s India Initiatives, meanwhile, continues its march forward with a series of notable seminars and summits.

We were delighted to host world-renowned Nobel Peace Laureate and a champion of democratic reform in Myanmar, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at SMU when she visited Singapore in September 2013. She delivered an inspiring speech and engaged the audience in a stirring discussion on leadership.

There is a lot happening at SMU. I hope this compendium will keep you pleasantly engaged.

Alan Goh
Vice President
Corporate Communications & Marketing