In January this year, the Singapore Management University (SMU) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officiated a partnership whereby SMU will sponsor up to 20 postgraduate scholarships per year for retiring SAF personnel, for a period of three years, through the SMU Warriors Scholarship programme. The scholarships, which are multi-disciplinary and cover up to 18 postgraduate programmes at the University, are bond-free. 14 scholarships have been awarded to date.

Yesterday, 25 November 2014, both organisations announced that they have taken yet another step to strengthen ties, this time, in the area of continuing education for SAF personnel.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed yesterday at SMU.  Under the three-year agreement, SMU will support the SAF’s Continuing Education (CE) Master’s programme by admitting qualified SAF personnel to the University’s postgraduate degree programmes.

[Photo: (R-L) The signatories at the MOU signing ceremony held at SMU were Brigadier-General (BG) Benedict Lim, Commandant SAFTI Military Institute, SAF, and Professor Philip Zerrillo, Dean of SMU’s Postgraduate Professional Programmes.]

Four SMU Master’s programmes have been added to the SAF CE Master’s current offering.  They are: Master of Science in Communication Management, Master of Science in Innovation, Master of Information Technology in Business – Analytics and Master of Tri-Sector Collaboration.  Introduced in 2008, the SAF CE Master's programme serves to develop all-rounded leaders for the 3rd Generation SAF with knowledge-based competencies to deal with the increasing complexities and challenges of the evolving security environment. 

SMU will offer credit exemptions to those personnel who have completed the Command and Staff Course or the Command and Staff Course (Executive) at the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College.

On the SAF-SMU partnership, Brigadier-General (BG) Benedict Lim, Commandant SAFTI Military Institute, SAF, said, “This partnership established with SMU will complement the various development opportunities available within the SAF. I am happy and appreciative towards SMU for recognising the academic rigour of SAF courses and the quality of our people.”  BG Lim is also an SMU Warriors Scholar and is currently enrolled in SMU’s Executive MBA programme.

Professor Philip Zerrillo, Dean of SMU’s Postgraduate Professional Programmes, said, “We are delighted to have this opportunity to deepen our relationship with the SAF, particularly in the training of the best SAF talents. Leadership makes all the difference, in defence and beyond.  SMU is proud to be contributing to the SAF’s Continuous Education Master’s programme. We believe that our university can make a difference in nurturing leaders with an innovative and global mindset, who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to excel in today’s complex and dynamic environment.”

[Featured photo: (R-L) Brigadier-General Benedict Lim and Professor Philip Zerrillo at the MOU Signing Ceremony held on 25 November 2014.]