The June 2015 issue of SMU's corporate newsletter, SMU Engage, is now available for download here. Printed copies are also available for free, at selected locations on campus, for a limited time only. 

Here's what the Editor, Alan Goh, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Marketing, wrote in the Editor's Note.

Editor’s Note

SMU’s 15^th anniversary (SMU15) and Singapore’s 50^th anniversary (SG50) celebrations are in full swing and it is delightful to look back at how we started to mark this landmark year for our University and the nation at Patron’s Day in January. Patron’s Day is SMU’s equivalent of “Founder’s Day”, but with a difference. It is a celebration by the entire SMU community shared with our Patron, Singapore President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, who first envisioned this University.

What made the occasion even more significant was having all of our three former University Presidents and the current SMU President engaged in a lively dialogue on stage, moderated by SMU’s Founding Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping. Two of the former Presidents had flown to Singapore specially for this occasion. We have included in the following pages, a selection of the insights and memories that they shared.

In the Zest section, we highlight some of the glittering prizes our students are winning and the glowing reputations they are earning in Singapore and around the world – in fields as diverse as sports, environmentalism, social responsibility, mooting, diplomacy and current affairs. You can also catch up on the fun of SMU’s Annual Student Life Awards, the inspiring SMU Innovation Awards, SMU’s strong performance in the Graduate Employment Survey, and a record turn-out at SMU Open House for this year’s recruitment drive for undergraduate students.

SMU is constantly reviewing and refining its undergraduate curriculum to ensure that it remains at the cutting edge of new knowledge that is relevant to a world that is constantly changing. In the Academia section, we have outlined some of the innovative elective modules launched recently by several of our most respected faculty members. There is also news of exciting agreements to establish or extend collaboration with several academic, civic and professional institutions.

Our University’s work in thought leadership is featured in the Connections section. Singapore’s sixth President and Senior Fellow at SMU School of Social Sciences, Mr S R Nathan launched his latest book. We also co-hosted an economic forum with the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in China and hosted the “Education for Inclusive Workspaces” conference with SPD.

We feature the success of the Shirin Fozdar Programme over the past five years and the exciting plans it has for the future to impact the larger community.

In addition, University of Chicago Professor Yang Dali visited SMU to deliver the 2014 Ho Bee Professorship in Chinese Economy and Business lecture, and the Presidential Distinguished Lecture Series hosted a series of four outstanding speakers.

Turning to the back page, you will read about SMU’s continuing collaboration with Channel NewsAsia as the knowledge partner and host for the popular “Perspectives” televised panel debates, which featured SMU Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping and Professor of Accounting (Practice) Sum Yee Loong in the last series. Stay tuned for news of the upcoming series in the next issue of SMU Engage.

Alan Goh
Vice President
Corporate Communications & Marketing