The results are in!  SMU is the inaugural winner in the ‘Educational Institution’ category of the President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards 2016 (PVPA 2016), which lauds the University’s efforts and resolve to nurture graduates with a strong community service ethos.

On behalf the University, SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer, received the award from President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the PVPA 2016 Awards Presentation Ceremony held at Shangri-La Hotel on 9 November 2016.  This is the fifth year that the Awards is recognising individuals and groups, and celebrating their exemplary work in giving back to the community. 

Ms Melissa Kwee, CEO of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, said, “This year, we honour another group of givers who celebrate the spirit of giving – individuals and organisations that make us proud.  They are the examples of the true Singapore spirit.”  She was referring to the new and revamped categories for the 2016 Awards, including the ‘Education Institution’ category, which has been added to ‘recognise the significant influence that educational institutions have in shaping formative experiences of contribution', given that ‘an average youth spends 18 years or more in school and many learn to give and serve in these enabling environments.’

At a press conference held a day prior to the ceremony, Dr Bervyn Lee, SMU’s Associate Dean of Students, expressed SMU's belief that education must go beyond academic qualification.  He emphasised that the University takes a holistic approach to education, with a philosophy that “an educated person is only an educated person if he or she uses education to make other people’s lives better.”

[Photos: In 2015, more than 4,300 SMU students were involved in 582 local projects with over 120 non-profit and community organisations, while over 1,300 students were involved in 161 overseas projects in 17 countries.]

He noted that while it is a graduation requirement for students at SMU to put in at least 80 hours of community service, many of them go the extra mile, highlighting that on the average, graduates of the past three cohorts recorded more than 140 hours each because they have come to realise the positive impact that their service brings to the beneficiaries and to themselves.

Every SMU undergraduate also undertakes a course on Ethics and Social Responsibility, which teaches them to be sensitive to ethical issues in societies, and imparts the basics principles of professional ethics in various academic disciplines.  In recent years, with a stronger emphasis being placed on the service outcomes of projects, the University also implemented a structured Lifelessons programme, where students uncover their personal values and purpose through self-directed goal-setting and reflective reviews after participating in activities.

Under the guidance and mentorship of the SMU Centre for Social Responsibility, more than 5,600 undergraduates dedicated their time in 2015 to help local and overseas communities, either on their own or in groups.

“We encourage students to pursue their preferred causes, and empower them to develop and grow their own projects.  We want them to take ownership and be creative,” said Ms Devi, who heads the Centre.  “We also emphasise to students the importance of developing projects that are sustainable, that look into capacity building, skills transfer or educational and financial empowerments.  That way, their work will have a longer-term impact on our beneficiaries,” she added.

P.S. The National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre produced a special video on SMU for the PVPA 2016.  Click here to view.

[Featured Photo: SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer (centre) receiving the award from President Tony Tan Keng Yam (2^nd from left) at the PVPA 2016 Awards Ceremony on 9 November 2016.  (Photo courtesy of Victor Chick)]