• Programme received National Integration Council’s (NIC) Integration Award – Outstanding Community Integration Fund (CIF) Project Award 2016
• Making SMU and Singapore more welcoming, inclusive, and integrated amidst diversity
• “Home away from home” experience helps new international students assimilate into life and culture in Singapore and SMU

The SMU Host Programme for international students received the National Integration Council’s (NIC) Integration Award – Outstanding Community Integration Fund (CIF) Project Award – from Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Chairman of the National Integration Council, at the Inaugural NIC Awards and Appreciation Dinner held on 30 November 2016.

This Award was presented in recognition of the outstanding project supported by the CIF. The CIF supports ground-up projects that create opportunities for locals and foreigners to interact and better understand each other, as well as to help newcomers better adapt to Singapore society, norms and values. It is administered by the NIC Secretariat within the National Population and Talent Division, Strategy Group, Prime Minister’s Office.

The Programme proved to have met the CIF objectives: provide information and resources on Singapore; encourage social interaction between locals, immigrants and foreigners; encourage emotional attachment to and involvement in Singapore; and promote a positive mindset towards integration.

The SMU Host Programme invites keen individuals and families, SMU staff and alumni to become hosts to help SMU international students assimilate into Singapore in their first term or year of SMU studies. It organises a range of activities for international students, to connect with hosts and help widen their network of local friends and contacts through the hosts, and ease them into life in Singapore.

Some examples of activities planned by the Programme and hosts include meals at the hosts’ homes, festive celebrations, outings to iconic places in Singapore, and other social and recreational activities. After the initial connections made, the hosts and students commence direct contact and also arrange further customised individual activities. 

[Photo (left to right): Mr and Mrs Walter Ng; students Ma Yueying (Year 1 Business undergraduate) and Dong Ruiyan (Year 3 Information Systems undergraduate) who are of China origin; and Mrs and Mr Lee Yong Siang, have developed strong bonds and close friendships. Photo Credit: NIC]

By bringing international students including undergraduates, postgraduates and exchange students together with gracious and hospitable hosts, the Programme helps SMU welcome new students to Singapore and not just to the University’s student life, offering them the “home away from home” experience. Students also receive additional support and care in this way.

A friendship and cultural exchange programme without home-stays, the "official" length of this programme ranges from about four months for international exchange students, to 12 months for international students’ first year. Students and hosts are encouraged to continue the friendship thereafter, and hosts can continue to take on new students in the following year.

SMU welcomes more than 1,200 full-time international and exchange students from around the world each year. The SMU Programme paired about 250 students with 140 hosts last year, and has forged hundreds of friendships since it began in year 2006.

“The generous SMU hosts, together with international students’ participation and reciprocation, have enabled the SMU Host Programme and friendships to grow. We thank NIC for the invaluable award, support and recognition. Together, we collectively contribute to making SMU and Singapore more welcoming, inclusive, and integrated, amidst growing diversity,” said Ms Elain Sim, who heads the Diversity, Inclusion and Integration team under SMU’s Office of Dean of Students, and has been running the SMU Host Programme for the last 10 years (under the former Office of Global Learning).

[Photo: With the hosts and students of the SMU Host Programmes are Diversity, Inclusion and Integration team members (left to right) Assistant Director Mr Ho Jack Yong, Assistant Manager Ms Quek Leng Leng, Head Ms Elain Sim, and (extreme right) Senior Manager Ms Kelly Yeo. Photo Credit: Mr Lee Yong Siang]

[Featured Photo: Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Chairman of the National Integration Council (centre) presented the NIC Integration Award – Outstanding Community Integration Fund (CIF) Project Award to SMU representatives Ms Kelly Yeo, Senior Manager, and Ms Quek Leng Leng, both from the Diversity, Inclusion and Integration team under SMU’s Office of Dean of Students, who have been working on the SMU Host Programme (under the former Office of Global Learning). Photo Credit: NIC]