The 14th issue of SMU Engage can now be downloaded here or picked up free at selected locations on campus for a limited time only. Below is a selection of highlights in the the Editor's Note.
Editor’s Note
On 27 August, SMU held the ground-breaking ceremony for the Tahir Foundation Connexion, a five-storey green building in the heart of the city designed to support the University’s innovative SMU-X pedagogy, as well as to cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship. The S$70 million development has been made possible by a donation from the Tahir Foundation and a grant from the Building and Construction Authority under the Public Sector Construction Productivity Fund. SMU has named the building Tahir Foundation Connexion in appreciation of the Foundation’s contribution.
SMU’s Commencement Opening Ceremony 2018 was graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Finance, with graduates, award winners, as well as family and friends of the graduates in attendance. The 2,907-strong Class of 2018 represents SMU’s 15th and largest batch of graduates since the University was established in 2000.
SMU also welcomed its 19th cohort of freshmen at the Academic Year Opening Ceremony, themed “Imagine Better”. Guests comprising SMU Board of Trustees, senior management, faculty, staff, donors, alumni, freshmen and student leaders dined in a stylish setting while enjoying student performances, including a small tribute segment to outgoing SMU President Arnoud De Meyer who steps down in December.
Top academic leader, and award-winning researcher and educator, Professor Lily Kong, will be the University’s fifth President. Professor Kong, who currently holds the position of SMU Provost and Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Social Sciences, will succeed Professor De Meyer on 1 January 2019. When Professor De Meyer steps down, he will have served as SMU’s longest-serving President, for a period of more than eight successful years.
Former Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Honorary Patron and Distinguished Senior Fellow at SMU has been conferred the nation’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Temasek (First Class), topping this year’s National Day awards list of civilian and military recipients. Professor De Meyer was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Gold) for his contributions to SMU and to Singapore. SMU congratulates them both. Read all about these engaging events and developments, as well as our students’ and faculty members’ many successes and achievements, SMU’s thought leadership events and more in this issue of SMU Engage