In the second of a four-part series on the changing role of universities, SMU President Professor Lily Kong talked to The Straits Times' senior education correspondent Sandra Davie about the special role of city universities. She said the University community knows how privileged it is to be given the prime location in the heart of the city and shared how the University leverages its location and the various communities there and gives back to the city. Prof Kong explained how, apart from the key role of preparing students for jobs in a rapidly changing world, universities also have an important civic role. She also shared about the research that SMU has chosen to focus on and explained how SMU is nurturing key competencies in preparing students to go on to thrive in this rapidly changing world.