The Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Study Abroad Fair (SAF) kicked off on 21 January 2025 at the University’s basement concourse. Organised by the SMU Centre for Global Education and Opportunities (GEO) under the Academic Services and Operations (ASO) group, a member of SMU’s Academic Services and Operations (ASO) group, the annual fair serves as a gateway for students seeking transformative global experiences, offering essential insights and opportunities for studying abroad.
For the first time this year, participants of the Study Abroad Fair had multiple registration options: pre-registering in advance, signing up on-site, or registering through roving student helpers. This enhanced flexibility made it much easier for students to participate in the Fair. Excited attendees seamlessly explored booths representing different regions—Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, while the vibrant energy of the crowd filled the entire stretch of the T-Junction, where the Fair was held.
The festive and bustling atmosphere of the Fair was further enlivened by the effervescent SMUBE emcee, Joshua Ng from SMU Yong Pung How School of Law (YPHSL). With energy and charisma, Joshua facilitated the ‘Country of the Hour’ activity, which tested students on their knowledge of Singapore’s Southeast Asian neighbours, including Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Students who completed the quizzes on time were rewarded with a token prize, but what really stood out during the segment was the lively and competitive spirit of participants seeking to outplay one another. The ASEAN focus of the ‘Country of the Hour’ activity, along with the diverse global programs showcased at the Fair, reinforced the University’s commitment to developing globally agile and Asia-ready students.
The annual Study Abroad Fair remains one of the most anticipated platforms where students can learn about the University’s International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP). Managed by GEO, which partners with over 220 universities across 45 countries, ISEP offers rich opportunities for students to study at leading institutions around the globe and to immerse themselves in diverse cultures whilst honing their adaptability.
Programmes nearer to home enable students to deepen their insights into the cultures and socio-economic environments of Singapore’s Asian neighbours, growing region specific knowledge into skillsets that are valued by local and global employers. To this end, GEO offers students the opportunity to take up global exchange with many top universities in Asia, such as those in China, Japan, Philippines, South Korea and Thailand.
GEO’s SMU Asia Global Exposure (SAGE) programme offers a shorter option for students seeking international experience. Ranging from one to two weeks, students are hosted by partner universities and the programme is available in both credit-bearing and non-credit formats.
At the Fair, students also learned about SMU-X Overseas Project Experiences (OPE), which integrate coursework with real-world projects in collaboration with regional companies, including a one-to-two-week overseas immersion. Another option is the Overseas Study Mission (OSM), a SMU course that combines classroom learning with a short overseas study trip.
Other programmes, such as the SMU Dato' Kho Hui Meng Career Centre (DKHMCC’s) Asean Internship Programme (AIP) and IIE’s Global Innovation Immersion (GII) Programme, enable students to gain international working experience and be deeply immersed in overseas business and innovation environments, giving students an edge in their future employment readiness in an increasingly interconnected world.
The Study Abroad Fair hosted several Regional Booths, where international exchange students at SMU and returning ISEP participants shared firsthand insights on partner universities and destination countries. These candid conversations gave attendees valuable perspectives, practical tips, and a clearer roadmap for planning their own global experiences.
The event’s success would not have been possible without the participation of the 24 partner universities at the Fair. Addressing partner university representatives at a breakfast reception before the commencement of the Fair, Dr. Navin Rajagobal, Senior Director of SMU’s ASO group, commented: “I appreciate all of our university partners, who warmly receive and host over 1,500 SMU students on their campuses each year for GEO’s exchange and short-term immersion programmes. Your partnership is instrumental to SMU’s efforts to cultivate global citizenship and future-readiness in our students. I also wish to thank the partners who sent brochures and other informative materials for us to share with students, and finally, I am very thankful to everyone here, who had travelled to SMU to personally engage our students at SAF today.”
Affirming GEO’s commitment to student success, Mr Rick Tay, Head of GEO expressed his appreciation for everyone who had contributed to the Fair: “We would like to thank all our partner universities, exchange students, and SMU colleagues and students who had taken part in SAF 2025. Everyone in GEO is committed to contributing to the University’s efforts to nurture globally agile, Asia-ready students. GEO had over the past year made available more Global Exposure (GE) opportunities to students in Asia and beyond. Under the guidance of our Senior Director, Dr Navin Rajagobal, we will continue to offer enriching GE programmes and positively benefit even more students.”
To learn more about GEO’s programmes, visit GEO’s website or connect with GEO on Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube.
Photo credit: Singapore Management University