Diverse-City 2025 transformed the campus into a galaxy of cultures — where every booth was a planet, and every encounter a spark of connection.
Organised by SMU Student Success Centre (SSC) and International Connections (ICON), this year’s edition of the beloved cultural festival invited more than 1,500 students and staff to orbit around one big idea: that even in a vast universe, we shine brightest together.
Building Bridges Beyond the Classroom
“By immersing in cultural exchanges through crafts, workshops, food, and various activities, students develop greater awareness, respect and appreciation for diversity,” shared the organising team. “It’s about cultivating empathy, curiosity and intercultural understanding — all of which help prepare our students to thrive in an interconnected world.”
Across 14 booths run by ICON’s cultural clubs — from Chinese, French and Thai, to Japanese, Indian, Burmese, and not forgetting Indonesian — visitors sampled teas and spices, tried out henna and herbal scents, wrote their names in Burmese, and explored South Korea through a fun colour analysis activity. The buzz of laughter and the smell of grilled Sate Taichan (Indonesian satay) filled the Concourse; the air itself felt global.
Inspired by SMU’s Silver Jubilee
For co-chairs Faith Chong (Year 3, SOA) and Kyara Gesar Dermawan (“Kiko”, Year 3, LKCSB), the Galaxy theme was both playful and profound.
“Even though SMU is made up of people from many different cultures, we are still part of one larger community.”
— Faith Chong, Co-Chair, Diverse-City 2025
Faith explained, “We wanted something that would highlight the silver in our Silver Jubilee — and the idea of space fit perfectly. Beyond the visuals, we hoped people would walk away feeling connected.”
Kiko added, “Just as the universe is vast yet interconnected, we wanted participants to feel like they were journeying through the cosmos together — discovering new worlds side by side.”
Learning Across Boundaries  
Behind the light-years of imagination were nine months of late-night planning sessions, Google Sheets, and WhatsApp threads that never seemed to sleep.
“The most challenging part was aligning everyone’s understanding of the theme,” said Faith. “ ‘Space’ can mean so many things — rockets, stars, the unknown. Getting clarity early saved us later.”
Kiko recalled a week when three sub-teams proposed entirely different colour palettes. “We laughed about it later,” he said, “but it showed how diverse perspectives can collide — and then align beautifully.”
For Brayden (Year 3, LKCSB), ICON Vice-President overseeing the festival, the process itself was the lesson. “Listening, empathising, and finding common ground among different teams — that’s what true collaboration looks like,” he said. “Those are skills we’ll carry far beyond SMU.”
Highlights from the Galaxy
Participants explored hands-on experiences that blended curiosity with craft:
- Connect China’s scent-making booth offered herbal blends “perfect for studying,” said Wang Chong Yu (Year 2, LKCSB, China).
- Yim Siam’s Thai Herbal Compress station had visitors rolling herbs by hand. “It smelled so good — and it’s heatable!” laughed Brillien Kristiawan (Year 2, SOE, Indonesia).
- SMUKI’s invited visitors to decorate and spin their own gasing, Indonesia’s traditional spinning top, adding bursts of colour and friendly competition to the experience. “I met new friends from three countries in fifteen minutes,” said Zoe Dharmadi (Year 2, SCIS, Indonesia).
Staff joined in too. Jean Law described the atmosphere as “electrifying,” while Haslinda Shamsudin loved that students spoke their native languages at the booths. “It made the experience authentic — like travelling without leaving campus.”
Lessons for a Global Future
First-year student Kirsten Veronica Santiago Sy (Year 1, SOE, Philippines) said the event made her “feel more connected” — not only through the food but the stories behind it.
“What makes Diverse-City special is the heart our student organisers pour into it,” reflected the staff team. “They turn months of preparation into a vibrant celebration of cultures — one that builds bridges, sparks curiosity and creates a sense of home.”
Looking Back — and Ahead
Over the years, Diverse-City has travelled many routes: a train (2022), a chain of islands (2023), a world of games (2024). This year, it reached the stars — fitting for a university marking 25 years of expanding horizons.
As SMU steps into its next quarter-century, the festival remains a living expression of what the university stands for: curiosity that crosses borders, empathy that connects communities, and learning that shines brightest when shared.
From train rides to galaxies, each edition reminds us — the journey of discovery never truly ends. It only expands.
Did you know? Diverse-City Through the Years (2019 – 2025)
A festival that mirrors SMU’s journey — from its early cultural showcases to a galaxy of global connections.
2019 | A Cultural Bonanza at SMU
A lively “Wonderland of Cultures” reimagining SMU’s global village through food and craft.
2020 | Around the World in 15 Days
Amid COVID-19, Diverse-City went digital — virtual workshops, games, and performances connected the community online.
2021 | The World at Your Fingertips
A fully online edition with 37 activities and 50 partners — cultural exchange across borders and screens.
2022 | All Aboard the Diverse-City Train
The joyous return to campus, with 14 “carriages” of culture and food.
2023 | Island Hopping to Diverse-City
A “passport” adventure of workshops and world flavours — from batik to Turkish ice cream.
2024 | A World of Games and Culture
The Concourse became a giant board game — blending play, trivia, and cultural learning.
2025 | A Galaxy of Cultures
Marking SMU’s Silver Jubilee, this edition took cultural celebration to a cosmic scale — showing diversity as an ever-expanding universe of connection.
