Fourth-year School of Social Sciences PhD student Sean Lee talks about his award-winning paper, challenges faced and his upcoming research.

  With emerging demographic trends such as an ageing population, the increased velocity of change in business and the resulting need to upgrade one’s skills and qualifications, lifelong learning has emerged as a priority for individuals and corporations alike. The trend of frequent career changes over a lifetime makes continuing education a necessity, according to a 2015 study by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Centre.

At the inaugural SMU City Dialogues Series, nearly 60 key industry professionals from around the world shared ideas and debated strategies for battling climate change.

A recent symposium at SMU brought together key industry players and thought leaders to discuss the relationship between sustainability and economic growth. Three of these experts share their views with SMU Engage. The science has spoken. Climate change is a global emergency that is forcing us to rethink the way we spend Mother Nature’s precious resources as we try to forge a better way of life.

For the first TY Lee Mindfulness Distinguished Lecture Series 2019, distinguished psychologist Dr Steven Hickman explored the value and practice of mindfulness and how it can help to shape a happier future. With rapid technological advancement and socio-political turmoil roiling the world today, it’s not surprising that a pervasive sense of isolation is on the rise. That probably explains why mindfulness has become the subject of increasing attention in recent years.

Private racism and economic injustice may work against a society’s ideals and values, but explicitly enlarging the scope of justice to address these private acts can make a world of difference, says Dartmouth College’s Associate Professor Sonu Bedi . We usually think of justice as being under the purview of governments, typically expressed in legislation that is shaped by social norms and shared values, and whose workings continue to reinforce these norms and values.

The 2019 SPF Annual Lecture highlights three inspiring women from its Connecting Dots photo exhibition and their impact on society. The Shirin Fozdar Programme (SFP) Annual Lecture, which explores the challenges women face [link], marked its 10th anniversary this year by partnering with Women in Asia, a community that aims to bridge cultural and gender differences.

In July 2019, some 200 students, representing 30 nationalities and 70 universities convened in SMU’s city campus for the annual Global Summer Programme (GSP). Accepting its largest intake since its launch five years ago, GSP comprised 10 credit-bearing courses that drew upon the expertise of faculty from across SMU’s six schools.

A new and improved Core Curriculum begins in Academic Year 2019-2020. Professor Elvin Lim , Dean of the Office of Core Curriculum, explains the impetus behind the changes.

Assistant Professor Yasmin Ortiga of the SMU School of Social Sciences was recently awarded the National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship 2019 for her research on higher education in the Philippines.