Taking research out of the classroom and into the real world can yield commercial, social and educational value. One of the greatest challenges for any application developer is live testing – observing how their product functions in the real world, then refining it in line with user responses. Using universities and their communities as live “testbeds” can benefit not only academics and students, but society as a whole.

Take a peek at the bestselling titles in the business section of a bookstore and you will find a slew of books dispensing tips on being a good boss, daring to lead, or even adapting principles from the battlefield to win control of the boardroom. Mastering good leadership, in a time when major corporations remain dominated by cults of personality, is a perennial fixation for those striving to build a successful business.

When Professor Chandran Kukathas recalls his time as an undergraduate in the 1970s, he remembers what he describes as rather carefree days, despite having considerably fewer available resources compared to students of this era. “There were many inconveniences back then, including the problem of getting access to readings in a world without the internet, PDF files and digital journals. What I most envy of my students now is how much material is at their fingertips,” he said.

In a bid to create a future-ready Singapore, SMU and Alibaba Cloud have joined forces to launch a series of courses to upskill Singaporeans and get us Smart Nation ready.

In recent years, e-commerce, data analytics, artificiaI intelligence and machine learning have made the quantum leap from being mere buzzwords to real revenue-generating technologies: a fact borne out by a 2018 study by US management consultancy Bain & Co which found that digitalisation could grow the Asean gross domestic product by an estimated SGD 1 trillion by 2025.

Beyond infiltrating the business lexicon, the notion of sustainability is becoming a part of business strategy. After all, all signs are pointing towards a focus on sustainability in businesses: from government-led initiatives to create infrastructure that addresses the problems of climate change, to growing consumer demand for sustainable brands. It is becoming more important for organisations to embrace and promote sustainability on environmental, social and economic fronts as a long-term business game plan.

From robots that deliver amenities to guests in hotel rooms, to recommendations for the best sushi by Siri — the smart assistant that dispenses helpful reminders and tips from iOS — it’s a fact that artificial intelligence (A.I.) has pervaded our everyday lives. While today’s digital generation may already be familiar with the benefits of A.I., the rapid rise of machine learning raises important questions about the impact of such technology on our future.

It has come to a point where it is no longer enough for tertiary education institutions to be producing a workforce that will be mere cogs in the machine that is our society. Instead, in a time of climate change, political uncertainty and rapid technological advancements, universities are now expected to produce future-ready global citizens who have the vision and drive to make a meaningful social impact.

With several global business schools boasting decades of heritage, and some founded over a century ago, the SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) was certainly a neophyte in the realm of business education when it opened its doors in 2000. A mere 19 years on, we are indeed heartened by the rate at which LKCSB has grown its reputation, becoming one of the top business schools in Asia — and the world.

When Professor Timothy Clark was himself an undergraduate, universities were mere purveyors of a straightforward education. Institutions of higher education were more focussed on an academic education – with minimal emphasis placed upon the application of research in the real world or preparing students for their careers after university. As Prof Clark recalled, “we were not well-supported to think about our futures beyond the university”.