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”.

SMU President's Inaugural Address 2019 SMU has enhanced its undergraduate curriculum to nurture graduates who can deliver meaningful impact globally, and to ensure th

It’s no secret the world we live in is caught up in a maelstrom of change. To manage this rise of emerging trends and disruptions — in society, the economy and the environment — institutions of higher education can no longer remain insular bastions of age-old knowledge. Instead, universities of today have multiple roles to play, said Professor Lily Kong at her inaugural address on 12 February, as the newly appointed President of SMU.