Active teaching and learning are an important part of nurturing 21st century skillsets that are aligned with evolving industry demands. It is with this belief in mind that SMU organised its inaugural INDEX Symposium.

On 10 November 2023, the Business Families Institute (BFI) held its 10th anniversary conference, “From Succession Planning to Legacy Building”. This acknowledges how family businesses have both supported and benefitted from BFI’s programmes and initiatives. BFI was officially launched by SMU in March 2013 as Southeast Asia’s first regional business-family-centric institute, a few months after it was first established in response to the growing need for research and education.

The latest edition of the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership Lecture series saw Dame Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, share her experiences and perspectives in a conversation with Mr Ho Kwon Ping, the founding and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Singapore Management University.

SMU’s business-case club, Team Cognitare, continued its strong showing this year when its team was awarded the title of Global Champion – over 19 others – at the prestigious Thammasat Undergraduate Business Challenge in October this year.

Will we have planned well enough to live well in our golden years, especially if some form of long-term healthcare is needed? How well do we plan for retirement?

Over 400 athletes from Singapore competed in the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou in China. Running from 23 September to 8 October 2023, it featured Singapore’s largest delegation yet – 160 athletes more than represented our country at the 2018 Asian Games five years ago.

SMU held its inaugural Sustainability Forum to showcase its multi-faceted contributions to economic, social and environmental sustainability. The event attracted students and educators from a range of institutes of higher learning, representatives from various social-service agencies and non-profit organisations, as well as business owners.  

SMU President’s State of the University Address 2023 touched on significant developments, strategic priorities, as well as future endeavours. It took a new and engaging format in embracing SMU’s people-centric thrust: faculty, staff and students shared their experiences and achievements through a series of videos that formed Prof Kong's compelling narrative.  

Aligned with SMU’s “Growth in Asia” strategic priority and its continued commitment to provide high-quality education and contribute to regional development, the University inaugurated its latest Overseas Centre in bustling Bangkok, Thailand on 27 October 2023. The establishment of Overseas Centre Bangkok (OCB) marks the University’s second regional presence, with the first launched in Jakarta, Indonesia in December 2022., SMU plans to launch its third Overseas Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam next year.

A vibrant arts scene has always been an indispensable part of SMU life, and this year’s SMU Arts Festival was no different. Themed “POST”, the festival explored the multifaceted meaning of the theme as student artistes delved into the complexities of post-modernity, post-truth, and other “post” concepts.