Celebrating 25 years of community service during SMU’s Silver Jubilee

Since its founding in 2000, SMU has required every undergraduate to complete both internships and community service, making it the first local university to embed this into its curriculum.

What started as a bold move has since become a defining marker of the SMU experience. “Community service is integral to SMU’s identity and our commitment to providing students with a holistic education that fosters a culture of giving back,” said SMU’s Dean of Students, Professor Paulin Straughan.

“SMU has always been at the forefront of integrating co-curricular activities into the higher education experience. We believe that education goes beyond the classroom – experiential learning through community service, internships, and global experiences enables students to apply academic knowledge in real-world settings while fostering both personal and professional growth.”

The results speak for themselves. Collectively, students have contributed more than 4.2 million hours of service across 14,500 individual and group projects, spanning local neighbourhood initiatives to overseas programmes. The Class of 2024 averaged 103 hours each, well above the minimum of 80, with 81 percent of the cohort going even further.

SMU’s largest-ever community service programme

This year also saw a new milestone: more than 1,600 first-year students took part in half-day service activities during Freshmen Orientation, the largest participation since the tradition began.

One of the key highlights wasProject Espressivo, an initiative by SMU’s SoundFoundry in collaboration with Aphasia SG. The project uses music to support persons with aphasia.

For Evelyn Khoo, founder of Aphasia SG, the student involvement has been transformative. “Our collaboration with SMU’s SoundFoundry has shown how music can break through communication barriers for persons with aphasia. The passion and dedication of the student volunteers have brought much joy and support to our members. Their patience, empathy, and willingness to learn has made a lasting impact to our community. 

Another project that the freshmen could take part in was Project Candela, led by SMU Rotaract together with the Ministry of Manpower with a focus on raising awareness of migrant workers’ contributions in Singapore. Through workshops and outreach, students highlight the essential roles played by these workers, helping bridge understanding between communities.

For the students, these projects offer more than a way to meet requirements. They also provide opportunities to build empathy, leadership, and social responsibility. Arielle Goh, a third-year business student who was also one of the leaders of Project Espressivo, reflected: “It was an incredible full-circle moment guiding freshmen who were just beginning their own service journeys.”

Reflections and looking ahead

SMU’s Silver Jubilee year is as much about reflection as it is about renewal. The Community Service Fair, held on 26 and 27 August 2025 introduced new volunteering opportunities, while also showcasing a gallery tracing the university’s 25-year history of civic engagement.

The milestone highlights both the scale of what has been achieved and the importance of sustaining momentum. Community service has never been about ease. It requires time, commitment, and the willingness to step beyond comfort zones. Yet those very challenges become catalysts for growth.

As SMU looks to the next chapter, the focus remains clear: to nurture graduates who are not only skilled professionals but also active contributors to society. A quarter-century of service has laid a strong foundation. The question now is how future generations will build upon it.

See also: SMU Celebrates 25 Years of its Community Service Programme During Silver Jubilee Year | SMU Newsroom