Dr Lillyn Teh's gift to build enduring pipeline of tech–business leaders
Educational advocate and philanthropist Dr Lillyn Teh has contributed an additional S$15 million to SMU. This aims to strengthen the development of future-ready talent at the intersection of technology and business.
Her latest gift builds on earlier contributions made since 2024. It extends support across both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, signalling a long-term commitment to developing individuals who can operate fluently across those fields.
The donation will establish the Lillyn Teh Endeavour Scholarship, the University’s highest endowed merit scholarship for postgraduate learners, while expanding the existing Lillyn Teh Endeavour Scholarship for undergraduates. Together, these initiatives will in perpetuity support 12 students annually.
The scholarships aim to address a growing need for leaders who can bridge disciplines, supporting students who have specialisations across both technology and business domains and create a sustained pipeline of talent equipped to navigate increasingly complex, technology-driven industries.
Across sectors, organisations are seeking individuals who can interpret data, understand emerging technologies, and make decisions with both speed and precision. The scholarships are positioned to meet that demand directly.
Empowering the academic experience
One of the beneficiaries of Dr Teh’s support is Mr Lee Lin Wang, a second-year student in the Bachelor of Science (Information Systems) (BSc IS) programme, who credits the Lillyn Teh Endeavour Scholarship for its transformative impact on his SMU experience.
With the scholarship’s monetary support, he has been able to fully engage in his university experience, undertaking prestigious internships and participating freely in international business case competitions.
Similarly, Ms Yeow Xuen Lynn, another Lillyn Teh Endeavour Scholar and BSc IS student, has been able to focus on her academic work while remaining active beyond the classroom. Since receiving the scholarship, she has contributed to the SMU Business Intelligence & Analytics Club and volunteered with Over-The-Rainbow, a mental wellness initiative for youths. Besides alleviating her financial needs, the scholarship has also enabled Xuen Lynn to expand her social network and pursue interests in tech, business, and community work.
These individual accounts are examples of how targeted financial support does not merely remove barriers; it changes how students allocate their time, attention, and ambition.
Creating an academic community
The scholarships are structured to do more than provide financial assistance. Recipients will have access to mentorship, collaborative opportunities, and interdisciplinary exchange across undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts.
Over time, this approach is expected to foster a community in which ideas move more freely between disciplines, and where students learn not only from faculty, but from one another. The intention is clear: to cultivate graduates who can apply knowledge in complex, real-world settings rather than within narrow academic silos.
The inclusion of postgraduate scholarships further reinforces this direction. By supporting working professionals and aspiring leaders, the initiative aligns with the growing importance of lifelong learning in a global economy that rewards continuous adaptation.
Empowering the next generation of Tech-Business leaders
Dr Lillyn Teh framed her contribution within the broader context of technological change. She said, "We are living in a period of rapid and profound technological transformation. Business leaders must understand not just markets and strategy, but also the technologies that drive innovation. The future will belong to those who can bridge both worlds.
“By supporting students in these fields today, we are enabling the next generation not just to participate in the future — but to lead it. I believe SMU is uniquely positioned to do this well and to become the premier university of choice for students who aspire to lead at the intersection of business and technology — a place where future founders, innovators, and leaders are shaped not only to adapt to change, but to create it."
Her remarks reflect a view increasingly shared across industries: that leadership now requires a dual literacy, and that education must evolve accordingly.
Professor Lily Kong, President of SMU, emphasised the broader significance of the partnership. “Dr Teh demonstrates what impact truly means — not only transforming individual lives but laying the groundwork for an ecosystem that will amplify the potential of generations to come,” she said.
“On behalf of the SMU community, I extend our deepest gratitude to Dr Teh for this extraordinary and enduring partnership. Her generosity, vision, and steadfast belief in SMU continue to inspire all of us to build for better, together.”
Philanthropy in higher education is often measured in scale. This contribution invites a different assessment: one based on design and intent.
By linking financial support to a clear academic and societal objective, the initiative offers a model for how universities and donors might respond to shifting economic realities. It recognises that the challenge is not simply to educate more students, but to prepare them differently.
As industries continue to evolve, the question is not whether such efforts are necessary, but how quickly they can be implemented, and how effectively they can be sustained.
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