New academic year, new celebration of talent, diversity, and impact
SMU ushered in the Academic Year 2024/25 with a celebration of talent, diversity, and impact, welcoming its 25th cohort of 2,400 eager freshmen. On 16 August, the SMU Hall buzzed with excitement as 580 guests, including Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, and student leaders, gathered for a vibrant Grand Procession, a gala dinner, and captivating student performances. The event marked not just the start of a new academic year, but a fresh chapter in SMU’s journey to nurture changemakers, innovators, and future leaders.
In his speech, SMU Chairman Mr Piyush Gupta said, “Consider the prism. It does not change the light that enters it but rather reveals its full spectrum. Similarly, our role at SMU is not to change who you are but to help you discover and develop the myriad of talents and strengths you already possess.
“Whether you are a budding entrepreneur, a future policymaker, or a social innovator, our programmes are designed to help you shine in your own unique way.”
SMU President Professor Lily Kong encouraged students to take full advantage of the opportunities ahead by engaging deeply with their studies, participating in campus life, and contributing to the community because each experience would add a new dimension to their education and help them discover new strengths and capabilities.
“Impact, the theme of this event, is core to what we do at SMU. We strive to instill in our students a sense of responsibility towards society,” she said.
“Through community service, social innovation, and ethical leadership, we aim to equip you with the knowledge and skills to make a positive difference in the world.”
Several student groups put on performances curated to celebrate the remarkable capabilities and multi-faceted nature of human intelligence.
Enhancing the SMU learning experience
From AY2024/2025, undergraduates will benefit from an enriched educational experience with SMU’s enhanced Core Curriculum graduation requirements.
The SMU Core Curriculum aligns with the University’s strategic priorities of Digital Transformation, Sustainable Living and Growth in Asia, nurturing graduates who are adept at addressing the realities of modern economies and societies.
SMU is also continuing to ramp up its offering of SMU-X courses in the new academic year, with at least 55 SMU-X courses that undergraduates across all years can choose from.
The courses include a focus on interdisciplinary topics, such as “Forecasting and Forensic Analytics”, offered by School of Accountancy.
Students will also have the opportunity to travel and work on exciting projects with SMU’s partner organisations overseas, in locations ranging from Belgium, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
The University will be working with at least 100 local and overseas partners across the public, private and NGO sectors to roll out the SMU-X courses through the academic year.
A rousing welcome to SMU
SMU Freshmen Orientation “SMUtopia” was the opening event for incoming students’ enriching university life, offering a valuable platform for them to cultivate new friendships and immerse themselves in the vibrant SMU culture.
There were many interactive and bonding opportunities as freshmen navigated campus grounds, taking part in engaging games centred around the SMU CIRCLE values.
Freshmen Orientation catered to a total of 1,600 freshmen over three days with three sessions in July and early August.
SMU’s annual CCA fair, “Vivace”, also gave students an introduction to SMU’s rich extracurricular life. Vivace was a vibrant and engaging platform for students to discover new interests, build connections and find a sense of belonging within SMU.
Held on 15 and 16 August, the event attracted over 3,200 attendees, and featured more than 150 clubs, ranging from sports, and performing arts to community service, entrepreneurship, and international student organisations.
With many programmes planned for the coming months, SMU strives to continue to offer a well-rounded and impactful learning experience for its diverse student body.
