Reimagining education: SMU earns global recognition for innovation
SMU has once again demonstrated its leadership in innovative education at the 2024 QS Reimagine Education Awards and Conference. Winning multiple accolades in London in December 2024, SMU’s groundbreaking approaches to experiential learning, interdisciplinary teaching, and digital transformation were celebrated on a global stage, reinforcing the university’s commitment to reimagining education for the future.
The annual awards recognise pioneering pedagogical approaches that boost learning outcomes and employability, as well as effective methods of teaching sustainability, with a vision to equip over a billion learners worldwide for their future endeavours.
This year’s conference saw a record-breaking 1,300 entries of great diversity and quality, which shows the global appeal of these awards. Entries were evaluated by a panel of over a thousand international judges, as well as a Grand Jury consisting of 50 global experts.
The Innovation in Business Education Award was presented to SMU for the transformative journey that the University has taken to reshape its curriculum, thereby revolutionising the landscape of business education. It is a recognition that through innovative approaches and groundbreaking methodologies and practices, SMU has redefined the standards and practices in the field and has set a new benchmark for excellence in business education worldwide.
This adds to SMU’s growing list of accolades from the QS Reimagine Education Awards, having secured awards each year since 2021. This highlights SMU’s ongoing commitment to improve learning outcomes by mobilising innovative pedagogies.
Preparing business students for a complex global environment
SMU’s project entry was “Integrating Industry Partnerships and Innovation for Transformative Business Education Excellence”, which shone the limelight on SMU-X, the University’s Industry Project-based Experiential Learning (INDEX).
SMU-X connects students with real-world projects, allowing them to hone their problem-solving skills and innovation while engaging with industry partners. This prepares students to be future leaders who can lead with agility and creativity – something which will help them to navigate the increasingly complex global environments that organisations function in.
Securing Gold in the rigorous judging process of the QS Reimagine Education Awards shows the excellence and impact of SMU-X.
SMU Associate Professor Yuanto Kusnadi, Academic Director, SMU-X (Office of the Provost), said, “Innovation in business education goes beyond merely adapting to change – it drives transformation by reimagining how we prepare the next generation of leaders.
“By fostering critical thinking and cross-cultural learning, we equip students with the skills not only to succeed in a dynamic global marketplace but also to shape it. This award is a testament to SMU’s continued efforts to push boundaries, ensuring that the future of business is shaped by fresh ideas, bold solutions, and a commitment to lifelong learning.”
Nunzio Quacquarelli, Founder and President, QS, congratulated SMU, calling this recognition well-deserved, saying, “Reimagine Education celebrates initiatives that prepare students for the complexities of tomorrow’s world. By fostering innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and practical problem-solving, SMU INDEX (SMU-X) is making a meaningful contribution to the evolution of global business education, equipping students with the skills to navigate and lead in a rapidly changing world.”
