Thought Leadership

Professor Lily Kong, President of SMU, has been elected as a Fellow of the British Academy, a prestigious recognition in the humanities and social sciences that honours global scholars for transformative research and thought leadership.

The fourth SMU City Dialogues, held in Vienna with global partners, challenged conventional approaches to urban resilience. Rather than focusing on tech or infrastructure, the event centred trust, equity, and local context. Experts from over 20 countries shared how cities can adapt by empowering communities and aligning governance with human needs.

SMU President Professor Lily Kong participated in the Worldwide Universities Network Presidents’ Forum 2025, joining global university leaders to pursue shared goals of academic collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development. Her presence underscored SMU’s commitment to regional integration and global partnerships in addressing shared challenges through higher education.

SMU's annual Singapore Rising Scholars Conference emphasised the collaborative nature of PhD studies, with participants engaging in networking and research presentations. The event highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in academia and the need for critical engagement with AI tools in research.

SMU is enhancing its commitment to sustainability by partnering with the Climate Adaptation & Resilience (CLARE) programme to support early-career climate scientists from the Global South. This initiative aims to improve representation and research capacity in climate-vulnerable regions, directly contributing to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.

At SMU’s inaugural Computational Social Science symposium, global experts examined how AI is transforming learning, knowledge creation, and ethics in the evolving social sciences landscape.

SMU has awarded its first Co-Curricular Transcripts — recognising students’ leadership, service, innovation and global experiences as vital components of holistic, future-ready education.

SMU marked International Women’s Day 2025 with a series of engaging events that sparked meaningful discussions on gender equity, wellbeing, and leadership. From thought-provoking panels to wellness sessions, participants came together to learn, connect, and champion inclusivity. The celebrations reinforced SMU’s commitment to fostering a more equitable and supportive community.

SMU co-hosted the INDEX Symposium 2025, uniting global educators to explore experiential learning and industry collaboration. Read how SMU is shaping future-ready business education.

At the Straits Times Education Forum 2025, hosted in partnership with SMU, thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts explored pressing issues such as talent development, economic opportunities, and regional collaboration. Discover key insights on how businesses, governments, and individuals can navigate ASEAN’s evolving landscape.