Social Fabric and Quality of Life

SMU PhD in Business (General Management), alumnus (2017) Dr Tan Boon Heon didn’t take the usual MBA route at the peak of his pharmaceutical career. Instead, he chose a part-time doctorate at SMU to prepare for life’s “half-time” — and a second act built on purpose. As a result, he is now CEO of HCA Hospice.

Over a month-long series of events, SMU Ideas Festival 2026 challenged participants to reimagine resilience – bringing policymakers, academics and leaders together to explore wellbeing, AI, cities, and future-ready skills.

Discover how Dr Lillyn Teh’s new S$15 million gift will strengthen SMU’s tech–business talent pipeline – funding scholarships, mentorship, and interdisciplinary learning for future-ready leaders.

In a new lecture series, SMU Provost Prof Alan Chan explored why harmony matters more than ever, examining social cohesion, mutual respect and dialogue as foundations for resilient communities in a diverse, contested world.

SMU hosted the Reach Alliance’s first Asia conference, uniting changemakers to tackle the world’s toughest social challenges. Read the highlights here.

Singapore MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim champions justice rooted in community, structural change, and compassion — shaped by his SMU Masters education and commitment to empowering the vulnerable.

In the inaugural Karim Family Foundation Inspiring Women Leadership Lecture, Malaysia’s renowned activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir inspired SMU with her vision for ethical leadership.

From Citibank to Lalamove, Yuvan Mohan’s career blends purpose and adaptability — with SMU’s MiM programme providing the launchpad for real-world impact.

SMU’s leaders and faculty members showcased the University’s multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research, thought leadership and entrepreneurship related to cities and sustainability at the World Cities Summit in Singapore. The University also helped to organise the Science of Cities Symposium there to highlight innovation and technology's impact on building resilient, inclusive communities.

Volunteerism is an integral part of SMU’s DNA and staff and students alike actively engage in diverse types of community service. Staff from SMU’s Office of the Registrar found a meaningful way to build bonds with their colleagues last year when they accompanied seniors from an active ageing centre on an excursion.