Sustainable Living

To mark Earth Day 2024, SMU Engage provides a review of SMU’s recent contributions towards a greener planet through research, thought leadership, achievements, outreach and education.

At the 3rd annual Sustainability Week Asia, organised by Economist Impact in Bangkok, three of the panels featured SMU’s academics and experts sharing their profound perspectives while exchanging knowledge with other sustainability-minded individuals from various sectors.

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.

Creating sustainable cities demands large initial investments, but the benefits of these sustainable cities often take many years to materialise. This challenge was the inspiration behind the theme for the SMU City Dialogue session hosted on 18 January 2024.

SMU Patron’s Day 2024 saw the annual celebrations given a major boost as crowds of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of SMU came together on SMU’s Campus Green to celebrate the University’s 24th anniversary.

The focus, in line with the University’s Vision 2025, was on environmental protection and sustainable development. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam graced the event, on his first visit as SMU’s Patron. He attended with his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi.

On 10 November 2023, the Business Families Institute (BFI) held its 10th anniversary conference, “From Succession Planning to Legacy Building”. This acknowledges how family businesses have both supported and benefitted from BFI’s programmes and initiatives. BFI was officially launched by SMU in March 2013 as Southeast Asia’s first regional business-family-centric institute, a few months after it was first established in response to the growing need for research and education.

The latest edition of the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership Lecture series saw Dame Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, share her experiences and perspectives in a conversation with Mr Ho Kwon Ping, the founding and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Singapore Management University.

SMU held its inaugural Sustainability Forum to showcase its multi-faceted contributions to economic, social and environmental sustainability. The event attracted students and educators from a range of institutes of higher learning, representatives from various social-service agencies and non-profit organisations, as well as business owners.  

SMU President’s State of the University Address 2023 touched on significant developments, strategic priorities, as well as future endeavours. It took a new and engaging format in embracing SMU’s people-centric thrust: faculty, staff and students shared their experiences and achievements through a series of videos that formed Prof Kong's compelling narrative.  

On 22 September 2023, SMU launched two innovative sustainability programmes – the Master of Sustainability (MST), and a Second Major in Sustainable Societies (SSOC). These were launched as part of a suite of sustainability courses and programmes that aim to develop sustainability leaders and meet the needs of a green economy.