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MoU signing between SkillsFuture Singapore and SMU at the launch of SMU Resilient Workforces Institute
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SkillsFuture Singapore and SMU at the launch of the SMU Resilient Workforces Institute (ResWORK) in January 2026. The agreement was formalised by Mr Tan Kok Yam, Chief Executive of SkillsFuture Singapore (left), and Professor Alan Chan, Provost of SMU (right). The partnership enables both parties to mutually identify and drive strategic research on how Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital technologies, and generational changes in work preferences are transforming job tasks, skills demand and career and learning pathways, and translate these insights into policies that sustain employability and inclusive growth. In addition, it will look into how adult learning systems can be redesigned for higher participation, retention and impact, and how organisations can combine human and machine capabilities to raise productivity while preserving meaningful work.
Launch of SMU Resilient Workforces Institute in January 2026
- Launching of SMU Resilient Workforces Institute (ResWORK) in the Mochtar Riady Auditorium. (Right to left) Professor Alan Chan, SMU Provost ; Guest-of-Honour Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment ; Mr Tan Kok Yam, Chief Executive, SkillsFuture Singapore ; Professor Lily Kong, SMU President, and Professor Archan Misra, Vice Provost (Research), Interim Director of SMU Resilient Workforces Institute. ResWORK is a newly established university-level research institute dedicated to advancing workforce resilience and lifelong learning in the face of accelerating technological transformation. It is among the first institutes in Singapore and the region to jointly study adult learning and the future of work through an integrated, interdisciplinary lens that bridges economics, management, behavioural science, and technology. Serving as a hub for cross-disciplinary research across SMU, ResWORK’s research is anchored on three core pillars :- (1) Optimising Human-Machine Collaboration: enabling workers to learn and perform effectively alongside AI, machines and robotics (2) Transforming Organisations: redesigning business processes, leadership and work practices for AI-enabled workplaces (3) Maximising Societal Human Capital: analysing labour-market transitions and shaping policies that promote inclusive, gainful employment
Panel discussion with leading international scholars exploring Technology, Learning, and the Future of Work
- At the launch of the SMU Resilient Workforces Institute (ResWORK) in January 2026, leading international scholars explores Technology, Learning, and the Future of Work in a panel discussion. (From left to right) Professor Phanish Puranam, Roland Berger Chaired Professor of Strategy and Organisation Design, INSEAD ; Professor Dandan Zhang , Deputy Dean, National School of Development, Peking University ; Professor Xiangen Hu, DoERC and Chair Professor of Learning Sciences and Technologies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Professor Archan Misra, Vice Provost, Research, Interim Director, SMU Resilient Workforces Institute.
Guest-of-Honour Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Education, and Sustainability and the Environment, speaking at the launch of Resilient Workfirces Institute
- Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, graced the launch of the Resilient Workforces Institute (ResWORK) in Singapore Management University as Guest-of-Honour. In his remarks, Dr Janil highlighted the importance of partnerships with industry, enabled by research, in overcoming workforce disruptions brought about by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies.
SMU received contribution from Equinix to advance applied research under ResWORK
- At the launch of the SMU Resilient Workforces Institute (ResWORK) in January 2026, SMU received a contribution of S$450,000 from Equinix to advance applied research under ResWORK. The funding will support a flagship systemic research project on occupational exposure to AI within Singapore’s labour market. The photo captures the presentation of research contribution from Equinix to ResWORK, represented by Ms Leong Yee May, Managing Director of Equinix (left), and Professor Archan Misra, Vice Provost of Research and Interim Director of ResWORK (right).
A Letter to Love : a zine on display in the 25x25 exhibition at SMU de Suantio Gallery during the 2025 Arts Fest
- This is a pdf capture of the zine created by Tanmayee Mhapankar for the 2025 Arts Fest 25x25 exhibition which contains a poetry inspired by Chua Ek Kay’s artwork "In Abeyance (Circular Road)" (2002). "The artwork that inspired this poem, In Abeyance (Circular Road) (2002) by Chua Ek Kay, depicts the loss of identity that can follow urbanisation, through the lens of architecture. I tried to apply that process to the human psyche as one grows over the years. My poem talks about how maybe our identity is never truly ours, as so much of it is embedded within bits of the past and it tends to blur over the years, much like the painting. We do our best to hold on to the nostalgia connecting us to who we used to be, but these memories often clash with who we are, leaving us a culmination of shells of our past selves. Though the poem depicts my personal experience with this struggle, readers are encouraged to think about habits or memories that cemented who they were, and how those experiences vary and shaped who they are today." - Tanmayee Mhapankar, Year 4, School of Social Sciences
Dancers from Indancity captures the evolution of self-discovery with contemporary moves
- Live, Laugh, Lor brought together all Singapore universities for the first time in an energetic four‑night collaboration with the Singapore Night Festival, showcasing the rhythms of contemporary Singaporean identity. The photo features student dancers from Indancity, a SMU contemporary dance club. The photo showcases student dancers from Indancity, SMU’s contemporary dance club. Their performance portrayed an evolving journey of self‑discovery—seeking purpose, shaping identity, and navigating change and growth—as meaning unfolds gradually through life’s pressures, choices, and experiences. Founded in 2006, SMU Indancity is the university’s official contemporary dance club. Guided by artistic director Mr Hong Guofeng and technique master Mr Andy Benjamin Cai, the club is committed to upholding strong technical standards and professional discipline. Beyond presenting its annual production, BEYOND, Indancy frequently performs at university events and offers public classes to promote appreciation of contemporary dance.
SMU Alumni helm finale of SMU Jubilee showcase in Campus Green
- Alumni Koh Wei Ren from Class of 2018, School of Economics, and Jasmine Lim Li Hua, from Class of 2019, Lee Kong Chiang School of Business, hosting the final night of Live, Laugh, Lor, held in the campus green of their alma mater. The event brought together eight local institutions of higher education to deliver a dynamic showcase of music and dance. From 22 August to 28 September 2025, SMU transformed its campus and the surrounding Bras Basah Arts Precinct into a vibrant, open‑air stage celebrating student creativity and national heritage. Under the banner “2560” – marking both SMU’s 25th and Singapore’s 60th anniversary respectively – the six-week arts festival was its most ambitious yet, uniting students, alumni and collaborators in five flagship productions and a slate of campus-wide activities. While previous editions of the SMU Arts Festival offered many platforms for student collaboration, this year’s festival stood as a statement of how SMU and its community engage with culture, identity and ambition. Across six weeks, more than 460 performers – students, alumni and peers from other institutions – came together to celebrate not just milestones, but the expression and imagination of youth. It also reflected SMU's journey and growth over the past 25 years.
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Global Summer Programme
- The Centre for Global Education and Opportunities (GEO) celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Global Summer Programme on 23 June 2025, with a cake cutting ceremony at the Mochtar Riady Auditorium. At the event are (from left to right) Cheska Geraldine Gonzales Padilla, SMU student emcee ; Ms Bay Hwee Eng, Senior Assistant Director, GEO ; Ms Pooja Nikam, Head of Loyalty, Disney + ; Assistant Professor Darlene Machell Espena, College of Integrative Studies ; Mr Ted Howland, Vice-President Group Sustainability, CapitaLand ; Alan Chan, SMU Provost ; Dr Navin Rajagobal, Senior Director, ASO ; Mr Rick Tay, Head, GEO. The Global Summer Programme was started in 2015. It was suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and resumed in 2021.
A panel discussion comprising local and overseas tax experts in the ingugural STARI conference in 2025
- (From left to right) : Dr Leopoldo Parada, King's College London ; Professor Zhu Yansheng, Xiamen University ; Professor Michael Dirkis, University of Sydney ; Ms Yong Sing Yuan, KPMG ; Associate Professor Darren Koh, Singapore University of Social Sciences. A panel of local and international taxation scholars from leading institutions and universities engaged in a discussion at the inaugural Singapore Tax Academy Research Initiative (STARI) Annual Conference. The conference was held in conjunction with the launch ceremony of STARI. Associate Professor Darren Koh from Singapore University of Social Sciences served as moderator of the conference panel.
An elegent blend of tradition and hip hop anchors RE:TURN's Malay dance segment
- Return of RE:TURN is a high energy dance production that explores the disappearing grammar of traditional Malay, Indian and Chinese dance finding its way to influence, evolve and turn dance genres like hip-hop into fresh and exciting possibilities. Featuring the largest dance club, this production celebrates SMU Eurhythmix (EMIX) marking its 25th anniversary alongside SMU25 and SG60. In the Malay segment, choreographer Mr Hafeez Hassan (fourth from right) stepped onstage alongside the students, lending an authentic presence to the sequence’s unhurried tempo. The fusion of hip hop with traditional Malay movement evoked a pastoral simplicity, while the dancers—dressed in green and accompanied by a live musician—move with poised grace, conjuring scenes of tranquil kampong life.
The finale of RE:TURN celebrates cultural expression and collaboration, closing with a powerful ensemble performance under dynamic lighting
- On 20 September 2025, SMU Eurhythmix (EMIX) — the university’s oldest and largest dance club, also celebrating its own 25th anniversary — staged Return of RE:TURN at Drama Centre Theatre. The full-length dance production fused hip hop with classical Malay, Indian, and Chinese dance vocabularies. Under the mentorship of established choreographers, students explored how heritage forms could be reimagined through contemporary movement, creating a dialogue between the past and present. Return of RE:TURN showcased not just the technical skill of SMU’s dancers, but also their ability to use performance as a medium for cultural storytelling. The finale showed all groups of dancers converging in style, gearing towards unity through diversity, celebrating SMU's Jubilee and the nation's SG60 anniversaries.
SMU-X at 10: A decade of learning that turns ideas into action
- (From L to R) Mr Kevin Koh, Head of SMU-X ; Professor Alan Chan, SMU Provost ; Professor Venky Shankararaman, Vice Provost (Education) and Associate Professor Yuanto Kusnadi, SMU-X Academic Director, holding the commemorative book launched to mark the 10th anniversary of SMU‑X. The book titled ‘From classroom to real world: A decade of industry project-based experiential learning’, traces the initiative’s journey from a bold pedagogical experiment to a defining pillar of the University’s education ecosystem. Launched at the National Library Building on December 2025, the event brought together students, staff, faculty, industry partners and alumni who have shaped – and been shaped by – SMU-X over the past decade. Through reflections spanning across disciplines, industries, and geographies, the book offers insights into how real‑world, project‑based learning has transformed classroom education at SMU.
The Ice Cream Uncle : a zine on display in the 25x25 exhibition at SMU de Suantio Gallery during the 2025 Arts Fest
- This is a pdf capture of the zine created by Amber Choh for the 2025 Arts Fest 25x25 exhibition which contains a poetry inspired by Soe Niang's arkwork "Dance" (2011). "I was inspired by Soe Naing’s dancing colours, which came alive with vibrant pinks, yellows, and expressive brushstrokes. I was drawn to how colour has the power to carry emotion and memory. His work reminded me of the pastel swirls of ice cream on rainbow bread from my childhood. In response, I wrote a poem based on a small but meaningful ritual: queuing outside the school gates every day, rain or shine, to buy ice cream from the uncle. It was a simple act that became a lasting memory—sweet, fleeting, and quietly profound. This work reflects my longing for that time and the comfort of routine. Like Soe Naing’s colours, the memory moves, softens, melts, but ultimately remains vivid. I know that the ice cream uncle is no longer there, and I am no longer the child I was. But in reimagining those colours through recollection, I return briefly to that sunny corner of my past. This poem carries a quiet hope: that even as we grow and change, some memories stay warm and bright enough to revisit." - Amber Choh, Year 3, Lee Kong Chian School of Business
The Turmoil : a zine on display in the 25x25 exhibition at SMU de Suantio Gallery during the 2025 Arts Fest
- This is a pdf capture of the zine created by Cecilia Lee Jia Yi for the 2025 Arts Fest 25x25 exhibition which contains a poetry inspired by Dang Xuan Hoa's untitled self-portrait (2007). "I’ve always struggled with anxious attachment, where love feels like both sanctuary and threat. the turmoil traces that emotional cycle: fixation, emotional hypervigilance, and the spirals that follow when affection feels uncertain or unreciprocated. When I first encountered Dang Xuan Hoa’s self-portrait, I was struck by the silent unrest. The jagged lines and bruised palette mirrored the feeling of being trapped in one’s own mind, the internal noise of someone trying to hold themselves together. It raised the questions that shaped this piece: What does inner conflict look like? Does healing ever arrive, or does the turmoil simply take on new shapes? I used breath-like spacing, short lines, and recurring stanzas to evoke emotional claustrophobia, mirroring the looping nature of anxiety and grief. Additionally, the refrain, “before the healing always comes the turmoil”, begins with certainty but unravels into doubt: “but what if the turmoil never ends?” This captures the contradiction of healing, the constant sway between hope and despair, and mirrors how anxious thoughts loop, escalate, and contradict themselves, distorting clarity. Perhaps time doesn’t heal. It just teaches you to live with the bruise, without flinching, without letting it hollow you out." - Cecilia Lee Jia Yi, Year 3, Lee Kong Chian School of Business
A capivated audience in the orchestral production COMMISSIONS
- The SMU Chinese Orchestra (SMUCO) performed to a captivated audience at COMMISSIONS, held in the SOTA Concert Hall. In celebration of SMU25 and SG60, the concert showcased commissioned works from past years alongside multicultural pieces that highlighted Singapore’s rich diversity. The programme featured three world premieres composed specially for the dual milestone, a multicultural music segment, and performances by guest musicians — including artists from Singapore’s Purple Symphony. The hall buzzed with anticipation as attendees gathered to celebrate a landmark event and SMU’s tradition of nurturing original orchestral works. Their warm reception and enthusiastic applause throughout the evening reflected strong community support for both the university’s artistic endeavours and its commitment to showcasing multicultural and inclusive performances.
A curated display of zines created by students featured in the 25x25 exhibition during the 2025 Arts Festival
- As part of the 25x25 exhibition at SMU's de Suantio Gallery for the 2025 Arts Fest, a segment featured zines crafted by students in response to their interpretations of artworks from the SMU Art Collection. These zines—comprising poems, photographs, and visual compositions—express each student's unique approach and perspective on the themes and subjects explored in the original pieces.
Introducing "Commission", a celebration of commissioning orchestral works
- In this video, Mr Quek Ling Kiong, Artistic Director of the SMU Chinese Orchestra (SMUCO), and Ms Yong Ghek Yee, a third-year student from the School of Accountancy, introduce "Commission", a featured concert in the 2025 Arts Festival held at SOTA Concert Hall. SMUCO continues its tradition of supporting local talent by commissioning new orchestral compositions. To celebrate SMU25 and SG60, this concert commissioned works from past years alongside multicultural pieces celebrating Singapore’s rich diversity. The programme includes three world premieres of original commissions, a multicultural music segment and performances by guest musicians --including artists from Singapore’s Purple Symphony, and the use of unique instruments from Asian countries where SMU has her overseas centres. This highlights SMU’s commitment to inclusion and cultural exchange.
SMU Chinese Orchestra premieres a new composition Moonbound in collaboration with the Purple Symphony
- In the COMMISSIONS concert held at the SOTA Concert Hall, the SMU Chinese Orchestra premiered Moonbound, a new work by local composer Mr Sulwyn Lok, conducted by Mr Wilson Neo. The concert reaffirmed SMU’s long-standing tradition of commissioning local works, a rare initiative for a non-conservatory university. The premiere performance features eight guest musicians from The Purple Symphony, each with different disabilities and each taking on lead and solo roles. Their roles embody the values of inclusion, contribution, and strength through collaboration. This mirrors SMU’s belief in creating space for every voice to be heard and every talent to shine. In its spirit and structure, Moonbound becomes more than a composition; it is a living metaphor for SMU’s enduring values and future-facing vision. Moonbound takes on special resonance within the broader theme of “Celebrating Meaningful Impact – 25 Years and Beyond.” Just as the university has grown through bold vision, care for community, and a commitment to inclusion, the piece reflects a journey shaped by purpose and transformation. It invites the audience to reflect on how far SMU has come, and how it continues to progress— with grace, courage, and the shared aspiration to create meaningful impact. Looking skyward, Moonbound honors the past, embraces the present, and leaps into the future guided by grace, courage and care. About the composition : "Moonbound (Bēn Yuè, meaning “to fly towards the moon”) is a contemporary homage to the classic Chinese pipa suite The Moon Rises High (Yuè ér Gāo), reimagining its luminous heritage for a new generation. Taking its title from the legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess who ascended to the heavens, the piece reflects the enduring human desire to reach beyond the known, and to find beauty in the journey. Structured in three parts, the work begins with urgency and momentum — a rhythmic pulse that evokes not just youthful ambition, but the heartbeat of someone stepping into the unknown for the greater good. Like Chang’e, whose ascent was both a personal sacrifice and a quiet act of courage, this opening captures the spirit of transformation — a leap towards light shaped by love and purpose. The central section offers a moment of repose, drawing inspiration from The Grace of the Moon Goddess (Sù’é Yǐnǐ) — a delicate movement from the original suite that portrays quiet strength, inner clarity, and the gentle power of care. The final return brings back the energy of the opening, now transformed — brighter, more assured — as if guided by moonlight itself. In this reimagined flight, we are reminded that heroism does not always wear a crown — it can be found in every steady step forward, in every hand extended to others, and in the shared light of a community moving as one."
Experiential booth manned by the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore at the SMU-X 10th anniversary book launch
- Guests explored Sarawak’s rich culture at an experiential booth by the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore, one of the industry partners featured at the SMU‑X 10th Anniversary Book Launch. In the event, guests were invited to experience the spirit of SMU‑X through interactive showcases and activity booths supported by industry collaborators. These hands‑on experiences highlighted cross‑cultural learning, creativity and human connection — signature elements of the SMU‑X pedagogy. Together, the project gallery and experiential activities demonstrated how SMU‑X learning extends well beyond the classroom, encouraging students to engage deeply with communities, industries and ideas in ways that are rigorous, meaningful and impactful.
Food village vendors offering diverse food bites behind their colourful booths
- From 22 August to 28 September 2025, SMU transformed its campus and the Bras Basah precinct into a vibrant stage for youth expression, original works, and community connection. Themed “2560”, celebrating SMU’s 25th anniversary and Singapore’s 60th birthday, the six-week Arts Festival was the university’s most ambitious edition yet, uniting students, alumni, and collaborators in five flagship productions and campus-wide activations. On 29 & 30 August and 5 & 6 September, Campus Green came alive as Live, Laugh, Lor drew in thousands as part of the Singapore Night Festival. The event wasn’t just about performances, it was a celebration of community. A buzzing food village drew festivalgoers, while Singlish-inspired games created a lively, carnival-like atmosphere. Featured in the photo are vendors offering a variety of food bites—including beef cubes, crispy crepes, corndogs, loaded potatoes, pastas, sushi tacos, and Thai snacks—bringing diverse flavours to the community.
Basking in the moment : a zine on display in the 25x25 exhibition at SMU de Suantio Gallery during the 2025 Arts Fest
- This is a pdf capture of the zine created by Asha Balamurali for the 2025 Arts Fest 25x25 exhibition which contains a collection of photos inspired by Chua Ek Kay’s artwork "A Junction on Rochor Road" (1999). "A Junction on Rochor Road (1999) by Chua Ek Kay was created a decade after A Busy Corner on Middle Road (1989). What drew me in was the intense melancholy that can be felt in a single glance—a feeling so palpable it almost pauses time. Inspired by this, I wanted to explore the idea of stillness: the act of pausing to fully take in a moment (a feeling we often overlook and undervalue). I explored how light could be played with to convey this feeling and it has influenced most of the photographs in this collection. By slowing down, we open ourselves to the awe and richness of life—moments we might otherwise miss! This zine is a collection of such moments that made me stop and take a second look." - Asha Balamurali, Year 5, School of Social Sciences
Malay wedding ceremony brought to life with vibrant dance performance
- Live, Laugh, Lor brings together all of Singapore’s institutions of higher learning for the first time in a vibrant four‑night collaboration with the Singapore Night Festival, celebrating the heartbeat of contemporary Singaporean identity. The photo showcases student dancers from Ilsa Tari, the Malay dance group from NUS. They brought the traditional Malay wedding ceremony Adat Bersanding to life, complete with expressive customs, lively kompang rhythms, and playful rituals that honour love, blessings, and the richness of Malay heritage. Ilsa Tari is a beginner‑friendly Malay dance group from NUS. Its name is derived from the word Asli—meaning “native”—reflects a bold reimagining of Malay dance that embraces radical creativity while honouring cultural roots. Drawing from traditional Malay dance vocabulary, Ilsa Tari explores contemporary themes and highlights prevailing social issues, pushing the boundaries of expression, innovation, and modernity within the art form.
Musician from the Purple Symphony performed alongside SMU students in the orchestral production COMMISSIONS
- The SMU Chinese Orchestra (SMUCO) performed in COMMISSIONS, a concert that celebrates SMU25, SG60 and SMU’s longstanding commitment to commissioning new orchestral works — including three world premieres. Reflecting the university’s support for local talent and its dedication to inclusion, SMU also collaborated with The Purple Symphony for the premiere of Moonbound. In this performance, eight guest musicians from The Purple Symphony were featured, each with different disabilities and each taking on lead or solo roles. Their contributions embodied the values of inclusivity, participation, and the power of collaboration, aligning with SMU’s belief in providing space for every voice and every talent to shine. Pictured is Lucas Ong (wearing a purple tie) playing the zhongruan, a Chinese string instrument with a moon‑shaped body renowned for its warm, mellow, and resonant tone.
A Roundtable Panel session in the fourth edition of SMU City Dialogues held at Vienna City Hall
- SMU Provost, Professor Alan Chan, sharing his views at the Roundtable Panel session of the fourth SMU CIty Dialogues, organised by Singapore Management University (SMU) in partnership with Urban Innovation Vienna (UIV) on 2 July 2025 at Vienna City Hall. The SMU City Dialogues, inaugurated in 2019, foster a series of engaged discussions among business leaders, government officials, and academic experts on topics relevant to urban development. "City Dialogues" aims to bring together invited delegates for open and frank discussions under Chatham House rules, facilitating the exchange of ideas and best practices. These discussions culminate in the production of a White Paper summarizing the key points and ideas that can create societal and community benefits. The views expressed do not represent the official stance of SMU. The 2025 Dialogue, themed ‘What is the value of urban resilience,’ was a tentpole event of SMU’s 25th anniversary celebration. It aimed to generate practical and actionable recommendations to stimulate and catalyze positive changes in urban development.