Establishment of the Centre for Global Education and Opportunities (GEO), under the newly formed Academic Services and Operations (ASO) division
The cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the establishment of the Centre for Global Education and Opportunities (GEO), a new member of the Academic Services and Operations (ASO) group. GEO plays a pivotal role in driving global exposure participations of our students through immersive and meaningful signature global education programs. The event was attended by (Front, from left) Mr Ivan Low, Head of Marketing and Outreach, Office of Admissions and Financial Assistance (OAFA); Mr Tan Lee Chuan, Director, Office of Registrar; Ms Linette Lim, Director, OAFA; Dr Navin Rajagobal, Senior Director, ASO; Professor Timothy Clark, SMU Provost; Mr Rick Tay, Head, Centre for Global Education and Opportunities (GEO), (Back, left) Ms Prasanthi Guda, Head, Undergraduate Careers, Dato’ Kho Hui Meng Career Centre (DKHMCC); (Back, 4th from right) Mr Henry Yeo, Deputy Director, Postgraduate Careers, DKHMCC; along with the staff of ASO and GEO.


    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.


      Students in the inaugural run of SMU Asia Global Exposure programme at University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City
      SMU students with local students from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Vietnam, during the inaugural run of the SMU Asia Global Exposure (SAGE) programme in 2024. The photo was taken in a UEH campus classroom during their first lesson. SAGE is a series of short-term immersion programmes comprising classes hosted by local universities, cultural immersion activities and company visits in Southeast Asia countries. The initiative aims to broaden students’ understanding of regional economies and diverse cultures.


        SMU Global Summer Programme 2024 introduces a new Digital Intelligence Track
        Singapore Management University (SMU) launched the 9th edition of its annual Global Summer Programme (GSP) with the introduction of a Digital Intelligence track. The new track empowers students to confidently harness technology for success in an AI-driven world. Held at the Mochtar Riady Auditorium on campus, the launch event was attended by more than 250 programme participants from 35 nationalities around the world. Gracing the event was Guest of Honour Ms. Feon Ang, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, LinkedIn (4th from right). Joining her (on her right) was Aidan Wong, Asst Prof, Urban Studies (Education), College of Integrative Studies, who moderated at the launch and (from her left) Yuanto Kusnadi, Assoc Prof of Accounting (Education) and Academic Director (SMU-X), as well as Mr. Rick Tay, Head, and Ms. Bay Hwee Eng, Asst Director, from the Centre for Global Education and Opportunities (GEO). Attendees from the SMU Office of Industry Engagement (OIE) included (from the left) Ms. Jenn Goh, Asst Manager, Mr. Nelson Ng, Assoc Director, and Ms. Catherine Chong, Director.


          International students in the 2024 Exchange Student Ambassador (ESA) Training Programme
          This is a group photo featuring the batch of graduating students from the 2024 Exchange Student Ambassador programme. The programme was first launched in February 2023 to equip exchange students with skills to be an ambassador of SMU through a series of specially curated workshops held over a semester.


            Students visited the Old Town White Coffee Coastal Playgrove at East Coast Park under the Global Summer Programme
            As part of the Asia Pacific Business course within the Global Summer Programme (GSP), students visited the Old Town White Coffee Coastal Playgrove at East Coast Park. The programme features onsite visits to various local companies, allowing participants to enhance their socioeconomic and cultural understanding of Singapore and Asia. Students learned about the importance of leveraging technology for business success and appreciating cultural diversity. The visit to Old Town White Coffee offered real-world exposure to the local food industry.


              Crowds of students thronged the in-person Fair at the SMU Concourse in the first-ever hybrid Study Abroad Fair in 2023
              After conducting virtual editions of the Study Abroad Fair (SAF) in 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, GEO ran the first ever hybrid SAF in 2023. Over a thousand students thronged the in-person Fair at SMU Concourse and seized the chance to engage with representatives from 22 partner universities and 53 exchange students from various continents, gaining valuable insights into what to expect from an exchange or global exposure programme at different universities.


                Inaugural run of ASEAN Internship Programme Plus in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
                Students participating in the inaugural ASEAN Internship Programme Plus (AIP+) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, had the opportunity to visit a local business and gain firsthand insights into how agriculture contributes to economic growth and supports rural livelihoods. They also studied at Vietnam National University to gain insights into Vietnam’s politics, economy, and society. Launched in May 2025, the AIP+ programme is jointly managed by the Centre for Global Education and Opportunities (GEO) and the Dato’ Kho Hui Meng Career Centre (DKHMCC). It aims to enhance students' employability and global readiness through internships at ASEAN companies. Students are introduced to ASEAN cities with high business potential, providing them with an understanding of the companies, challenges, opportunities, and the business culture and landscape. They are also given opportunities to acclimatize to the city and country, and to build contacts in their assigned location.


                  Launch of Sustainable Futures Track in the 2023 SMU Global Summer Programme
                  A new Sustainable Futures track was launched on the 8th edition of the Global Summer Programme in 2023. With the new track, students now had the opportunity to learn about the rich cultural heritage, economic dynamism and diverse social landscapes of multifaceted Asia; underpinned by the crucial elements of sustainable development and protecting the environment. At the event in SMU Mochtar Riady Auditorium to open the annual programme are (from left) Ms Bay Hwee Eng (Assistant Director, GEO) ; Ms Zealyn Heng Shi Lin (Manager and Personal Assistant, Academic Services and Operations) ; Dr Navin Rajagobal (Senior Director of Academic Services and Operations) ; Guest of Honour Professor Tommy Koh ; Professor Timothy Clark (SMU Provost), Mr Rick Tay (Head, Centre for Global Education and Opportunities).