Education that transforms

At SMU, education must be lived as deeply as it is learned.

From the get-go, seminar-style teaching redefined the classroom experience, empowering students to question, challenge, and contribute. Our interactive learning ethos found new expression in the SMU-X experiential learning framework, where ideas are developed, before being put into practice in boardrooms, start-ups and social enterprises; and theory is refined against the demands of practice.

In turn, the curriculum grew to fuse classroom and industry, ensuring students graduate not only with knowledge, but the agility, resilience and sense of purpose to thrive. SMU extended this transformative approach through the introduction of a first-of-its-kind GLOs parallel transcript, which formally recognises students’ competencies and personal growth beyond grades. The initiative ensures attributes such as leadership, creativity, and collaboration are acknowledged as integral to an SMU education, reinforcing the University’s commitment to holistic development.

Such innovations in pedagogy and assessment have deepened our distinctive model of education, shaping graduates who are more than the sum of their academic achievements. As such, each commencement ceremony — from the first undergraduates in 2004 to the inaugural MBA cohort in 2009 — has been more than a rite of passage; it has marked the emergence of leaders prepared to create meaningful impact.

Research with real-world relevance

Research at SMU has always been guided by urgency and purpose, born of the recognition that knowledge must respond to a milieu in constant flux.

Our scholars confront questions of consequence that span a breadth of important discussions such as how economies can grow sustainably in Asia, how trust can be built in an increasingly digital world, and so much more. These topics are researched with the rigour of academia, with the aim of contributing to real-world conversations and impact.

The pursuit of meaningful impact comes to life in the work of our faculty, where scholarship translates into influence at scale. Lee Kong Chian Professor of Operations Management Lim Yun Fong’s study on last-mile delivery, for instance, has been cited in a US patent — demonstrating how business research is shaping the logistics industry at scale. His work bridges theory and practice, offering innovative models that make urban supply chains more efficient and sustainable.

Making waves in the field of digital transformation, Professor of Computer Science Robert H Deng, in his position as AXA Chair Professor of Cybersecurity, exemplifies how long-term, dedicated research can fortify society’s defences against evolving threats, ensuring that trust remains the foundation of digital economies.

Beyond individual breakthroughs, SMU has cultivated research centres that act as engines of insight, amplifying collective expertise to address regional and global challenges. The Ngee Ann Kongsi-funded ROSA (Centre for Research on Successful Ageing) initiative, for example, explores ageing and well-being in Asia, and has embarked on what is currently the world’s largest high-frequency longitudinal surveys on ageing. Findings help to foster knowledge that informs public policy and empowers communities. Together, these endeavours embody a shared principle: advancing research that is rigorous, relevant, and purposeful.

Leading ideas, inspiring change

Equally impactful is SMU’s role as a beacon of thought leadership, where ideas not only illuminate but guide the future.

Through the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership Lectures, global leaders who have shaped Asia’s economic landscape engage in public dialogue, positioning the University as a conduit that connects visionary leadership with aspiring minds. Extending that ethos into the realm of education, SMU President Lily Kong, the 15th SR Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore, explores the evolving purpose of universities in her Institute of Policy Studies-Nathan Lecture Series. Her reflections on universities as pioneers of societal progress and guardians of research integrity invite both the public and policymakers to reimagine the future of education.

More recently, the SMU Sustainability Forum and its inaugural International Conference on ESG and Climate Governance further elevate engagement in these topics, fusing academic insight and boardroom strategy to confront climate action head-on. With participation from experts and directors across continents, the conference exemplifies SMU’s power to translate dialogue into direction for businesses and communities.

Together with initiatives such as City Dialogues — launched in 2019 to bring business, government, and academia into conversation on issues shaping the city — and a robust calendar of academic conferences, SMU has carved out a unique space: not merely joining global conversations, but often setting their agenda. This space has been so well received that it has made its entrance on the global stage in cities such as Bangkok and Vienna – with City Dialogues Vienna having been hosted as a partner event of the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2025.

Recognised for Excellence

The results are indisputable — with every accolade a reflection of purpose in action.

As reported in the 2024 Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey (JAUGES), SMU graduates command among the highest mean starting salaries in Singapore — reflecting our mission to produce leaders equipped with both values and vision.

Our faculty and centres of excellence have also been honoured globally for their case writing, teaching, and research — from multiple international wins in the EFMD Case Writing Competition to the recognition of SMU Professor of Information Systems Venky Shankararaman as an Outstanding Educator by the international Association for Information Systems. These accolades reaffirm our purpose of advancing knowledge and shaping future-ready leaders.

Such milestones span the University’s journey — from its Integrated Information Technology Services winning gold for the intranet project iNET; to being recognised with both the Business Leadership and Building Project Leadership accolades at the SGBC-BCA Leadership in Sustainability Awards — underscoring purposeful impact throughout our campus.

Looking Beyond

As SMU turns 25, it celebrates not only a rich history but also the promise of what lies ahead. The theme Celebrating Meaningful Impact: 25 Years and Beyond, launched on the opening of the academic year 2025, captures this trajectory.

Celebrating salutes the people who have built and carried our vision; Meaningful Impact reflects the difference we have made to individuals, industries, and communities; and Beyond gestures to the work still unfinished.

The next chapter of SMU will be written with the same energy and conviction that defined its beginning — a University committed to educating with purpose, researching with impact, and shaping conversations that matter.