5 May 2025: In a Times Higher Education Campus+ podcast published on 1 May 2025, SMU President Professor Lily Kong offered a thoughtful reflection on the future of internationalisation in higher education. For Professor Kong, internationalisation is not simply a matter of cross-border mobility or institutional ranking—it is a deeper commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships, widening perspectives, and responding to shared challenges across geographies.
Framing internationalisation as a strategic imperative rather than a symbolic gesture, she shared how universities like SMU can remain globally engaged, regionally grounded, and socially responsive in a world that is constantly shifting.
Internationalisation as a Mission, Not a Mechanism
“We must inculcate in the next generation the ability to see issues through different lenses. To walk in someone else’s shoes,” Professor Kong noted. “Intercultural understanding is not an accessory skill anymore. It’s foundational.”
She elaborated on how SMU’s overseas centres in Jakarta, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City were deliberately designed to mirror the university's city-campus model in Singapore: integrated, accessible, and close to where decisions are made. These centres are not outposts for exchange alone, but bridges for deeper cultural immersion and industry engagement.
This design, she explained, reflects SMU's belief that internationalisation must be lived, not just labelled. Students learn best when they can engage directly with local ecosystems—not just in classrooms, but through proximity to courthouses, commercial districts, start-up spaces, and policymaking hubs.
Research That Makes a Difference
Professor Kong also spoke frankly about the pressures facing global academia. Drawing from her third SR Nathan Lecture, she offered a critique of the prevailing "publish or perish" culture that dominates many universities.
“We’ve lost sight of why we do research,” she said. “It’s become about grant size, publication count, citation rankings as ends in themselves. But the real question is: what difference does the research make?”
At SMU, she shared, there is a conscious effort to move towards research that combines rigour with relevance. Institutional pathways are being developed to support and reward faculty who translate academic insight into public value—whether by influencing policy, informing business models, or reshaping everyday practices.
Singapore and SMU as Gateways to Asia
“We are a small country,” Professor Kong noted. “There’s no such thing as an internal flight. We’ve always had to look outward.”
This outward gaze has been matched by a deep commitment to regional engagement. Through SMU’s Growth in Asia strategy, the university positions itself not as a generic global actor, but as a gateway—offering international students and partners a more grounded, nuanced entry point into Asia.
One example she highlighted was a tri-continental programme involving SMU, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Copenhagen Business School. The programme creates an arc of shared learning across three continents. “They are gateways to Europe and North America. We are a gateway to Asia. It provides mutual access,” she said.
SMU's regional work has not gone unnoticed. Singapore’s Ministry of Education has invited the university to serve as a convenor among local institutions exploring Southeast Asian partnerships. Professor Kong described this role as an opportunity to coordinate more deliberately and avoid duplicating efforts.
Leading in an Uncertain World
Geopolitical shifts were also part of the conversation. From Brexit to US-China dynamics, global tensions have introduced new layers of complexity to international education.
And yet, Professor Kong observed, these very disruptions have led many students and scholars to seek environments that are stable, inclusive, and outward-looking.
“Singapore offers something precious in this climate: stability, quality, and openness,” she said. “We are multicultural by design and inclusive by instinct.”
She was also clear that internationalisation must not become a reactive measure. Instead, universities must lean forward—building trust, nurturing empathy, and demonstrating humility in the way they collaborate.
A Shared Ethos: Global Values, Local Commitment
Above all, Professor Kong returned to the idea that internationalisation must be values-led. “Our work in higher education is not about checking boxes,” she said. “It’s about preparing people to thrive—and contribute—in a world that none of us can navigate alone.”
The two-part conversation also featured Professor Manuel Barcia, the incoming Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global) at the University of Bath. He reflected on the need for fairer, more equitable international research collaborations, particularly with partners in the Global South.
To listen to the full conversation, visit THE Campus+ podcast: "Why internationalisation must remain a cornerstone of higher education" (1 May 2025).
