PREPARING FOR THE KNOWLEDGE AGE
“Universities everywhere are playing an increasingly important role to prepare young people for a changing and unpredictable world. With the rapid diffusion of knowledge worldwide, new possibilities for improving economic conditions and human welfare are opening up everywhere. Companies and countries are seizing these opportunities, adapting quickly, and leveraging on innovations and technology to surge ahead of their competitors. Globalisation is pushing out the frontiers of knowledge farther and faster.

“Competition will intensify in this environment. But the nature of competition will be different. It is no longer about working cheaper and harder, but also working smarter and more effectively. Increasingly, R&D, innovation and other cutting-edge activities clustering around communities of talent, or what Bill Gates has called ‘IQ magnets’. Knowledge and talent have therefore become more crucial than ever in attracting investments and jobs.”

GREATER DIVERSITY, MORE OPPORTUNITIES
“With no natural resources of our own, Singapore has long relied on knowledge as our principal means of livelihood. This is why we have made sustained and heavy investments in education at all levels – primary, secondary and tertiary.

“SMU is a good example of the diversity that we are seeking to inject into our universities. As a new entrant, SMU has shown that it is prepared to break the mould and do things differently. SMU was the first local university to establish itself as a not-for-profit public company, limited by guarantee. Its success gave the Government confidence to corporatise NUS and NTU so that they too can operate more autonomously and chart their own ways forward.

“SMU’s distinctive strengths are also evident in the quality of its students. Many employers have noticed that SMU students are different. They are more ready to speak up and more confident in putting across their ideas. This may be the result of SMU’s admission criteria which evaluates students holistically, based on a wide range of abilities and interests. It may also be that SMU attracts a certain kind of student: one who is more prepared to experiment and take risks.

“But I believe SMU’s innovative approach towards education has also made a difference. SMU has adopted a broad-based curriculum which includes training in life skills like leadership, communication and creativity. Lessons are conducted in seminar-style with a strong emphasis on team work and class participation. Students are also encouraged to learn or better work overseas."

SMU – HEART OF A VIBRANT GLOBAL CITY
“At the heart of this city is the SMU campus. With its new city campus, SMU will join the ranks of urban universities in leading cities around the world, like London, New York and Paris. These universities have added life and youthful energies to their respective communities. I believe that SMU can have a similar impact on our city.

“When SMU first decided to build its campus on this location, many were concerned that it would spoil the charm of the area and damage the greenery, including the many Angsana trees in the old Bras Basah park. But the SMU city campus has turned out very well. SMU’s buildings are gracious and human-scale, integrated with the trees, and blend in with the overall character of the city.

“More importantly, SMU’s faculty, staff and students have shown that they are not passive tenants ensconced in ivory towers, but active participants immersed in the community. SMU has been hosting exhibitions, performances and public talks, some put up by its own students.

“That SMU has been able to accomplish so much in so short a time speaks of the quality of its leadership, past and present.”