The exposure of SMU students to an overseas experience through an internship, university exchange, business study mission, community service project or student conference, has helped broaden the overall perspective of undergraduates to the world around them. In the past academic year more than 30% of SMU students travelled outside Singapore participating in one of the University’s various overseas programmes. Within the near future, that figure will be closer to 50%. SMU’s aim, however, is to have 100% of undergraduates undertake a foreign experience.

Study trips are the overseas component of SMU’s unique ‘Business Study Mission’ module, which comprises a series of intensive seminars leading up to the visit. To date, more than 700 SMU undergraduates have embarked on business study missions to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, New York, Argentina, Chile, China, Bangalore, California’s Silicon Valley, Germany, Spain, Thailand, India, Laos and Vietnam. The missions covered a host of site visits, networking sessions, and presentations by prominent individuals from both the private and public sectors to facilitate greater understanding of the various locations, and enabled students to extend their personal networks in the region.

An integral part of the SMU experience for undergraduates is Community Outreach. To fulfil the 80 hours of service with a nonprofit or other social sector organisation requirement, a growing number of students pursue their community service overseas. In 2006 and 2007 student teams travelled to over 15 countries, including China, Nepal, Cambodia, India, Vietnam, Thailand and South Africa, to help communities through a range of innovative environmental, educational and cultural projects.

University exchange programmes enable students to study for one or two semesters at foreign universities. Every year about 300 SMU undergraduates participate in an overseas exchange, choosing from one of 140 partner universities in more than 40 countries around the world, including The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University in the US, Bordeaux Business School in France, European Business School in Germany, Lund University in Sweden, Waseda University in Japan and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Last year a number of students opted for less conventional destinations such Africa, Mexico, Israel and Turkey.

International exposure is also apparent on campus. Foreign students make up 20% of the intake, with over 90% from India, China and ASEAN countries. Students from South Africa, The Netherlands and New Zealand were accepted for the first time in 2007. The richness of the international diversity and cultural vibrancy with the opportunity to study, network and bond with overseas students from 25 countries is one of the hallmarks of the global-oriented education at SMU.