Community service has been part of the SMU curriculum since the university welcomed its first undergraduates in 2000. During the course of a four-year degree students complete a two-week attachment within a community, social or civic organisation as a way of not only preparing students for a school-to-work transition, but to inculcate SMU’s inherent culture of giving back to society.

Already 4,629 SMU students have completed 80-hours of community service. About half of these students have given more than the required 80-hours. As of August 2007, the total number of hours volunteered by SMU undergraduates is more than 370,320. This translates to 46,290 days or 126 years of an individual providing an eight-hour day of volunteer service in the community. Within Singapore and overseas, over 45 different Volunteer Welfare Organisations and Non-Government Organisations have benefited from SMU’s community service programme.

Apart  from  understanding  the  importance  of  giving,  through

community service students become acquainted with career possibilities in the non-profit sector, develop confidence, compassion and self-reliance, new interests and knowledge, opportunities to be creative and to work as a team. It also teaches them to become responsible citizens, to demonstrate leadership and integrity within the communities they live and work with.

Most of the community service projects undertaken are developed by the students themselves. In the past year students have broadened their community outreach outside Singapore to more than 20 countries. In 2007 these included Project U.t.o.p.i.a., Project Climb and Project Elephant. From 11 February to 7 March 2008 AIESEC (SMU) planned and hosted the thought provoking exhibition Poverty Through Our Lenses to heighten our awareness to world poverty and stimulate action towards its elimination in Asia.