Office of Overseas Centres (OOC)

The SMU Office of Overseas Centres (OOC) expands the university's footprint across Asia by deepening partnerships, strengthening global visibility, and opening new pathways for creating impact. Working in some of the region’s most dynamic innovation and education hubs, the OOC supports knowledge exchange, applied research, and partnership engagements that respond to local needs and opportunities.

Our role is to connect SMU's intellectual capital with partners who are shaping the future of business, policy, and society. Through these partnerships, the OOC enhances SMU's ability to contribute insights, develop talent, and support growth across the region.

Advancing SMU’s Regional Presence in Asia

The SMU Office of Overseas Centres (OOC) strengthens SMU’s engagement across Asia by extending the University’s work in education, research, and industry collaboration beyond Singapore. Our mission is to build purposeful connections that create opportunities for learners, partners, and communities throughout the region. To achieve this, the OOC plans, establishes, and oversees SMU’s overseas offices — including SMU Indonesia, SMU Thailand, SMU Vietnam, and SMU China.

Embedded within their local economies, these offices serve as contact nodes to support student mobility programmes such as internships and study visits, facilitate alumni networking, knowledge sharing, executive learning, research collaborations, and partnerships that respond directly to regional needs.

These centres serve as SMU’s strategic gateways in Asia. They enhance the University’s visibility, deepen cross-border collaborations, and create new avenues for impact by bringing people, ideas, and organisations together. Through this work, the OOC supports SMU’s commitment to expanding access to expertise and contributing to the region’s continued advancement.