Asian Studies Commons^™

Not Retirement, But A Rewiring And Fresh Perspectives Post-Dbs, Says Piyush Gupta [Interview With Business Times], Su Shyan Lee, Piyush Gupta

Oral History Collection

In an interview with The Business Times, SMU Chairman Piyush Gupta discussed topics ranging from meditation and conservation to the future of education. On his role at SMU, he emphasised his desire to help shape tertiary education and noted that the rise of AI makes it critical to rethink how we learn. Mr Gupta believes that in an AI-driven world, students must move beyond domain knowledge to focus on interpreting information, "connecting the dots," and engaging others with genuine empathy. He is supportive of a more experiential curriculum at SMU — one that focuses on regional exposure through internships and …

Oral History Interview With Alan Chan, Alan Chan

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• Starting at SMU
• Administration
• Challenges and Future; Teaching and Curriculum
• Research
• College of Integrative Studies 
• Students
• Advice for Students

Oral History Interview With Timothy Clark (Part 2), Timothy Clark

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• Teaching and Curriculum
• Research
• Challenges & Future
• Personal Reflections
• Libraries
• Advice
• Advice for Students

Nurture Asia-Ready Singaporeans To Tap Growing Opportunities In The Region [Interview With The Straits Times], Sandra Davie, Piyush Gupta

Oral History Collection

In an interview with The Straits Times, as chairman of Singapore Management University, DBS Bank chief executive Piyush Gupta said the university should aim to become the “quintessential Asian university”, emulating DBS, which he had turned into the “quintessential Asian bank” since he took over the helm in 2009.

Q&A With Professor Lily Kong, Royal Geographical Society

Oral History Collection

SMU President Professor Lily Kong has been conferred the Royal Geographical Society (with the institute of British Geographers) Victoria Medal 2024 for conspicuous merit in social and cultural geography and in urban research. The Medal recognises Prof Kong’s exceptional intellectual leadership, demonstrated through her scholarship and contributions to the internationalisation of geography. She is also the first Asian woman, in over 120 years, to be accorded this honour. In an interview, Prof Kong shared about her role and work as the first Singaporean woman to be appointed President of any university in Singapore, as well as the highlights of her …

Up Close And Personal With Mr Sundar Selvam: Hitting Zero Targets, Sundar Selvam

Oral History Collection

He might not be one you would have come across on campus. And not one you might read much about in SMU news or in the limelight for its achievements, preferring to remain in the background. But look around the SMU campus and you will see the fruits of his work and that of his team. Meet Sundar, SMU’s Vice-President for Campus Infrastructure and Services. Since January 2015, he has been at the forefront of driving SMU’s own sustainability journey which has resulted in several “firsts”. This interview was published in the August edition of SMU CIRCLE.

Up Close And Personal With Hugh Edmiston: Engineering Smu Towards Growth And Excellence, Hugh Edmiston

Oral History Collection

So what can a chartered engineer from the United Kingdom tell us about our aspirations to contribute to growth in Asia, as a young university in Singapore? As I found out…plenty. And then some. Meet SMU Senior Vice-President (Administration) Hugh Edmiston, who joined us just as COVID-19 hit our shores (“Little did I know there was a global pandemic on the horizon when I moved!”); and read on to learn more about his multiple roles and responsibilities in SMU as he drives our growth in Asia. This interview was published in the June 2021 edition of SMU CIRCLE.

Up Close And Personal With Smu President Prof Lily Kong, Lily Kong

Oral History Collection

On the occasion of SMU’s coming of age (21st anniversary), alumnus Terence Quek (MCM 2013) 'Zoomed' SMU President Professor Lily Kong, and through a host of questions discovered her leadership challenges, why she ran 248km, and how she plans to keep SMU “glowing”.The interview was published in the February 2021 edition of SMU CIRCLE.

Oral History Interview With Timothy Clark, Timothy Clark

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• Starting at SMU
• Concepts and Value
• Challenges and Future
• Teaching and Curriculum
• Campus - Prinsep Street going forward
• Faculty
• Advice for Students

Oral History Interview With Lily Kong (Part 2), Lily Kong

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• Research - Capacity building
• Teaching & Curriculum - Postgraduate professional programs
• Presidents - Internal and external role
• Presidents - Garden metaphor
• Leadership styles, group dynamics
• Challenges & Future - A relatively young university
• Concept & Values - Making a difference in higher education
• Challenges & Future - Healthy competition, cooperation and collaboration
• Personal Reflection - As a woman in senior management
• Advice for Students - Dare to dream
• Presidents - Learning & delegating
• Personal Reflection - Getting a different perspective
• Advice for Students - Know yourself and find a good fit

Oral History Interview With Lily Kong, Lily Kong

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• President – Career in Singapore prior to joining SMU
• Teaching & Curriculum – Blue Ribbon Commission for Undergraduate Education
• Campus – Prinsep Street Residences
• Teaching & Curriculum – SMU-X courses
• Research – Societal Challenges
• Teaching & Curriculum -SMU Academy

Oral History Interview With Arnoud De Meyer, Arnoud De Meyer

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• Teaching and Curriculum – Title: Maintaining SMU’s competitive edge
• Challenges & Future; Title: Developing SMU into an internationally recognized university
• SMU research and its impact on society in Singapore
• Campus – Title: Renovating Campus Green
• Renovating Prinsep Street Residences
• SMU-X Building
• Designing SMU-X Building
• Building a culture of sustainability
• Goals as President
• Support from the government
• Advice for students – Grasping opportunities

Comments On The Setting Up And The Growth Of Smu By Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister For Finance At Smu Commencement Ceremony 2018, Swee Keat Heng

Oral History Collection

Speech by Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Finance at SMU Commencement Ceremony on 31 July 2018. He talked about the setting up and growth of SMU and thanked Arnoud De Meyer for his constributions as SMU President.

Interview With Arnoud De Meyer: Creating A New Management University, Arnoud De Meyer

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• Goals as President
• Support from the government
• SMU Academy
• SMU-X Building
• Board of trustees
• Differentiating SMU

Interview With Tan Chin Tiong: Creating A New Management University, Chin Tiong Tan

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• Involvement with SMU
• Private university
• Collaboration with Wharton School
• Challenges

Interview With Howard Hunter: Creating A New Management University, Howard Hunter

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• Involvement with SMU
• Law school
• Support from the government
• Curriculum
• Board of trustees
• Private university

Interview With Ho Kwong Ping: Creating A New Management University, Kwon Ping Ho

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• SMU history
• SMU startups
• Singapore education system
• Autonomous universities
• Strategic decisions
• Differentiating SMU
• Millennials
• Top ranking institutions
• Board of trustees

Interview With Lily Kong: Creating A New Management University, Lily Kong

Oral History Collection

The Interview covered:

• Liberal arts education
• Business schools
• Professional education
• Liberal management education
• Education management
• Ethics courses

Oral History Interview With Howard Thomas: Growing Smu, Howard Thomas

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, his background in higher education industry, his contributions in setting up the Business School and growing post-graduate programs, and his role as Dean at SMU.

Biography:

Dean, Lee Kong Chian School of Business, 2010 - 2014

Professor Howard Thomas served as the dean of Lee Kong Chian School of Business from 2010 to 2014. During his tenure, SMU received business school accreditations by highly regarded and globally recognized programs including AACSB and EQUIS. SMU was also invited to be member of GMAC and the EMBA Council, and joined the Global Business School Network …

Oral History Interview With David Chan: Growing Smu, David Chan

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, challenges, his recollection and perspective from the early days of the School of Social Sciences until now, and his role as the Director of the Behavioural Sciences Institute.

Biography:

Director, Behavioural Sciences Institute, SMU, 2009-present

Interim Dean, School of Social Sciences, SMU, 2007-2008

Prof David Chan was appointed as the Interim Dean of the newly set up School of Social Sciences from 2007 to 2008. The School of Economics and Social Sciences was split into the School of Economics and the School of Social Sciences in April 2007. He was the Vice Provost …

Oral History Interview With Ruth Chiang: Growing Smu, Ruth Chiang

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, first batch of SMU students, student creed, CIRCLE values, student community service, finishing touch program, career services including OnTrac, internship, graduate employment service, Dato’ Kho Hui Meng Career Centre.

Biography:

Director of the Office of Student Life and the Office of Career Services, SMU, 2000-2015

Ruth has a Master Degree in Communications Management from the University of South Australia; a graduate Diploma in Business Administration from NUS and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Economics from Singapore University. She is also an accredited administrator of personality inventories like MBTI, DISC, MAPP, Proscan, …

Oral History Interview With Rajendra Srivastava: Growing Smu, Rajendra K. Srivastava

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: role of provost, AACSB accreditation, evolution of SMU undergraduate program, development of postgraduate program, executive development program, faculty recruitment, development of research effort, research centres and institutes, areas of excellence, start of case writing initiative, India Desk.

Biography:

LKCSB Chair in Marketing Strategy and International Business, SMU, 2015 - Present

Provost and Deputy-President (Academic Affairs), SMU, 2009 - 2015

Rajendra Srivastava was Provost and Deputy President at Singapore Management University (SMU) from 2008 to 2015. Prior to joining SMU he was the Roberto C. Goizueta Chair in Marketing and Digital Commerce, Goizueta Business School, Emory University where …

Daringly Different: The Making Of The Singapore Management University, Kevin Y. L. Tan

Oral History Collection

This is a book about the founding and early years of Asia’s first university in the 21st century - the Singapore Management University or SMU. It provides a background to tertiary education in Singapore to set the scene and offer the reader a glimpse of the landscape in which the remarkable changes leading to SMU’s establishment, and ramifications flowing therefrom, took place. So many of the key actors who were intimately connected to this grand story are still around and actively engaged in the life of SMU, and thus the book benefitted greatly from first-hand interviews with a number of …

Oral History Interview With Kirpal Singh: Growing Smu, Kirpal Singh

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, risks, admissions process, first priorities, core curriculum, general electives, creative thinking program, student projects, parent interaction, cross-cultural studies, Wee Kim Wee Centre, writers festivals, humanities, arts and culture management, students.

Biography: In recent years Creativity Guru and poet Dr Kirpal Singh has come to be regarded as one of the world's sharpest Futurists, charting territories yet uncharted but certain to materialize in the not-too-distant futures. Dr Singh believes that thinking of the future in the singular sense is no longer going to hold because the Future will be made up of several futures, …

Oral History Interview With Sharon Tan: Growing Smu, Sharon Tan

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, risks in joining a new university, roles and responsibilities for corporate communication, first advertising campaign, branding SMU, Bukit Timah campus, first commencement, city campus, Advancement Office, endownments, Lee Kong Chian gift, alumni.

Sharon Tan was the Director of Corporate Communications and Director of the Office of Advancement and Alumni in SMU until 2014.

Comments On The Setting Up And The Growth Of Smu By Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister For Education At Smu Commencement Ceremony 2013, Swee Keat Heng

Oral History Collection

Transcript of speech by Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Education at SMU Commencement Ceremony on Wednesday, 25 July 2013, 9am at Resorts World Sentosa. He was involved in the setting up of SMU and talked about the growth, the daring, and the sharing by SMU and its students.

Oral History Interview With Sim Teow Hong: Growing Smu, Teow Hong Sim

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, finance administration, CFO, government funding, stakeholders, tuition fees, financial crisis, donors, campus development, facilities management, student hostels, parent, risk management, reputation.

Biography: Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration, SMU, 1999–2016

Sim Teow Hong graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy from the former University of Singapore and worked as an auditor with the Ernst & Young public accounting firm for a few years. He then embarked on a banking career by joining the Chase Manhattan Bank (now JP Morgan Chase), Singapore. He worked with the Bank for 18 years, fulfilling different roles from …

Oral History Interview With Annie Koh: Growing Smu, Annie Koh

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, risks of joining a new university, roles and responsibilities, financial markets and institutions course, executive and professional education, collaboration, Wharton School, business cases, International Trading Institute, commodities trading, Masters in Wealth Management, Office of Business Development and External Relations.

Biography: Vice President for Business Development and External Relations, SMU, 2000–present

Annie Koh is Vice President for Business Development and External Relations at the Singapore Management University (SMU). An Associate Professor of Finance, Annie also holds the position Academic Director of The Financial Training Institute (FTI), Center for Professional Studies (CPS), International Trading Institute …

Oral History Interview With John Niland: Conceptualising Smu, John Niland

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, SMU's Board of Trustees, early priorities of the Board of Trustees, the Academic Affairs Committee, the tenure process at SMU, Finance and Remuneration Committee, admissions criteria, early days at SMU, the role of QAFU, the role of the International Academic Advisory Panel, looking ahead, Singapore's public policy in guiding universities, personal impact, advice for students.

Biography:

Deputy Chairman, SMU Board of Trustees (2000-2012)

Professor John Niland joined SMU Board of Trustees in 2000 and has been closely involved with SMU's growth and development since then. He served as the Chair of the Finance …

Oral History Interview With Ronald Frank: Conceptualising Smu, Ronald Frank

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, President of SMU, Bukit Timah campus, roles and responsibilities, faculty recruitment, advertising campaigns, student feedback, autonomous universities, strategy, law school, higher education landscape, impact.

Biography:

President, SMU, 2001–2004

Board of Trustees, SMU, 2000–2001

Professor Ronald E Frank, or Ron as he affectionately known, joined SMU’s board of trustees in 2000 and assumed his role as SMU’s second president in September 2001. His presidency was a time of rapid growth for the young university. SMU had just admitted its second cohort of undergraduate students in August 2001. During his time as president two schools …