Asian Studies Commons^™

Oral History Interview With Steven Miller: Conceptualising Smu, Steven Miller

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, setting up School of Information Systems, collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, industry relations, student interaction, faculty research, graduate placement, postgraduate programs.

Biography:

Founding Dean, School of Information Systems, SMU, 2002–present

Professor Steven Miller is founding dean of the School of Information Systems at Singapore Management University, a position he has held since December 2002. Since joining SMU, he has concentrated on developing all aspects of the School of information Systems, including undergraduate and post-graduate educational programmes, research strategies and capabilities, interactions with external stakeholders, and the school’s relationship with Carnegie Mellon. Through LiveLabs, …

Oral History Interview With Ho Kwon Ping: Conceptualising Smu, Kwon Ping Ho

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: capturing SMU history, view of Singapore education system, Singapore Institute of Management, third university, business schools, business education, faculty recruitment, differentiating SMU, board of trustees, governance, student interaction, job satisfaction, non-profit organisations, inaugural convocation, differentiating SMU, future of SMU.

Biography:

Chairman, Board of Trustees, SMU, 2000–present
Chairman, Governing Council for Singapore Institute of Management, 1997–2000

One of Singapore’s most prominent businessmen, Mr Ho Kwon Ping, was tapped by Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan in 1997 to lead the effort to establish a new national university which would be autonomous and based on an American-style of education. An …

Oral History Interview With Low Aik Meng: Conceptualising Smu, Aik Meng Low

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, role and responsibilities, curriculum, student experience, first freshman team building camp, first classes, pioneer class, student activities, student ambassadors, community service, student hostel, student financial assistance.

Biography:

Founding Dean of Students, SMU, 2000–2011

Member of SMU start-up team

An SMU ‘pioneer’, Professor Low Aik Meng was one of the first three faculty to join the start-up team for the new university in 1998. Curriculum development was one his early responsibilities. Professor Low is best known for his next assignment—in 2000 he was appointed as SMU’s founding dean of students, a role in which …

Oral History Interview With Michael Furmston: Conceptualising Smu, Michael P. Furmston

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with Singapore and SMU, challenges and opportunities for the law school, faculty recruitment, law research, job opportunities, relationship with legal communities, internships, law building, future developments, dispute resolution.

Biography:

Founding Dean, School of Law, SMU, 2007–present

Professor Michael Furmston became the founding dean of the School of Law in August 2007. The second law school in Singapore, SMU’s undergraduate law programme has been noted for the significant proportion of business and finance courses. Its first students graduated in July 2011. In 2009, a postgraduate law programme was introduced, the juris doctor. During Professor Furmston’s tenure …

Oral History Interview With Ruth Pagell: Conceptualising Smu, Ruth Pagell

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, new library, city campus, role and responsibilities, academic librarians, research support, digital library, PYXIS, changing role of librarians, challenges.

Biography:

Founding University Librarian, SMU, 2005–2011

Ruth A. Pagell served as SMU’s first University Librarian from June 2005 until February 2011. During her time at SMU she led the effort to create a 21st century academic library recognised for enabling university research and teaching. She oversaw the implementation of the digital library (PYXIS) and the institutional repository (InK), and the development of the oral history site. After leaving SMU in February 2011, she moved …

Oral History Interview With Arnoud De Meyer: Conceptualising Smu, Arnoud De Meyer

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with Singapore, tertiary education in Singapore, business schools, role of university, city campus.

Biography:

President, SMU, 2010–present

Professor De Meyer became the fourth president of SMU in September 2010. A leader and well-known scholar in management studies, his research interests include manufacturing and technology strategy, management of R&D and innovation, management under conditions of high uncertainty and for novel projects, management and innovation in Asia, the globalisation of Asian firms, and e-readiness in Europe. He publishes widely in academic journals and books.

For twenty three years, Professor De Meyer was associated with INSEAD where he …

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2011 - 2012, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

“Student Life” offers exciting updates on undergraduates’ achievements; “Academic Review” shares key news about our faculty and programmes; “Global Profile” surveys how SMU is raising its international profile; and “Horizons” reviews how the University is building strong, lasting relationships with our partners. Each story is a single tile and together they form a mosaic which portrays the creativity, colour and dynamism of SMU today. Three feature articles offer in-depth analysis of the ways SMU is striding towards meeting its strategic goals. The proactive, collaborative efforts of the SMU community are explored in “SMU President’s ‘Want Something, Do Something’ Culture”. A …

Oral History Interview With Tan Chin Tiong: Conceptualising Smu, Chin Tiong Tan

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, changes to concept plan, research, private university, faculty recruitment, challenges, marketing, advertising campaign, autonomous universities, collaboration with Wharton School, schools in SMU, change agent for education landscape, differentiating SMU, SMU students.

Biography:

Provost, SMU, 1999–2008, and Deputy President, SMU, 2007–2009

Member of SMU start-up team

In 1998 Professor Tan Chin Tiong was one of the first three faculty members who joined the start-up team to create what would become Singapore’s third university, SMU. Among his many responsibilities during the planning phase of SMU, he oversaw faculty recruitment, public relations and marketing, and the …

Oral History Interview With Khoo Teng Aun: Conceptualising Smu, Teng Aun Khoo

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: concept for new university, university library, first admissions exercise, student reaction to SMU, achievements of SMU.

Biography:

Associate Professor of Accounting, SMU, 2000–present

Member of SMU start-up team

Professor Khoo Teng Aun was one of the SMU ‘pioneers’, the faculty who formed the start-up team for Singapore’s third university. He joined the start-up team in 1999. Today he is a faculty member of the School of Accountancy and teaches corporate reporting and taxation. His research interests include internet financial reporting, multinational companies, cost and management accounting systems, taxation, and entrepreneurial studies. He also teaches in SMU’s master …

Oral History Interview With Low Kee Yang: Conceptualising Smu, Kee Yang Low

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, university education in Singapore, curriculum, CIRCLE values, private university, logo, teaching pedagogy, interview students for admissions, legal aspects, incorporation of SMU, first day of class, law school, challenges, student recruitment, law internships, Juris Doctor programme, challenges.

Biography:

Associate Professor of Law, SMU, 2000–present

Member of SMU start-up team

Professor Low Kee Yang joined the start-up team for SMU in 1998; one of his responsibilities was supervising legal matters. He served as deputy dean of the business school from 1999 to 2002 and chaired the organising committee for the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business …

Oral History Interview With John Yip Soon Kwong: Conceptualising Smu, Soon Kwong John Yip

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, future needs of university education in Singapore, business education, third university, Singapore Institute of Management, achievements.

Biography:

Executive Director and CEO, Singapore Institute of Management, 1997–2003
Director of Education, MOE, 1987–1996

Dr John Yip Soon Kwong played a major role in developing the concept for Singapore’s third university, Singapore Management University. With his first-hand knowledge of international universities as well as his knowledge of Singapore’s education system, he was part of the early effort to define the scope of Singapore’s third university and to identify an overseas university partner for this new institution. …

Oral History Interview With Tsui Kai Chong: Conceptualising Smu, Kai Chong Tsui

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, roles and responsibilities, overseas visits, information technology, dean of School of Business, planning, undergraduate programme, Wharton curriculum, first admissions exercise, opening day, teaching pedagogy, students, case competition, postgraduate programmes, Masters of Applied Finance, achievements.

Biography:

Founding Dean, School of Business, SMU, 1999–2003

Member of SMU start-up team

Professor Tsui Kai Chong was an SMU ‘pioneer’, a member of the start-up team for Singapore’s third university, and he oversaw planning for communications and information technology. He was appointed as the first dean of the School of Business in 1999, became vice provost of undergraduate …

Oral History Interview With Hwang Soo Chiat: Conceptualising Smu, Soo Chiat Hwang

Oral History Collection

The interview with Hwang Soo Chiat covered:first involvement with SMU, roles and responsibilities, first classes, teaching pedagogy, pioneer students, student interaction, student recruitment, parent interaction, commencement, milestones.

Biography:

Associate Professor of Accounting, SMU, 2000–present

Member of SMU start-up team

Professor Hwang Soo Chiat is one of the SMU ‘pioneers’, a member of the start-up team for Singapore’s third university. Today he is an associate professor of accounting at SMU. In December 2005, he was named Outstanding Teacher in the School of Accountancy. His research interests are in the use of accounting ratios for prediction of bankruptcy of companies, corporate governance, …

Oral History Interview With Leong Kwong Sin: Conceptualising Smu, Kwong Sin Leong

Oral History Collection

The interview covere: first involvement with SMU, third university, role and responsibilities, planning, mission statement, employer engagement, faculty compensation, city campus, pioneer students, first commencement, achievements.

Biography:

Associate Professor of Accounting, SMU, 2000–present

Member of SMU start-up team

Professor Leong Kwong Sin, an SMU ‘pioneer’, joined the start-up team for the new university in 1998. Today he is an associate professor of accounting in the School of Accountancy. He was named one of the outstanding teachers in the School of Accountancy in December 2005. His research interests include the area of accounting disclosure, accounting education, corporate governance and financial reporting …

Oral History Interview With Roberto Mariano: Conceptualising Smu, Roberto S. Mariano

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, founding dean for School of Economics, vision, curriculum, faculty development, faculty recruitment, research, pioneer students, postgraduate programmes, challenges.

Biography:

Dean, SMU School of Economics, 2007–2010
Founding Dean, School of Economics and Social Science, SMU, 2002–2007

Professor Roberto S Mariano was appointed as dean of the new School of Economics and Social Sciences in 2002. He oversaw the intake of the inaugural classes of the economics and social science bachelors programmes in 2002 and 2004 respectively, and also served as the vice provost of research and deputy director of the Wharton-SMU Research Centre. His …

Oral History Interview With Pang Yang Hoong: Conceptualising Smu, Yang Hoong Pang

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, roles and responsibilities, risks, mission statement, business education, student recruitment, first day of classes, founding dean of School of Accountancy, strategy, accounting curriculum, employer engagement, internships, faculty research, achievements, challenges.

Biography:

Founding Dean, School of Accountancy, SMU, 2000–2014

Member of SMU start-up team

An SMU ‘pioneer’, Professor Pang Yang Hoong joined the start-up team for the new university in 1998.

She became the first dean of the School of Accountancy in September 2000. Accredited by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore, the accountancy programme combines a broad-based education with internships at …

Oral History Interview With Janice Bellace: Conceptualising Smu, Janice Bellace

Oral History Collection

The interview with Janet Bellace covered: first involvement with SMU, collaboration with Wharton School, roles and responsibilities, first building, risks and opportunities, founding team, faculty recruitment, board of trustees, government relationship, groundbreaking for city campus, convocation, student interaction, student feedback, graduate placement, milestones, future of SMU.

Biography:

Board of Trustees, SMU, 2001–present
Founding President, SMU, 1999–2001

“Thank you, Janice!” read the front page tribute article of the October 2001 smuhub newsletter. It went on to describe some of Professor Janice Bellace’s contributions as consultant and then founding president of SMU. The article noted that when Janice arrived as president, “…there …

Oral History Interview With Tan Teck Meng: Conceptualising Smu, Teck Meng Tan

Oral History Collection

The interview covered: first involvement with SMU, concept for SMU, parent engagement, third university, design of campus, city campus, private university, research, collaboration with Wharton, challenges.

Biography:

Professor of Accounting, 2000–2011

Deputy President, SMU, 1999–2001

Head of start-up team for SMU

Professor Tan Teck Meng was a key player in the conceptualising and formation of Singapore’s third university. In 1997, he was appointed chairman of a task force to look into the feasibility of setting up SMU. Subsequently he became SMU’s first employee and was appointed SMU’s founding deputy president (1999—2001).

After his term in administration, Professor Tan …

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2010 - 2011, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

The past year has been one of transition for SMU. We celebrated the University’s first ten successful years and looked forward to our second. I bade farewell to Professor Howard Hunter our previous president and to Dr Richard Hu our previous chancellor, as I welcomed Professor Arnoud De Meyer and Mr Yong Pung How into these offices. More recently, we held our last Patron’s Day with Singapore’s former President S.R. Nathan as Patron, and I look forward to greeting President Tony Tan as our new Patron. It has also been a year in which we left behind the role of …

Language Learning Interest At A New Management University In Multilingual Singapore, Glenn Wharton

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The purpose of this article is fourfold: first, to report on a university-wide survey assessing demand among bilingual undergraduates for foreign language study in a management university in Singapore; second, to determine those factors influencing students' foreign language choice and also those influencing decisions not to pursue foreign language study; third, to discuss how the results contribute to curricular planning for foreign language provision; and fourth, to provide readers with a non-U.S. or European perspective on the issues of foreign language learning interest and choice. Using an online survey, results from 708 respondents indicated that, although already bilingual, an overwhelming …

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2009 - 2010, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

Since our inauguration in 2000, we have grown from a simple idea of a group of pioneers who came together - inspired by a new philosophy and approach towards undergraduate education - into a progressive, globally respected university that is widely recognised as a change agent and catalyst for innovation. Over the past 10 years, SMU has proven to be a successful experiment in Singapore’s efforts to strengthen and diversify its higher education sector. We have lived up to our promise of making a difference to our society through the graduates we have produced, through our engagement with the local …

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2008 - 2009, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

SMU was envisioned as a bold experiment to redefine tertiary education in Singapore. Taking up the gauntlet to bring university education to a new threshold, it challenges itself to become a leading research university known for its innovative pedagogy that produces a different kind of graduate: all-rounded, talented individuals who can think creatively and divergently, filled with business world savvy and strong interpersonal skills yet rooted in social consciousness. The untested ideas of yesterday have become pages after pages of success stories which we continue to celebrate every Commencement in August. Against the backdrop of not only the worst global …

Introduction To Li Ka Shing Library And Creation Of A Digital Library, Ruth Pagell

Research Collection Library

The presentation gave the history of the Li Ka Shing Library at Singapore Management University and the creation of the digital library.

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2007 - 2008, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

In less than a decade, SMU has established a reputation for pushing the boundaries of innovation, creativity and academic excellence in many of the ways envisioned when the university was first conceived in 1998. The University introduced a pedagogy previously unseen in Singapore, and has shown how a broad-based education and interactive teaching environment produces graduates well-prepared for the demands of the real world.

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2006 - 2007, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

SMU was founded to add diversity to higher education in Singapore, and to serve as a catalyst for change. Eight years on, the University continues to set new benchmarks for nurturing responsible leadership, developing diverse talents and spearheading research that has impact and real-world relevance. In the past academic year, SMU added a new school, graduate programmes and centres of excellence and forged new and deeper relationships with industry, academic and civic partners. These advances built on our existing strengths and moved us forward on a path of purposeful change and growth that reinforced our vision to be a premier …

Fostering Total Wellness Through Peer Helping: Reflections On The Smu Experiences, Gilbert Tan, Timothy Hsi

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Peer Helping is widely implemented in Colleges and Universities in the United States and Canada. Despite the popularity of these programs, very little has been researched on peer helping in the Asian context. This paper traces the theoretical foundations of peer helping and the nascent development of a peer helping program in the Singapore Management University and how this program has developed since the beginning of 2004. The initial focus of the program was based on the model of paraprofessional student counselors assisting their fellow peers through difficult moments in their lives. Over time, the program was fine-tuned to embrace …

Using Community Service Projects To Teach Leadership And Team-Building: Theoretical Foundations, Students' Reactions And Practical Considerations, Gilbert Tan

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This paper discusses the theoretical foundations of utilizing Community Service Project (CSP) or service-learning to teach Leadership and Team-Building. It examines the students’ reactions to this innovative method of instruction. This is done through conducting a content analysis of students’ learning journals, in which students reflect on their CSP learning experiences. Two themes emerged from the data: (a) variety of learning experiences, and (b) impact of CSP experience. The data suggested that students derived a variety of learning experiences from the CSP. In addition, there were attitudinal and learning impacts associated with the CSP experiences. The paper also outlines some …

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2005 - 2006, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

With the official opening of the city campus in January 2006, SMU marked a new chapter in the history of central Singapore and became an integral part of the area s continual cycle of renewal. Building on the legacy of venerable institutions in Bras Basah that formed the educational hub of yesteryear, our aim is to produce visionary leaders for tomorrow, imbued with a fine sense of ethics and social responsibility for the good of the community.

From its beginning, SMU has been a catalyst for the future development of higher education in Singapore. Two ways that we have done …

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2004 - 2005, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

As the Singapore Management University moves into the Singapore centre, a whole new interchange between education and city takes hold in this revitalised urban environment. Bridging the scholastic origins of Bras Basah with the promise of the new millennium, SMU is at the centre of a new and dynamic educational hub where foundations are being readapted and the future redefined. Every facet of the SMU experience – academic programmes and research, faculty and staff enterprise, student activity and exploration – embraces the University’s passion for creativity, personal interchange and bold challenge.

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2003 - 2004, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

From what started as an idea and then became a blueprint only a few short years ago, SMU has already developed into a university highly regarded for its quality programmes, faculty and students – not only in Singapore, but in the region and beyond.

The so-called ‘SMU experiment’ in Singapore tertiary education has been looked upon with much curiosity and generated great expectations during this time. And this year the University celebrated one of its most significant and anticipated milestones: the graduation of our first batch of students. More than just graduates, these students – now SMU alumni – are …