Singapore Management University

What kind of future can the law help us create? Associate Professor of Law and Associate Dean (Research) Michelle Lim from the SMU Yong Pung How School of Law explores how future-focused thinking can help shape laws that support people, nature and a more sustainable future. Watch the Faces of SMU video on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube to discover what drives Michelle’s work.

Shared professional experiences can make it easier to connect. But compatibility goes beyond having work in common. In a Straits Times commentary, Assistant Professor of Psychology Kenneth Tan from the SMU School of Social Sciences explores why matching within a similar professional domain may help time-pressed singles find common ground — and why lasting relationships still depend on how couples navigate differences and build a life together. Read his perspective: https://sgsmu.com/4j3E71o

Where do students learn to cross cultural boundaries? In a Straits Times commentary, SMU Dean of Students and Professor of Communication Management (Practice) Mark Chong, Associate Professor of Southeast Asian Studies (Education) Darlene Machell Espeña and Director of SMU's Office of Student Life Jimmy Ye consider why cultural understanding may need to become a more intentional part of university learning. Drawing on SMU’s new course, Choreographing the City-State: Dance and Multiculturalism in Singapore, they explore how classroom and experiential learning can work together to deepen cultural literacy. Read their commentary: https://sgsmu.com/4BJ24SY

Scientific breakthroughs can expand what is possible. Turning them into meaningful progress also requires understanding their impact on people and society. At the Nobel Heroes & AI4SCI Summit 2026 forum at SMU, five Nobel laureates joined academics, researchers and industry leaders to explore questions around longevity, sustainable cities and how AI is reshaping work, learning and research. Read more about the ideas and perspectives shared at the forum: https://sgsmu.com/4BMGZY8

What if some of our most valuable learning begins without knowing exactly where it will lead? In The Straits Times op-ed, SMU President Professor Lily Kong explores “galumphing” — the willingness to follow curiosity, cross familiar boundaries and remain open to unexpected discoveries. Read her reflections on why making room for intellectual wandering could help us navigate an increasingly uncertain future: https://sgsmu.com/4A6Ln2i

Breakthrough ideas need opportunities to prove their value. Through the 13th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition, SMU is helping founders turn promising technologies into practical solutions for urban and sustainability challenges. Discover what’s next on the journey from pitch to pilot: https://sgsmu.com/4eL1Lxa

SMU is among Asia’s Top 100 universities in the QS Asia University Rankings 2027! A milestone in our growth as a global city university, as we continue to develop future leaders and advance research that addresses challenges in Singapore and across Asia. Thank you to our faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners for helping shape SMU and its contribution to the world.

Quantum computing is moving closer to practical application. Through a new collaboration with QpiAI, SMU researchers and students will gain direct access to quantum hardware and cloud-based tools to explore applications across finance, cybersecurity, supply chains and urban systems. Explore how the partnership is advancing Quantum-AI research, industry applications and talent development: https://sgsmu.com/4A1Kw2P

Democratic reform depends not only on institutions, but also on public consensus. In The Straits Times commentary, Assistant Professor of Political Science Jeremy Siow from the SMU School of Social Sciences and NUS Assistant Professor of Political Science Elvin Ong (BBM & BSocSc 2010) examine the competing expectations of democracy in Malaysia — and why these differences make building support for reform especially complex. Read their perspective on the tensions shaping Malaysia’s democratic future: https://sgsmu.com/3UyAqay

Investing in more technology is only part of the productivity equation. Writing in The Business Times with Shawgat Kutubi of CQ University Australia, faculty members from the SMU School of Accountancy examine how system complexity and communication overload can affect productivity — and why organisations may need to rethink how digital tools are designed around the people using them. Read their perspective on turning digital investment into more productive work: https://sgsmu.com/4iMkx9R

This World Cities Day, what can residents’ everyday experiences tell us about smarter cities? A study by SMU President Professor Lily Kong, Professor Orlando Woods, Professor of Geography and Director of the SMU Urban Institute, and researcher Emma Grimley found that those interviewed weighed the convenience of smart home technology against cost, complexity and reliability. Professor Kong and Professor Woods are also among the SMU researchers recognised in the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists list. Swipe through the carousel and read the paper on why understanding residents matters in shaping better cities.

Besides “being your own fish”, the second edition of the Karim Family Foundation Inspiring Women Leadership Series also explored a deeper question: how do we develop human potential? In conversation with SMU President Professor Lily Kong, Olympic freestyle skiing champion Eileen Gu reflected on learning, resilience and the qualities that help us adapt in unfamiliar situations. Discover more of Eileen’s reflections.

Finding a match is one thing. Finding the time to build a relationship is another. In a Straits Times commentary, SMU Presidential Assistant Professor of Anthropology Al Lim from the SMU College of Integrative Studies argues that time and the realities of working life may be an overlooked part of Singapore’s dating challenge. Read his perspective on what could give relationships more room to develop: https://sgsmu.com/4A3nOaP

Technology and sustainability are reshaping public decisions — and the judgement needed to make them. SMU’s new Master of Public Governance and Leadership (MPGL) responds to the need for leaders who can connect perspectives across disciplines and weigh competing public priorities, bringing scholarship and practice together through the SMU School of Social Sciences. Read more about the thinking behind the programme: https://sgsmu.com/4yPANvB

From research lab to hawker table. FoodAI, developed at the SMU School of Computing and Information Systems, recently powered the Zespri Meal Decoder — enabling diners to snap a photo of their meal and receive an estimated nutritional breakdown. Discover how a decade of SMU research is being translated into a practical tool for everyday life: https://sgsmu.com/4ioH9Mc

As AI becomes more capable, how can we ensure it continues to serve people and society? At the 2026 SMU-Fudan Global Forum held earlier this month, thought leaders from Singapore, Shanghai and Edinburgh explored how AI could shape work, ageing, leadership and liveable societies — while preserving human judgement, agency and responsibility. Explore how SMU and Fudan are bringing different perspectives together to shape AI for human flourishing: https://sgsmu.com/4BzX8QC

The people around us may influence how we take care of our health. New research from SMU’s Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA) found that friends may play a direct role in encouraging regular cancer screening among older adults, while family support may shape knowledge and attitudes towards screening. Professor Paulin Straughan, Professor of Sociology (Practice) and Director of ROSA, also spoke with CNA about why friendships and community connections can matter for preventive health. Read the media release: https://sgsmu.com/4eRP03Q Watch the CNA interview: https://bit.ly/4zc7nJh

A tougher stance on transboundary haze still depends on one crucial element: strong evidence. In a Money FM 89.3 interview, Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan from the SMU Yong Pung How School of Law examines what is needed to establish accountability under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, and how regulatory, financial and preventive measures could strengthen the response. Listen to his perspective here: https://bit.ly/3VUTjFg

The future of accountancy will require more than technical expertise. Professor Zhang Liandong, Lee Kong Chian Professor of Accounting and Dean of the SMU School of Accountancy, shares how AI, sustainability and growing expectations around trust are reshaping the profession. He also reflects on how the School is preparing graduates with the technical skills, digital fluency, integrity and adaptability to navigate what comes next. Watch the Faces of SMU video on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.