SMU-X : Transforming Education for a VUCA World
A video highlighting SMU-X, an interdisciplinary and experiential learning framework that emphasizes project-based, real-world learning through collaboration with corporate, non-profit, and government organizations.


    Associate Professor Gary Pan, recipient of the inaugural SMU-X Excellent Teacher Award in 2018
    Associate Professor Gary Pan from the School of Accountancy (Right) received the inaugural SMU-X Excellent Teacher Award from SMU Provost Professor Lily Kong (Left) at the 2018 State of University Address. The award recognizes faculty who are dedicated to teaching SMU-X courses and collaborating with partners from the private, public, or social sectors to integrate experiential activities where students address real-world issues impacting communities and organizations. Prof Pan, along with Prof Venky Shankararaman from the School of Information Systems, bridges accounting and information Systems in the SMU-X Accounting Analytics Capstone, preparing students for future changes in the work landscape. Prof Pan was also acknowledged for being nurturing and supportive in guiding students through their learning progress.
      Collection: People


      A student showcasing various ideas generated with 3D printing machines from the newly opened Makerspace in SMU Labs
      During the opening of the Makerspace in SMU Labs in October 2018, a student showcased various objects created using 3D printing machines to Ms. Neetha Nair, Head of the Center of Excellence with Prudential. Supported by Prudential, the Makerspace serves as a collaborative environment for students and the SMU community to create, learn, explore, share, and generate new ideas using 3D printing and other tools available in the space.
        Collection: Places


        The first Makerspace available to SMU community in SMU Labs
        In 2018, the first Makerspace supported by Prudential was made available to SMU community. It serves as a collaborative environment for students and the SMU community to create, learn, explore, share, and generate new ideas. Workshops and activites were organized for the community to learn how to use the 3D printing machines and various tools available in the Makerspace.
          Collection: Places


          Students from SMU and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in a discussion
          In 2019, students from the SMU-XO course "Millennial Talent Management – Recruitment and Engagement" teamed up with their peers from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) to develop solutions for PT Pagilaran's challenges in attracting and retaining millennial employees.
            Collection: Purpose


            SMU-X wins prestigious Triple E Awards for innovation and employability
            SMU-X wins prestigious Triple E Awards for innovation and employability. From L-R : Kevin Koh, Head; Yuanto Kusnadi, Associate Professor and Academic Director; Derek Chiang , Senior Development Partner of SMU-X at the Accrediatation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU) Asia-Pacific Forum, where leaders in higher education gathered to advance the role of entrepreneurship and community engagement
              Collection: Purpose


              SMU students with their friends from Universitas Gadjah Mada took a group photo at a tea plantation in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
              Students from the SMU-XO course "Millennial Talent Management – Recruitment and Engagement" and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) visited the PT Pagilaran plantation in Yogyakarta to collaborate on developing new solutions for recruiting and retaining millennial employees. The students taught by academics from both SMU and UGM, engaged with tea farmers and factory employees to gather insights for their proposed solutions. PT Pagilaran, a subsidiary of UGM specializing in tea and cocoa exports, provided an experiential learning setting for the students. The innovative pedagogy was lauded at the fourth PIEoneer Awards in 2020, a global award that celebrate innovation and achievement across the whole of the international education industry.
                Collection: Purpose


                SMU-XO students on a boat cruise along the Mekong River, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
                As part of the SMU-X Overseas (SMU-XO) programme for ECON248 Overseas Project Experience (Macroeconomics in Asia), the students engaged in a recreational activity by taking a boat cruise along the Mekong River before heading to one of the local villages for a cultural exchange.
                  Collection: Purpose


                  The first IdeaX Innovation and Problem-Solving Workshop in 2021
                  Mr. Derek Chiang, Senior Development Partner of SMU-X, is featured as one of the instructors for the first workshop that utilized the IdeaX Toolkit in 2021. The workshop aims to equip students with the skills needed to support their SMU-X project journey, from ideation to execution.
                    Collection: Purpose


                    Students in the 2024 cohort of the SMU-XO Applied Psychology in Asia course in Tainan, Taiwan
                    Students posing under an old world map in the National Museum of Taiwan History in Tainan, Taiwan as part of the cultural tour under SMU-XO course PSYC308 Applied Psychology in Asia. The group is led by Professor Cheng Chi-Ying (left in photo) from the School of Social Sciences. This course delves into advanced theoretical and empirical studies on the psychological relationship between culture and creativity/innovation, among other relevant topics. Students gained practical cross-cultural collaboration experience by working with their Taiwanese counterparts, including students and faculty members from the Institute of Creative Industries Design at National Cheng Kung University, as well as a business client.
                      Collection: Purpose


                      A SMU-X class in collaboration with industry partner SearchAsia
                      Adjunct faculty, Mr. Jörg Dietzel from the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, commented on the recommendations presented by students to enhance the brand strategy of industry partner SearchAsia in January 2024. The SMU-X pedagogy offers a transformative approach to business education by seamlessly integrating interdisciplinary learning, industry collaboration, and experiential methodologies. It connects students with real-world projects, fostering innovation and practical problem-solving through engagement with industry partners, complemented by data-driven insights and analytics. This approach empowers students to lead with agility and creativity, preparing them to be future leaders capable of navigating complex global environments. SMU won the Innovation in Business Education Award at the 11th QS Reimagine Education Awards & Conference held in London in December 2024.
                        Collection: Purpose


                        Kicking off the first SMU-X Lifelong Learning course in August 2024
                        In August 2024, Professor Gary Pan from the School of Accountancy (standing) and Professor Venky Shankararaman from the School of Computing and Information Systems (left, seated) launched the first lesson of the SMU-X Lifelong Learning (SMU-XL) programme, offer in the Industry Practice Master (IPM) of Digital Economy Capstone. It builds on SMU’s Industry Project-Based Experiential Learning (INDEX) programme, focusing on andragogy, lifelong learning, and industry collaboration. SMU-XL connects adult learners with industry partners for practical, hands-on learning experiences throughout different stages of their careers and education. The initiative leverages the principles of andragogy, emphasizing the unique needs of adult learners and promoting a self-directed, collaborative, and experience-based learning approach. At SMU-XL, faculty members and industry champions mentor adult learners to innovate solutions to actual business challenges and objectives.
                          Collection: Purpose


                          Students in discussion with their project sponsor in Taiwan
                          In the 2019 SMU-XO Law Study Mission course, students were seen engaging in discussions with their project sponsor in Taiwan. The team, led by Professor Pasha Hsieh from the Yong Pung How School of Law, was exposed to Taiwan's legal system and had the opportunity to address real-world legal issues through a student consultancy project.
                            Collection: Purpose


                            Professor Venky Shankararaman, recipient of the inaugural SMU-X Excellent Teacher Award in 2018
                            Professor Venky Shankararaman from the School of Information Systems (Right) received the inaugural SMU-X Excellent Teacher Award from SMU Provost Professor Lily Kong (Left) at the 2018 State of University Address. The award recognizes faculty who are dedicated to teaching SMU-X courses and collaborating with partners from the private, public, or social sectors to integrate experiential activities where students address real-world issues impacting communities and organizations. Prof Shankararaman, along with Prof Gary Pan from the School of Accountancy, bridges accounting and information systems in the SMU-X Accounting Analytics Capstone, preparing students for future changes in the work landscape. Prof Shankararaman was also acknowledged for assuming the roles of facilitator, negotiator to bolster students' confidence and support their learning in interacting with the real-world.
                              Collection: People


                              SMU-XO students network with alumni over dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
                              While in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, students participating in the SMU-X Overseas (SMU-XO) programme for ECON248 Overseas Project Experience (Macroeconomics in Asia) took advantage of the opportunity to network with SMU alumni working in the city. This allowed them to gain insights into the work culture, environment, and career opportunities in Vietnam, as well as establish valuable contacts for their future endeavors. They were accompanied by the course instructor Ms. Que Hoang-Phuong Vu, Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Economics, SMU (in blue floral blouse).
                                Collection: People


                                Welcome to SMU Labs
                                SMU partners with Ascott Limited to launch lyf@SMU in 2017. Located within the SMU Labs, it provides SMU copmmunity with a 24/7 dynamic and trend-setting co-study, co-work, co-living environment that also serves as a ‘living lab’ where applied research simultaneously takes place.


                                  SMU-X team in the 2024/2025 INDEX Symposium held in CUHK Business School, Hong Kong
                                  From L - R : Gloria Zhang, Joyce Tay, Kevin Koh (Head), Yuanto Kusnadi (Academic Director), Derek Chiang, Emmaline Lim (Deputy-Head), John Tay. SMU-X team with Professor Kusnadi at the 2024/2025 INDEX Symposium in Hong Konog. Launched by SMU's SMU-X team in 2023, the INDEX Symposium was created as a platform to foster collaboration between academia and industry. With its second edition, SMU-X joined forces with CUHK Business School to expand this global dialogue, reaffirming its commitment to advancing experiential education through interdisciplinary partnerships.
                                    Collection: People


                                    SMU wins prestigious THE Awards Asia 2025 – Teaching & Learning Strategy of the Year
                                    SMU's Vice President (Partnerships & Engagement) Prof Lim Sun Sun receiving the prestigious award on behalf of the University. Singapore Management University (SMU) is proud to announce that it has been named Winner in the ‘Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year’ category at the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2025. The accolade was awarded in recognition of SMU-X, the University’s flagship industry project-based experiential learning framework that integrates academic knowledge with real-world industry projects. It marks a significant milestone for SMU-X, pioneered 10 years ago as a differentiating pedagogy, underscoring the University’s longstanding commitment to redefining learning through interdisciplinary, collaborative, and experiential approaches.
                                      Collection: Purpose


                                      Faculty, Adjunct Teaching Mentors and Staff behind the SMU-X programme
                                      SMU Provost Prof Tim Clark (seated front row, fifth from the right) shared a light-hearted moment with the Faculty, Adjunct Teaching Mentors (ATMs), and staff supporting the SMU-X programme during an appreciation lunch event. The SMU-X programme first engaged ATMs in 2018. Since then, they have played a vital role alongside faculty in guiding student teams through real-world, project-based experiential learning. These mentors familiarize themselves with the course structure and objectives, regularly meeting with student teams to coach them through research, analysis, prototyping, and deliverable preparation. Beyond mentoring, ATMs also support logistical and academic coordination by recruiting guest speakers or technical experts, attending major project events like kick-offs and final presentations, reviewing drafts, offering substantive feedback, and ensuring smooth collaboration between students, faculty, and project partners. Through their hands-on facilitation and structured guidance, ATMs help uphold SMU-X’s high standards while enabling students to develop professional confidence, teamwork, and practical problem-solving skills.
                                        Collection: People


                                        Singapore Management University and FairPrice Group partner to reduce food waste
                                        Group photo of SMU Students who were part of the Food Waste Management Project with representatives from Fairprice Group. As part of the Singapore Management University’s SMU-X initiative, students from the School of Accountancy and Lee Kong Chian School of Business worked together with FairPrice Group (FPG) to come up with a Food Waste Management Monitoring Dashboard to better visualise and analyse data to help with food waste management at the supermarket chain. This was achieved through the implementation of a write-off monitoring dashboard and the application of predictive analytics. From August to November 2022, the project team leveraged on Tableau dashboarding and Python predictive analytics to identify which were the outlets with the most write-off and which products contribute the most write-off.
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                                          SMU-XO students with GoPizza founder and SMU alumnus, Jay Lim
                                          In the front row from left to right: Professor Mark Chong and Jay Lim, the founder and CEO of GoPizza. In 2022, following the Covid pandemic, the first group of students who ventured overseas under the SMU-X Overseas (SMU-XO) programme are those enrolled in the "Business of the Creative Industries" course. The course introduced them to the business models of cultural content producers and the role of digital platforms in enabling these models. In addition, students explored the key characteristics of the emerging creator economy and the associated social media entertainment. In Seoul, Korea, they learnt about its culture, explored renowned sites like Hongdae, Gyeongbokgung Palace and took part in a networking session with SMU alumni living in the city. They also toured Hanyang University and learnt valuable insights from presentations by TikTok Korea, Netflix Korea, Teammates, 11018, GoPizza, Enterprise Singapore, and a Korean make-up YouTuber. The trip ended with a presentation to the Gushcloud team, where they applied their knowledge to a significant real-world project.
                                            Collection: Purpose


                                            SMU Provost Professor Timothy Clark delivering his Opening Address at the inaugural INDEX Symposium in 2023
                                            In October 2023, SMU organized its first INDEX symposium, titled “Industry Project-based Experiential Learning (INDEX) in 21st Century Asia: Industry, Integration, Innovation, Internationalisation”. It brought together experienced practitioners, educators, and industry experts who shared insights and best practices on curriculum development and models of experiential learning. The symposium provided a valuable platform on which like-minded individuals committed to shaping the future of education could network and collaborate. In his opening address, SMU Provost Professor Timothy Clark reinforced the importance SMU placed on connecting classroom concepts with real-world problems through the innovative INDEX pedagogy.
                                              Collection: Purpose


                                              A line up display of posters done by students in SMU Lab
                                              In SMU Lab, Assistant Professor Charlotte Setijadia (left) and staff from Nestle Singapore reviewing a series of posters showcasing the dedication of students from the 2019 SMU-X course, "Managing Diversity in Asia." This course, in collaboration with the School of Social Sciences, aims to equip students with the skills needed to become effective and empathetic managers in diverse multicultural settings. In the course, students learn analytical frameworks that help them understand issues related to inequality and diversity in contemporary Asian societies. The students collaborated with Nestle Singapore, proposing various recommendations to enhance gender diversity and inclusion in its workplace.
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                                                SMU-X Overseas : Transforming Education for a VUCA World
                                                A video highlighting SMU-X Overseas (SMU-XO), a programme that immerses students in international, entrepreneurial environments to tackle real-world business challenges, in collaboration with global partners.


                                                  SMU partners with Ascott to launch lyf@SMU
                                                  lyf@SMU (lyf stands for Live Your Freedom) was officially in Feb 2017. Located within the SMU Labs, it offers SMU students a dynamic and trend-setting co-study, co-work, co-living environment that also serves as a ‘living lab’ where applied research simultaneously takes place. L-R: Mr Lee Chee Koon, CEO of The Ascott Limited, Professor Arnoud De Meyer, SMU President, Minister Ong Ye Kung, Mr Lim Ming Yan, President & Group CEO of CapitaLand Limited, Professor Lily Kong, SMU Provost


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