Professional insight from Singapore Management University

Singapore Management University is recognised for its disciplinary and multidisciplinary research which addresses issues of global relevance that impact business, government and society. Its distinctive education – incorporating innovative experiential learning – aims to nurture global citizens, entrepreneurs and change agents.

Singapore Management University campus

Philippe Blaettchen from Singapore Management University for Campus Talks podcast episode

Campus Talks: How interdisciplinary research can benefit early career academics

An award-winning early career researcher offers ways to navigate publishing, funding, geography and methodologies outside your discipline, and why junior academics should be ambitious

Philippe Blaettchen, Eliza Compton

Singapore Management University

Illustration of network effect

Exhortation does not achieve impact – it requires system design

Recognising universities’ quieter impact on society goes beyond publications. It requires people who capture evidence and narratives across education, student development, innovation and entrepreneurship and ecosystem development as well as research

Lily Kong

Singapore Management University

Hand putting final piece on rod bridge

‘AI raises the premium on empathy-driven engineering’

As knowledge becomes increasingly accessible, engineering students will need deep understanding and intrapersonal intelligence to make product-design decisions with end users in mind

Andrew Koh

Singapore Management University

Female student volunteer

Students are not just future graduates – they can serve society now

If universities want student service to mean more than an extracurricular activity, they have to care about design, preparation, partnerships, continuity and the institutional scaffolding that supports long-term impact

Chew Han Ei, Mark Chong

Singapore Management University

Multiracial group of adult learners

Learner heterogeneity is now the norm in higher education

In an era of lifelong learning and reskilling, undergraduate cohorts include students balancing work, caregiving and studies across life stages. Flexibility should be a foundational design principle rather than an accommodation

Ivy Seow, Tamas Makany

Singapore Management University

Illustration of puzzled man with hand unlocking keyhole in thought bubble

Guiding doctoral students through research struggles

The PhD path is often paved with ambiguity and rejection. Supervisors need to take a more bespoke, multidisciplinary approach to bring out the best of their doctoral candidates

Robert H. Deng

Singapore Management University

Asian man with glasses looking at screen

From mind to market: how young academics can approach research commercialisation

Translating research to real-world impact can be daunting for early career researchers. Here, Tiam Lin Sze offers a road map and why early protection of intellectual property is vital, especially before publication

Tiam Lin Sze

Singapore Management University

Multiracial group of women, women in university leadership concept

What must change? Towards gender-equitable and inclusive academic communities

University leadership has a responsibility to support gender equity that goes beyond simply holding senior roles, writes Lily Kong. Here, she calls for changes in career pathways, workload allocation and service expectations to open space for more women

Lily Kong

Singapore Management University

Male Asian student working on a robot arm

GenAI as a research assistant: transforming start-up due diligence

Universities are not just centres of innovation, they are also platforms for promoting the commercialisation of research. As ‘research assistants’, GenAI can open the door for ‘under the radar’ start-ups that human evaluators may miss

Tiam Lin Sze

Singapore Management University

Illustration of man pushing cogs linked to books representing work-integrated learning

Real-world projects offer ideal conditions for teaching soft skills

With tomorrow’s graduates requiring agility, empathy and leadership capabilities on top of subject knowledge, the path forward is through connection with industry and community partners, as Kevin Koh explains

Kevin Koh

Singapore Management University

AI in education

Faced with GenAI, educators’ engagement capacity matters more than ever

As universities prepare students for a future shaped by GenAI, the challenge is to use technology as a co-pilot while fostering skills that AI cannot replace: critical thinking, creativity and ethical reasoning

Thomas Menkhoff

Singapore Management University

Group of Asian students looking at computer

Laying foundations: how to keep first-year students invested in their learning

The challenge for higher education foundation courses is to prepare students for university learning and build their confidence without overwhelming them with information. This guide explains how

Yeow Leong Lee

Singapore Management University

Social media bite-size content

Stepping stones to milestones: tap into micro-moments for alumni engagement

To connect effectively with alumni, bite-sized social media content must mirror the complexity of the lives it touches, writes Florence Neo

Florence Neo

Singapore Management University

News cycle concept

Keeping your research relevant in an accelerating news cycle

When publishing is slow but world events move quickly, how can scholars ensure their work will be read and cited and contribute to academic discussion?

Yasmin Y. Ortiga, Jenny Gavacs

Singapore Management University, Whetstone Editing

Three young multiracial female scholars in library

Why university libraries should not overlook research staff

Research assistants and postdocs offer specialised skills and an agile approach to new methodologies, so libraries have much to gain from recognising them as strategic partners

Bella Ratmelia

Singapore Management University

Asian college students

‘Resilience isn’t innate – it is a skill that can be learned’

Core aspects of university life – education, encouragement and experience – are key to cultivating belonging and resilience in students. Here, Paulin Straughan explains how a framework of programmes and activities brings them together

Paulin Straughan

Singapore Management University

podcast graphic

Campus Talks: Why internationalisation must remain a cornerstone of higher education

Hear academic leaders in the UK and Singapore discuss what is needed for effective cross-border collaboration

Lily Kong, Manuel Barcia

Singapore Management University, University of Bath

People at a conference

Why peer-to-peer conferences benefit doctoral students and their institutions

Solid research skills aside, PhD students need to master the art of collaboration and communicating their ideas. A student-led conference can offer that support

Heli Wang

Singapore Management University

webinar graphic

Campus webinar: How to make lifelong learning a strategic priority

Three lifelong learning experts from Campus+ partner institutions in Asia discuss how universities can embed a culture of continuous education beyond the traditional degree pathway

Aliana Leong, Gary Pan, Forest Tan

Macau University of Science and Technology, Singapore Management University, Singapore Institute of Technology

Asian woman working on plane

Advancing women in academia: geographical mobility and the path to success

Hypermobility has brought opportunities for career advancement in academia, but it comes with expectations and gender-based barriers, writes Lily Kong, especially when international events are focused on the Global North

Lily Kong

Singapore Management University

Asian woman working with robot arm

Interdisciplinarity is a core part of AI’s heritage and its future

To train students to engage responsibly with artificial intelligence, a genuinely interdisciplinary perspective – from the language used to recognising that human and machine work in concert – is essential, write Elvin Lim and Jonathan Chase

Elvin Lim , Jonathan Chase

Singapore Management University

Couple planting a tree

Making sustainability part of university DNA

Meaningful change comes from embedding green practices into every aspect, and every member, of the institution, starting from induction training

Thomas Menkhoff, Kevin Cheong

Singapore Management University

Illustration of two men in shirt and ties shaking hands over jigsaw speech bubble

How can we measure interdisciplinary learning?

A benchmark of success for interdisciplinary learning is graduates who have the flexibility to examine their areas of interest and develop attributes that deliver practical value to future employers

Elvin Lim , Daniel Seah

Singapore Management University

Robot in thoughtful pose with hand to chin

Re-evaluating natural intelligence in the face of ChatGPT

Generative AI tools mean that our pedagogy, understanding of specialisation and how we value human abilities such as empathy, compassion and critical thinking must change

Elvin Lim , Andrew Koh

Singapore Management University

Hands holding seedling surrounded by sustainability icons

A holistic blueprint for sustainability

Instead of compartmentalising decisions about infrastructure or resource allocation, universities need a whole-system approach to sustainability that shifts attitudes and behaviour, writes Lily Kong

Lily Kong

Singapore Management University