Welcome Note

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SMU-X!

The scale and complexity of the challenges facing the world and our graduates today are unprecedented. The way our students learn and are taught must also change to stay relevant and effective.

In pushing the frontiers of learning, we have moved into new learning territories with the launch of its first-of-its kind experiential SMU-X. This ground-up initiative combines academic with experiential learning through the heavy use of projects. It challenges talented students to use their disciplinary knowledge and skills and tackle real-world problems and issues through interdisciplinary approaches and activities, in partnership with corporate, non-profit and government-sector organizations.

A tripartite learning relationship emerges from involving faculty and industry practitioners deeply as active mentors for SMU students. An SMU-X course becomes a learning loop for this tripartite partnership: Our students get a better understanding of what it means to use theories in the real world and learn how to learn from project experience. Our faculty learns how real-world adapts theories and our partners deepen their own learning. This inculcates in our students and our partners the value of continuous learning which is imperative going forward given our rapidly changing economic conditions.

SMU-X has been made possible by consultative faculty who are engaged in promoting interdisciplinary project-based learning using actual problems faced by organizations.

We aim to offer all students the chance to read a SMU-X course, thus preparing them to be self-directed learners, creative, resilient and adaptable to changes in the global economy. We look forward to carry this distinctive SMU-X pedagogy to greater heights, AND create meaningful impact to business, government and society.