Advancing Teaching Excellence through the Zhongni Distinguished Educator Award

Published on 22 October 2025

The Singapore Management University (SMU) strives to provide every student with a world-class and well-rounded educational experience. At the heart of the University lies a deep commitment to teaching excellence and whole-person development. This commitment received a significant boost with the establishment of the Zhongni Distinguished Educator Award, made possible by a generous gift of S$1,129,500 from Professor Lee Swee-Huat, an accomplished global executive and dedicated educator.

Inspired by the courtesy name of Confucius, Zhongni, the endowed award represents the highest recognition for teaching excellence at SMU. It embodies the enduring values of humanity, uprightness, respect, wisdom, and trustworthiness — principles that underpin SMU’s mission to nurture not just capable graduates, but also responsible and engaged leaders of tomorrow. Through the Award, Professor Lee hopes to honour the timeless ideals of selfless mentorship, character formation, and the pursuit of harmony and humanity of excellent teachers.

Professor Robert Deng Huijie, Professor of Computer Science and Deputy Dean (Faculty & Research) at the School of Computing and Information Systems, was honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Zhongni Distinguished Educator Award. Recognised for his leadership in curriculum innovation, mentorship, and contributions to both academia and industry, Professor Deng exemplifies the spirit of transformative education that SMU champions.

Beyond celebrating outstanding educators, the Zhongni Distinguished Educator Award will serve as a platform for advancing pedagogical innovation and sharing best practices across the SMU community. The award will provide an annual grant of S$50,000 to support initiatives that amplify the impact of transformative education, including:

An annual lecture series to foster dialogue, spark innovation, and promote excellence in teaching;
Alumni reunion sessions that renew bonds of engagement and strengthen the community of lifelong learners; and
Mentorship workshops that empower educators and alumni to give back by nurturing purposeful development in others.

In addition to the Zhongni Distinguished Educator Award, Professor Lee’s gift will also establish a term scholarship to support four students over their four-year journey at SMU, reinforcing his conviction that education must be both excellent and inclusive.

Through the Zhongni Distinguished Educator Award and the term scholarship, SMU reaffirms its enduring belief that education is as much about nurturing character as it is about imparting knowledge. These new initiatives honour the spirit of mentorship and compassion that defines great teaching, while empowering students and educators alike to shape a more caring, inclusive, and forward-looking community.