SMU students supported in leadership & regional networking by Temasek Foundation
The Temasek Foundation announced the gift of $430,000 to establish the Temasek Foundation-SMU Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking (LEaRN) Programme on 18 January 2008. The programme will enable 40 SMU undergraduate students to study for a semester in an Asian partner university in countries such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand through an overseas exchange scholarship. A group of 40 inbound students will have the opportunity to spend a semester at SMU under the LEaRN programme. The overseas exchange scholarships are valued at up to $4,250 (outbound) and $6,500 (inbound) per student.
One of the key objectives of the LEaRN Programme is to build character through community outreach and giving back to society. Recipients of the scholarships will be required to participate in meaningful community projects with social and civic organisations in the Asian host country where they are on study exchange. Like their Singaporean counterparts, the inbound undergraduates will be required to immerse themselves
in purposeful community service projects. These visiting students will be assisted in their adjustment to life in Singapore through host families and a comprehensive programme that includes orientation camps, a buddy system and networking activities to help them integrate into the SMU community and student life.
The first batch of LEaRN scholarship recipients will begin their overseas exchange and community service in August 2008. They will all be full-time undergraduate students of Asian nationalities from SMU and the university’s partner Asian universities who have completed at least one year of tertiary study. SMU is committed to developing global perspectives and cross-cultural understanding among its students. It also requires that all undergraduates participate in an 80-hour community service project during the course of their studies. Both are key to grooming bright young leaders. The Temasek Foundation-SMU LEaRN Programme provides the generous financial support needed to enable students to broaden their horizons and better understand their neighbours.
“The LEaRN programme will present wonderful opportunities for these Asian students to develop their leadership skills, forge friendships and build ties with each other. Temasek Foundation is pleased to support such a programme which is in tune with our mandate of building bridges among people in Asia and developing people through education.”
– Mr Goh Geok Khim, Chairman of Temasek Foundation
