The provost is essentially the chief academic officer of a university. He or she would also deputise for the president or vice chancellor. Essentially, the job of the provost is to enhance the academic work of the university. And of course, that would encompass education, research, faculty development, and other aspects of university life.
What impresses me most about SMU is its clarity of purpose. Every colleague I have spoken with, without exception, will tell you that we do not aspire to be NUS Number Two or NTU Number Two. We simply want to be SMU Number One.
SMU stands at the intersection of management, technology, and the social sciences. Through this unique nexus, we seek to contribute to addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today. For that reason, the University has identified digital transformation, growth in Asia, and sustainability as our key research focus areas.
These should not be viewed simply as research themes, because they also find their way into our curricula and shape the educational experience we provide.
Looking ahead, the main challenge will be navigating an increasingly uncertain external environment, driven by rapid technological advances, demographic shifts, climate change, and a complex geopolitical landscape. All of these factors will undoubtedly influence how universities operate and evolve.
Excellence in education is truly SMU’s calling card. We are widely recognized for our interactive and experiential approach to learning, as well as our ability to provide small-class learning experiences for our students. These strengths are important, and we must continue to build upon them and enhance the SMU educational experience.
Holistic, whole-person development is even more important today, as technology continues to transform the ways in which we learn, live, play, and interact with one another.
Our task is to ensure that all our students develop a high degree of digital literacy. It does not matter what they study, nor what kind of work they eventually pursue. The impact of technology on work will only continue to increase. A high degree of digital literacy includes the fluent use of AI and other emerging technologies.
At the same time, it is equally important—if not more important—that our students do not become overly reliant on technology. They must not become passive consumers of knowledge. Instead, they should be discerning users of technology, capable of thinking clearly and critically. They must be able to sift through the vast amounts of information available today and distinguish what is true from what is false, and what is useful from what is not.
Most importantly, they must continue to articulate their ideas clearly, defend their viewpoints thoughtfully, and communicate effectively with others.
What impresses me the most about SMU is its clarity of purpose. Every colleague I have spoken with, without exception, has told me that we do not want to be NUS Number Two or NTU Number Two. We simply want to be SMU Number One.
SMU stands at the intersection of management, technology, and the social sciences. Through this unique nexus, we aim to contribute to addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today. For that reason, the University has identified digital transformation, growth in Asia, and sustainability as our key research focus areas.
These should not be viewed simply as research themes, because they also find their way into our curricula and educational offerings.
Going forward, the main challenge will be navigating increasingly uncertain external conditions, driven by rapid technological advances, demographic shifts, climate crises, and an unpredictable geopolitical landscape. All of these factors will undoubtedly influence how universities operate and evolve.
Excellence in education is SMU's calling card. We are widely recognized for our interactive and experiential approach to learning, as well as our ability to provide small-class learning experiences for our students. These strengths are important, and we must continue to enhance the SMU educational experience.
Holistic, whole-person development is even more important today as technology continues to transform radically the ways in which we learn, live, play, and interact with one another.
Our task is to ensure that all our students develop a high degree of digital literacy. It does not matter what they study, nor what kind of work they eventually pursue. The impact of technology on work will only continue to increase. A high degree of digital literacy includes the ability to use AI and other emerging technologies fluently and effectively.
At the same time, it is equally important—if not more important—that our students do not become overly reliant on technology. They must not become passive consumers of knowledge. Instead, they should be discerning users of technology, capable of thinking critically and independently. They must be able to sift through the vast amounts of information available today and distinguish what is true from what is false, what is useful from what is not.
Most importantly, they must continue to articulate their ideas clearly, defend their viewpoints thoughtfully, and communicate effectively with others.
I have spoken about education, but of course, research is equally important.
I have already mentioned SMU's research priorities. Looking ahead, one point I would emphasize is that, as a university, we should redouble our efforts to ensure that our research leads to concrete benefits for society and creates real-world impact.
Faculty recruitment will also continue to be a major priority for the University. However, I have always believed that bringing in the best people is only part of the equation. Equally important is bringing out the best in our people.
SMU President Professor Lily Kong is a very persuasive person. She outlined her vision to me and even flew to Hong Kong to speak with my wife and me. I have known Professor Kong for a long time and have always admired her leadership. In the end, I felt it would be meaningful to contribute to enhancing SMU as a world‑leading university. I see this as a fitting conclusion to my career.
SMU is a research-intensive university. We believe that the best education is grounded in up-to-date, cutting-edge research. The two go hand in hand. PhD students and postdoctoral fellows constitute an important part of our knowledge enterprise and learning ecosystem.
At the same time, I should also mention the increasing importance of professional postgraduate programmes.
As I alluded to earlier, the nature of work is changing rapidly. Future workers will need to be highly resilient. For that reason, we are establishing the Resilient Workforces Institute. I believe we will increasingly welcome more students and graduates back to the University to pursue professional postgraduate programmes, particularly among our alumni.
I think SMU has done very well in engaging our alumni. However, as our alumni community continues to grow, further efforts will be necessary. I have always believed that all great universities in the world, without exception, are characterized by having a strong and engaged alumni community.
What do we hope to see when alumni return to their alma mater? Our alumni can offer tremendous support to our students and graduates.
For example, when an SMU alumnus who is now an employer interviews an applicant who is also an SMU graduate, there is already a level of confidence in the quality of that candidate. The employer knows that the applicant has received a rigorous education, completed meaningful internships, and gained international exposure—just as they did when they were students themselves.
The alumni network and the connections it fosters can be a powerful source of support for the entire SMU community.
My advice to students is simple: stay curious, put in the effort, and the sky is the limit.
The CIS is a wonderful experiment. Very few universities offer their students the opportunity to shape and structure their entire learning journey.
Looking ahead, we need to ask ourselves: What do our students truly need? About 90% of our students will enter the workforce, while perhaps 10% may go on to pursue graduate studies. For those who choose the latter path, we can always design something different and special to meet their needs.
However, for the majority of our students, we want to ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to flourish in the workplace. One of the most important abilities they can develop is the capacity to make connections. A student may possess deep expertise in a particular discipline, but they must also be able to connect that knowledge with other fields and areas of work.
This is precisely what an interdisciplinary education provides.
At the same time, in an increasingly multipolar world, it is equally important for our students to develop a deep understanding and appreciation of different cultures and traditions. In all likelihood, they will work in multicultural and multinational environments, where the ability to navigate diverse perspectives and collaborate across cultures will be essential.
