In honor of its 60th anniversary, Singapore Management University (SMU) has unveiled a transformative S$60 million impact fund designed to offer students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds enhanced access to education.
The initiative significantly expands the institution’s support for financially disadvantaged students and marks the school’s dedication to creating a more equitable educational environment while nurturing a generation of leaders prepared to drive meaningful change. SMU stated that the fund will allocate up to S$6 million annually starting next year to support various initiatives, including scholarships, awards, and programs aimed at providing students with the opportunity to study both locally and abroad. The initiative will run over the next decade.
This new commitment marks a sixfold increase from the university’s average annual investment of S$1 million in such initiatives over the past five years. To further strengthen its mission of inclusivity and excellence, SMU has introduced two new merit-based awards.
New undergraduate students who excel academically and exhibit traits of resilience, responsibility, resourcefulness, and leadership will be awarded $51,000 from the SIM Starrr Award. This award is available to up to five students.
Undergraduates from ASEAN countries with a household per capita income of up to $1,750 are eligible for a $3,000 award, provided they show strong high school performance and demonstrate leadership qualities. The award is available to a maximum of ten students.
