SMU School of Social Sciences (SOSS)

Last week, we partnered with UNDP and SGFC to host a panel on “Sustaining Capital: Skills, Systems and Impact Finance in Asia.”

The discussion brought together leaders across policy, finance and impact investing to unpack a key question: how can Asia better mobilise and deploy capital for inclusive and sustainable growth? From blended finance to risk-sharing and talent gaps, the message was clear. Scaling impact will take stronger collaboration, sharper capabilities and new ways of thinking about capital.

This session also marks the first of many collaborations under the SMU-UNDP Statement of Intent (SOI), aimed at developing a robust talent pipeline through sustainability education, research and leadership development across Asia Pacific.

Thank you to Nikki Kemp for moderating the panel, and to Beate Trankmann, Eliza Foo and Prem Raj Suman for their valuable insights and contributions.

More to come!

Months after Ideas Festival 2026, conversations about AI and the future of work continue to resonate today.

As AI reshapes workplaces and accelerates efficiency, questions around purpose, human connection and what meaningful work should look like remain more relevant than ever.

The panel featuring Professor Elaine Lynn-Ee Ho, Dr Laurel Teo, PhD, CFA, Assistant Professor Pei-Sze Chow, and Associate Professor Chi-Ying Cheng explored these questions during a discussion chaired by Associate Professor Yasmin Ortiga from SMU School of Social Sciences.

Read more on the SMU Blog below!

Ideas Festival 2026: What Makes Work Meaningful? Rethinking the Future of Work Discover research insights on how AI is reshaping work, human connection, and why high-touch roles and skills matter more than ever.

How can finance deliver inclusive and resilient growth across Asia amid geopolitical, climate and development pressures? Open to prospective students and the public, we welcome you to join this hybrid panel discussion exploring how public, private and philanthropic capital can be better aligned to deliver impact at scale.

Featuring Beate Trankmann (UNDP China), Eliza Foo (Temasek) and Prem Raj Suman (SMBC Group), and moderated by Nikki Kemp (SGFC).

Register for "Sustainability Capital: Skills, Systems and Impact Finance in Asia" here: https://lnkd.in/gWAkjytc

📅 20 May 2026 (Wednesday)
🕖 7:00 – 8:30 pm (SGT)
📍 In‑person: Function Lounge (Level 4), SMU Yong Pung How School of Law
💻 Virtual session: Via Zoom (login details will be shared 2 days before the event)

This Master of Sustainability panel discussion is a collaboration between Singapore Management University, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and SGFC.

𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁?

As organisations move beyond commitments to real action, the demand is growing for individuals who can navigate complexity, balance business priorities, and drive meaningful change.

The Master of Sustainability (MST) at SMU brings together interdisciplinary perspectives to equip you with practical knowledge and skills to address sustainability challenges across sectors.

Whether you are looking to deepen your expertise or take your next step in sustainability, the MST offers a clear and structured pathway to build relevant, future-ready capabilities.

Join our information session on Thursday, 14 May 2026 to learn more about the programme, how it is structured, and how it can support your goals.

Register here: https://smu.sg/vx32

In case you missed it, Singapore Management University has entered into a wide-ranging sustainability partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP in Asia and the Pacific), marking an important step in accelerating Asia’s green transition. By combining academic expertise with real-world development work, this collaboration creates valuable opportunities for students to engage directly with sustainability challenges through internships, field projects, and applied learning. It also enables organisations to tap into a growing pipeline of talent equipped to translate sustainability ambitions into tangible outcomes.

At SMU School of Social Sciences, this is especially significant as it strengthens programmes such as the Master of Sustainability (MST), offering deeper industry integration and global exposure. Ultimately, the partnership advances our collective push towards sustainable practices by bridging education, policy, and industry to drive real impact.

Read the full story here: https://news.smu.edu.sg/news/2026/04/30/accelerating-asias-green-transition-smu-and-undp-partner-build-next-generation

Accelerating Asia’s Green Transition: SMU and UNDP partner to build next-generation sustainability talent and research hub Asia’s transition to a low-carbon economy is facing a critical bottleneck: a growing shortage of specialised talent able to translate ambitious sustainability policy into concrete implementation. even as governments and businesses accelerate climate commitments. To bridge this gap and empower the ...

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺?

In this Master of Sustainability (MST) sample class, explore how Large Language Models (LLMs) and agentic AI systems are being applied to real-world sustainability challenges.

Through guided demonstrations, you will see how AI can support sustainability reporting and risk disclosure, including estimating CO₂ emissions using both manual and AI-assisted approaches.

Beyond compliance, the session also examines how sustainability can be leveraged as a strategic advantage from improving supply chain visibility to reducing costs and differentiating products.

Importantly, we will also unpack AI’s own environmental footprint, including the energy and resource demands behind data centres, and what responsible use of AI looks like in practice.

Join us on 30 April 2026 to experience how sustainability and emerging technologies intersect in today’s business landscape.

Register here:

SMU Master of Sustainability Sample Class 30 April 2026 Sample Class: From Algorithms to Action: The promises and perils of AI for environmental impact

How does the 'staging' of a diplomatic event shape its symbolic meaning, and what can it reveal about global history?

Diplomacy is not just policy. It is performance. But how do we study the theatricality of diplomacy? What historical sources do we draw on, and how do we interpret them?

Drawing on the 'diplomacy as theatre' framework first developed in Modern Asian Studies (2014), this seminar revisits the Bandung Conference of 1955 (Konperensi Asia-Afrika) to examine how focusing on staging, including the places, spaces, and practices of diplomacy, opens up new perspectives on actors and meanings often overlooked in conventional diplomatic history. The seminar will also reflect critically on the methodological pros and cons of such an approach.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion and be part of the conversation. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁: https://smu.sg/cgpw

𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗽: 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘀’ 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮

Singapore is fast emerging as a launchpad for circular innovation in the region, and this panel brings together perspectives on how ambition is being translated into real-world action.

The discussion will explore how global and local organisations are driving circularity forward, from policy to public participation. With initiatives like Go Green SG 2026 supporting the broader SG Green Plan, there is growing momentum to make sustainable habits part of everyday life.

From Crocs’ approach to consumer engagement to scaling circular initiatives across Southeast Asia, the session will also examine how brands can build stronger, more meaningful connections through sustainability.

👉 Register here: https://smu.sg/ut4k to be part of the conversation and explore what circularity could look like for the region.

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 | 𝗚𝗔𝟯𝟬𝟴 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 (𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝟭 𝗔𝗬𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲/𝟮𝟳)

This is more than a course. It's a chance to step into Bangkok with purpose — collaborating directly with local communities, learning from grassroots change-makers, and gaining ground-level insight into the social issues shaping one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic cities.

If you're a current SMU student looking for an overseas experience that goes beyond the surface, this is it.

Spots are limited. Apply by 30 April 2026, 3:00pm:
https://smu.sg/xv6o

For more enquiries regarding this course, please contact [email protected].