SMU Pathfinders Workshops
The SMU Pathfinders Programme was launched on 18th August 2017 with the generous donation from Mr Kuok Khoon Ean. The Programme is aligned to SMU’s Vision 2025 of delivering a transformative education that enables our students to become leaders of tomorrow who effect positive change in the world.
The SMU Pathfinders Programme comprises a series of both local and overseas student development programmes, focusing on the three inter-related domains of the “Self”, “Self and Team” and “Self and the Community”. Conducted by trained SMU staff and external trainers, the workshops under the SMU Pathfinders Programme aim to provide transformative experiential learning platforms to students. Students can either participate out of their own interest or as part of their existing Co-Curricular Activity training programme(s). The SMU Pathfinders Programme seeks to develop values-driven learners, authentic collaborators, and responsible global citizens.
Local Pathfinders workshops include Open Call workshops like ‘Developing Habits that Stick’ which taught participants practical techniques that allow them to sustainably achieve the outcomes they desire. The SMU Pathfinders Programme also curates customised workshops in collaboration with various student groups such as EYE Investment Club, Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) Student Clubs, Peer Helpers, and SMU Student Association (SMUSA). These workshops range from topics such as cultivating effective communication for team cohesiveness to better understanding of individual strengths to boost emotional resilience.
There are also impactful overseas Pathfinders Programmes, such as the SMU Pathfinders Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme and the University Scholars Leadership Symposium (USLS) which are aimed at developing sustainability leaders and change agents.
Students writing down some habits they struggle with at ‘Developing Habits that Stick’ workshop
Team building activity that required communication amongst the EYE Investment Club members for their ‘Effective Communication for Team Cohesiveness’ workshop
Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) students holding up their certificates to commemorate the end of the ‘LKCSB Student Leadership Training’ programme
Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme
The SMU Pathfinders Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme, launched in 2022, gives participants the opportunity to embark on a life-changing experience where they learn about sustainability practices adopted in another country in Asia – practices that aim to better the community, economy, and the environment. Participants not only get to glean knowledge and perspectives from thought-leaders about the challenges in dealing with sustainability issues, they also get to engage first-hand in sustainability practices and solutions linked to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. This Programme aims to develop SMU Sustainability Leaders who use the tools and knowledge gained to champion social and environmental stewardship projects that will make a positive difference on campus and beyond.
In line with SMU Pathfinders Programme’s desired outcomes, the learning objectives for the Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme would be for participants to:
- Develop skills necessary to make an impact on campus, community and in their career
- Apply principles to understand real-world challenges and global perspectives
- Apply strategies to take up leadership roles and effect positive and meaningful change
A group photograph of the 2022 Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme student participants and staff in Bali, Indonesia
Participants involved in the reforestation project in Bukit Indah, Bali
Participants learning about the ridge-to-reef approach in the Bukit Indah Reforestation and Watershed Regeneration Project
Learn more about the SMU Pathfinders Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme.
University Scholars Leadership Symposium (USLS)
The annual University Scholars Leadership Symposium (USLS) brings hundreds of youth delegates together, where ideas grow, collaborations take place and diverse voices unite for a better world. At USLS, delegates get the opportunity to network with like-minded peers from around the world who are passionate and committed to positive social change. USLS nurtures emerging world leaders by giving them the confidence to lead sustainable development projects to address issues such as poverty, climate change and inequality.
Delegates at the United Nations Conference Centre
Mangrove planting activity on Kindness Day, where USLS delegates contribute to the advancement of the People and the Planet through volunteerism that advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The USLS delegates getting ready to prepare a vegetarian Pad Kra Pao at The Courageous Kitchen, a non-profit organisation that offers food aid and food education to the less privileged
THRIVE Workshop Series
The THRIVE Workshop series is a student development programme that revolves around six pillars:
The topics for THRIVE Workshops are curated to address the 6 dimensions of resilience in the SMU Resilience Framework as we adopt a proactive approach towards promoting students’ holistic wellbeing. Some of the THRIVE workshops are conducted as ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions, with bento lunches provided so that students can nourish themselves as they gain valuable knowledge from expert trainers.
Examples of past THRIVE workshops include ‘Optimising your LinkedIn Profile’, where students learned from LinkedIn representatives on how to enhance their LinkedIn profiles and the best practices to effectively garner greater outreach. In the ‘Investing Demystified: Strategies and Tips for Beginner Investors’ workshop, students were introduced to the role investing plays in one’s overall financial planning and how to identify and manage the possible risks of investing.
Students learning tips on how to enhance their LinkedIn profile at ‘Optimising your LinkedIn Profile’ workshop
Group photograph of participants at the ‘Investing Demystified: Strategies and Tips for Beginner Investors’ workshop
SMU Pathfinders Workshops
The SMU Pathfinders Programme was launched on 18th August 2017 with the generous donation from Mr Kuok Khoon Ean. The Programme is aligned to SMU’s Vision 2025 of delivering a transformative education that enables our students to become leaders of tomorrow who effect positive change in the world.
The SMU Pathfinders Programme comprises a series of both local and overseas student development programmes, focusing on the three inter-related domains of the “Self”, “Self and Team” and “Self and the Community”. Conducted by trained SMU staff and external trainers, the workshops under the SMU Pathfinders Programme aim to provide transformative experiential learning platforms to students. Students can either participate out of their own interest or as part of their existing Co-Curricular Activity training programme(s). The SMU Pathfinders Programme seeks to develop values-driven learners, authentic collaborators, and responsible global citizens.
Local Pathfinders workshops include Open Call workshops like ‘Developing Habits that Stick’ which taught participants practical techniques that allow them to sustainably achieve the outcomes they desire. The SMU Pathfinders Programme also curates customised workshops in collaboration with various student groups such as EYE Investment Club, Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) Student Clubs, Peer Helpers, and SMU Student Association (SMUSA). These workshops range from topics such as cultivating effective communication for team cohesiveness to better understanding of individual strengths to boost emotional resilience.
There are also impactful overseas Pathfinders Programmes, such as the SMU Pathfinders Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme and the University Scholars Leadership Symposium (USLS) which are aimed at developing sustainability leaders and change agents.
Students writing down some habits they struggle with at ‘Developing Habits that Stick’ workshop
Team building activity that required communication amongst the EYE Investment Club members for their ‘Effective Communication for Team Cohesiveness’ workshop
Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) students holding up their certificates to commemorate the end of the ‘LKCSB Student Leadership Training’ programme
Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme
The SMU Pathfinders Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme, launched in 2022, gives participants the opportunity to embark on a life-changing experience where they learn about sustainability practices adopted in another country in Asia – practices that aim to better the community, economy, and the environment. Participants not only get to glean knowledge and perspectives from thought-leaders about the challenges in dealing with sustainability issues, they also get to engage first-hand in sustainability practices and solutions linked to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. This Programme aims to develop SMU Sustainability Leaders who use the tools and knowledge gained to champion social and environmental stewardship projects that will make a positive difference on campus and beyond.
In line with SMU Pathfinders Programme’s desired outcomes, the learning objectives for the Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme would be for participants to:
- Develop skills necessary to make an impact on campus, community and in their career
- Apply principles to understand real-world challenges and global perspectives
- Apply strategies to take up leadership roles and effect positive and meaningful change
A group photograph of the 2022 Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme student participants and staff in Bali, Indonesia
Participants involved in the reforestation project in Bukit Indah, Bali
Participants learning about the ridge-to-reef approach in the Bukit Indah Reforestation and Watershed Regeneration Project
Learn more about the SMU Pathfinders Sustainability Changemakers Overseas Programme.
University Scholars Leadership Symposium (USLS)
The annual University Scholars Leadership Symposium (USLS) brings hundreds of youth delegates together, where ideas grow, collaborations take place and diverse voices unite for a better world. At USLS, delegates get the opportunity to network with like-minded peers from around the world who are passionate and committed to positive social change. USLS nurtures emerging world leaders by giving them the confidence to lead sustainable development projects to address issues such as poverty, climate change and inequality.
Delegates at the United Nations Conference Centre
Mangrove planting activity on Kindness Day, where USLS delegates contribute to the advancement of the People and the Planet through volunteerism that advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The USLS delegates getting ready to prepare a vegetarian Pad Kra Pao at The Courageous Kitchen, a non-profit organisation that offers food aid and food education to the less privileged
THRIVE Workshop Series
The THRIVE Workshop series is a student development programme that revolves around six pillars:
The topics for THRIVE Workshops are curated to address the 6 dimensions of resilience in the SMU Resilience Framework as we adopt a proactive approach towards promoting students’ holistic wellbeing. Some of the THRIVE workshops are conducted as ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions, with bento lunches provided so that students can nourish themselves as they gain valuable knowledge from expert trainers.
Examples of past THRIVE workshops include ‘Optimising your LinkedIn Profile’, where students learned from LinkedIn representatives on how to enhance their LinkedIn profiles and the best practices to effectively garner greater outreach. In the ‘Investing Demystified: Strategies and Tips for Beginner Investors’ workshop, students were introduced to the role investing plays in one’s overall financial planning and how to identify and manage the possible risks of investing.
Students learning tips on how to enhance their LinkedIn profile at ‘Optimising your LinkedIn Profile’ workshop
Group photograph of participants at the ‘Investing Demystified: Strategies and Tips for Beginner Investors’ workshop