Speech by Minister Chan Chun Sing at SMU's Commencement Ceremony

SMU Honorary Patron, Dr Tony Tan

Chancellor, Mr Lim Chee Onn

Pro-Chancellor, Mr Eddie Teo

Chairman, Mr Ho Kwon Ping and Members of the Board of Trustees

President, Professor Lily Kong

Distinguished Guests

Faculty, staff and the Class of 2022, Parents and Guests

1. Good afternoon everyone.

1. Congratulations to the Class of 2022 on your graduation.

2. Today, as you join the ranks of SMU Alumni.

1. It is opportune to ponder what will make you proud to be known as an SMU Alumnus?
2. What will distinguish you from others?

3. As graduates of a young university, you face both the challenge and opportunity of defining the character and quality of your Alumni status.

1. The SMU brand will be defined by you.

4. What will this brand be?

1. I have 3 wishes.
2. And I hope you all will share them too.

5. First, my hope is that SMU Alumni will distinguish yourselves as being "Connected".

1. Connected to people, frontier industries, frontier businesses and the world.
2. Connected because you are able to understand and empathise, with the fears, concerns and aspirations of those around you.
3. Connected because you are able to appreciate the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow.

6. Second, my hope is that SMU Alumni will distinguish yourselves as being "Innovative" and "Transformative".

1. People who are bold in pushing the frontiers in all that you do to establish new standards of excellence.
2. And never content to just maintain a system.
3. And you have in you an eternal spirit to keep improving things and creating value for the people and organisations you come across.

7. Third, my hope is that SMU Alumni will distinguish yourselves as forever "Young".

1. A people with youthful spirit who are not afraid to try.
2. A youthful spirit of seeing the world as our oyster, full of idealism and courage to defy the odds of history for Singapore and Singaporeans.
3. A youthful spirit that lives not just for today, but is always full of hope and determination for the long term and in building a better future.

8. When I met the SMU leadership team sometime back, we challenged ourselves to turn SMU from "A University in a City" into "The City in a University". Or more precisely, to have the CITY DNA embedded in a University.

1. While SMU is small in size, it is a catalyst of the spirit of leadership of our city.
2. Multi-dimensional in its capabilities and hyper-connected with people, frontier businesses and industries, and the world.
3. Leading in innovation and with a transformative spirit.
4. Always adventurous and youthful in its aspirations.

9. Hence, may the CITY DNA of SMU be in you always.

1. Connected
2. Innovative and Transformative.
3. And eternally Youthful.

10. I wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.

1. We look forward to you growing and passing this CITY DNA on to generations of SMU students and alumni to come.
2. Ultimately, the brand of any university is not dependent on the current faculty or students alone, but the collective spirit, endeavours and achievements of its Alumni.
3. When you distinguish yourselves as SMU Alumni, you will collectively make SMU a university of distinction.