SMU launches first overseas centre in Jakarta

THE first overseas centre of Singapore Management University (SMU) has opened in Jakarta with Indonesian journalist and businessman, Shoeb Kagda, as its centre director.

Kagda has spent more than two decades living and working in Indonesia, where he chairs the Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia. He is also founder of the Indonesia Economic Forum, an annual business and industry conference.  

In a statement on Tuesday (Dec 6), SMU said that Kagda will lead the centre to develop deeper engagement between the university’s schools, offices, centres and institutes, and Indonesia’s institutes of higher learning, business leaders and key policymakers.

“Indonesia is a rising regional economic powerhouse with a growing influence in shaping the future of both Asia and the region,” said Kagda, who also contributes to The Business Times as a correspondent. 

By working with SMU’s stakeholders, he hopes to “actively foster a knowledge climate in which intellectual and cultural diversity is respected and embraced as (SMU Overseas Centre Jakarta) drives the economic development of communities and sectors growth in Indonesia”.

According to SMU president Lily Kong, the centre’s establishment will enable SMU to “further intertwine (its) academic circles and strengthen cooperation for higher learning skills and development in both Indonesia and Singapore”. 

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Prof Kong attended the launch event in Jakarta, and among those present were Indonesia’s Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim and Ambassador of Singapore to Indonesia Kwok Fook Seng.

Through the centre, SMU aims to provide Indonesia’s corporate, government and industry workforce with professional continuing education and postgraduate programmes. It also intends to strengthen bilateral efforts to develop and execute strategic collaborative initiatives and programmes.

Added Kagda: “Collaboration with Indonesian corporations, higher education institutions, government agencies, and the wider society will be critical to improving talent development, thought leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship in both countries.”