SMU President Launches Master of Science in Communication Management Alumni Group at Inaugural Industry Networking Event

22 June 2015 was a momentous day of celebration for anyone with a connection to the Master of Science in Communication Management (MCM) programme offered by SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business.

Two months after the Singapore Management University Alumni Association (SMUAA) had approved the formation of the MCM Alumni Group (AG), President of SMU Professor De Meyer officially launched the MCM AG on 22 June 2015. This was done in the presence of some 80 alumni, staff, industry partners and communication professionals who attended the AG’s inaugural industry networking event held at the University Lounge.
 

7 graduates from the first two cohorts of the MCM programme established the first MCM AG Executive Committee. The AG aims to bring together all graduates of the MCM programme to form a community that supports professional development, career advancement and lifelong learning.
 

The first and only one of its kind in Asia, the MCM programme is designed to familiarise students with management fundamentals, communication management and its link to business strategy, as well as stakeholder engagement through traditional and new media. Close to 100 professionals have graduated from the programme, which is now in its 4^th run.

Joining President of SMU and President of the MCM AG Executive Committee, Terence Quek, on stage to officiate and lend support to the AG were Dean of SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKSCB) Professor Gerry George, Academic Director of the MCM programme Associate Professor Mark Chong, Director of SMU Office of Alumni Relations Associate Professor Low Aik Meng, and Vice President of SMUAA Ford Lai.
 

“We are very grateful to the University’s leadership and staff for their strong support from the very beginning and throughout our AG’s formative process,” says Terence. “The attendance of the University’s leaders to officiate the launch speaks volumes of the trust, confidence and faith the University is placing on us, and the significance of the MCM programme as a game-changer for the industry.”

Sharing the MCM AG Executive Committee’s passion for the new chapter, Terence touched on the MCM AG’s mission in “community building, capability enhancement, and raising the credibility of the MCM programme”. He also outlined the plans and programmes in service of the MCM Alumni, that they could look forward to.

“We will be working closely with the Office of Alumni Relations and the MCM Programme Office to launch a series of initiatives with fellow graduates in mind,” said Terence.

Indeed, the first of such initiatives was the partnership with PublicAffairsAsia to create a networking event designed for MCM alumni to learn from industry experts, and at the same time, network with prospective employers.

Titled “The Urban Gathering”, attendees were treated to an innovative segment where industry experts were first invited to share bite-sized insights on the topic of “Does Sorry Have To Be The Hardest Word?”, and then asked to make a quick-fire pitch on how they would manage communication for a fictional crisis scenario.

The alumni and guests were impressed by the sharp, thought-provoking sharing by the panel, which included Dr Leslie Gaines-Ross, Chief Reputation Strategist of Weber Shandwick; Mr Stuart Leach, Managing Director of Crisis and Litigation from Bell Pottinger; and Associate Professor Mark Chong from LKCSB. Mr Steven Liew, Executive Director of APCO Worldwide, moderated the fast-paced and engaging session.

Following this exciting segment, guests mingled over dinner and wine, and exchanged contacts. Of course, no alumni networking event is ever complete without a reunion. Many of the alumni appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with ex-classmates whom they spent time sparring intellectually and travelling with to Lugano, Switzerland and Los Angeles, USA. What proved particularly heartwarming was the number of alumni who took time off their schedules just to simply meet up.

In the words of one alumnus: “So happy to see you guys. It really took the Monday blues away!”

If you have an idea, suggestion or would like to get involved, please contact the MCM AG Exco at smu.mcm.ag@gmail.com or join the MCM Alumni Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/smumcm/

MCM Alumni Exco