A game changer in the university education sector in Singapore, SMU’s distinctive education has produced many graduates across generations, many of whom belonging to the same families. We take a look at how SMU has made a transformative impact on a father-son duo who both graduated from the university.
For many parents, nothing is more rewarding than watching their kids enter university. But for Allan Foo (EMBA 2012), owner and founder of Meijo Singapore Pte Ltd, little did he know that he would follow his son’s footsteps.
Within the first year that Fu Haoren (LLB 2014 and BBM 2014) entered SMU in 2009, Allan noticed a positive transformation in his son – he was glowing with confidence and maturity. Allan also witnessed first-hand how SMU had been a change agent for tertiary education. Convinced by SMU’s promise of a distinctive education, Allan decided to pursue his postgraduate studies and graduated with an Executive Masters of Business Administration from SMU in 2012.
In their own time, both father and son were or have been actively involved in SMU groups and events. During Haoren’s undergraduate days, he was a member of the SMU Ambassadorial Corps, the SMU Broadcast & Entertainment Club, participated in Overseas Community Service Involvement projects and represented SMU at the International Commercial Mediation Competition in France. The University’s environment and culture gave him the flexibility to plan his own schedules and be self-aware of what needs to be completed. It was no easy feat but Haoren successfully managed to strike a good balance between his passions and maintaining his academic scholarships throughout university.
As for Allan, his contributions have largely been more as an alumnus than while he was a student. He was the President of the EMBA alumni group, a member of the Lee Kong Chian School of Business Alumni Board, and is currently still an integral member of the SMU Alumni Advisory Council (AAC). Allan cites his strong belief in and advocacy for the University’s multi-disciplinary approach that produces broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy, as his reason for his continuous involvement with SMU.
On his perseverance to take on postgraduate studies while juggling a busy career, Allan attributed it to his first-hand experience of facing challenges at his workplace. He realised the criticality of making educated decisions at work, especially when taking on a leadership role.
He confesses that he used to consider himself an expert in the marketing field, but when he enrolled in the EMBA programme at SMU, the experience as a learner, while humbling, opened his eyes and mind and he gained so much more. Apart from accumulating practical skills, he noted the increased emphasis on professional development, that to stay relevant in the industry, one must constantly value-add to work processes and be equipped with new skills and knowledge. For Allan, the EMBA experience anchored his belief in the importance of life-long learning.
With a myriad of Postgraduate (PG) and Professional Continuing Education (PCE) pathways available, there are many options available for one to further their studies. As Allan suggests, “find out what you are most passionate about in life, then shortlist those courses that you prefer or find relevance in your career.”
Haoren adds, “SMU has empowered me with the necessary skills to chart my own path and make the best out of every experience. It showed me the importance of having the right attitude towards learning regardless of my circumstances, and that’s a lesson that I continue to be most grateful for”.
Allan and Haoren have certainly charted their own paths, and chose to have parts of that journey with SMU. Their story is of a son whose student experiences inspired the father, and together they now have another shared experience as SMU alumni.
