Governance, Registered and Independents Clubs
SMU Apolitical Society
ABOUT US
SMU Apolitical Society (@smuapol) was established in 2010 by Mr Mohamed Irshad, a former Nominated Member of Parliament and the founder of inter-faith organisation Roses of Peace. As SMU's first student political association, we strive to reduce political apathy, increasing awareness of local and international politics in a non-partisan manner. In addition, we seek to provide the SMU community with a respectful avenue for discussion for issues relating to public policy and social issues affecting society at-large.
Besides facilitating a free exchange of ideas and creating inclusive platforms such as Varsity Voices and dialogue sessions for youths to participate in, SMU Apol also often hosts forums and visits to political agencies.
KEY EVENTS
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Varsity Voices
A joint collaboration with our counterparts at NUS and NTU to discuss wide-ranging affairs like Jobs and Economy, Social Inclusion, etc. Last year, we supported a fireside chat on the Israel-Hamas conflict with Minister Chan Chun Sing, and this year, we are also involved in a dialogue with PM Lawrence Wong held at SMU! -
Dialogues and Forums
From the Singapore Universities National Security Forum to the Youths’ Future Dialogue, SMU Apol is behind large-scale events that bring youths to the round table to share their thoughts and understand a wide range of perspectives from their peers and special speakers. We have worked with many Ministries to provide a platform for youth to engage in dialogue, including MFA, MOF, MCCY, and MCI. The illustrious speakers who engage youths at our events include then-DPM Lawrence Wong, SMS Sim Ann, SM Teo Chee Hean, then-SMS Chee Hong Tat, and more. Historically, our events have regularly attracted 130-200 participants at a time! -
Visits to Political Offices
This year, we hosted visits to the Parliament House and the MHA Heritage Centre, with more to come soon. The Parliament visit featured a guided tour, and a dialogue session with the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Seah Kian Peng! The tour to the MHA Heritage Centre was also a rare opportunity for students to access the Centre (usually not open to the public) and understand more our Singapore’s history and internal security matters.
REACH OUT TO US
GALLERY
OUR TRAINING
There is no formal training for SMU Apol as we encourage members to explore at their own pace, and we believe that the best way to gain interest in current affairs is through casual conversation!
OUR PEOPLE IN ACTION
"Apolitical broadened my knowledge of current affairs and equipped me to think critically in analysing socio-economic issues affecting us daily. Its inclusive culture and activities accommodate students from all faculties and levels. I have made my best friends here and wish the same for anyone who joins the 'Apol Community'! "
- Abbas Ali Mohamed Anas, School of Business, Year 4
"I have been a member in the society for 2 years. Even though I had no experience with politics when I joined, Apolitical was extremely welcoming. I learnt a lot through my interactions with leading policy makers and participation in concrete community service events."
-Matt Soo, School of Law, Year 3
FAQ
There are no membership fees! Simply indicate your interest in this form (https://forms.office.com/r/9B8czk5eXV) and we will get back to you shortly (please note that the sign up link in the video is outdated). As a member, you get early bird access to registration for our events before slots are booked up! We also have an official Telegram group where we will occasionally send interesting links for members to read up on in their free time. Members also frequently use the chat to share current affairs news and opinions with one another.
We welcome you to join as a member first! We will be recruiting EXCO members shortly after Vivace, and you may find more details in due time through EDMs and our Instagram page (@smuapol). EXCO members are involved in ideating, planning, and executing events such as those described above. EXCO members also get the opportunity to moderate and emcee most of our dialogues! In the past, our team has moderated dialogue sessions with then-DPM Lawrence Wong, Speaker Seah Kian Peng, SM Teo Chee Hean, and more. Look out for our recruitment!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Guan Jie (gjfung.2021@law.smu.edu.sg) or Christine (njsiow.2022@socsc.smu.edu.sg). Thank you for your interest!
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