Honorary Speaker
Prof. Deng is an IEEE Fellow and a Fellow of the Singapore Academy of Engineering, with a distinguished career spanning since 1986. He joined the SMU School of Computing and Information Systems (SCIS) as a full Professor in 2004 and was appointed AXA Chair Professor in 2017. Over nearly four decades, he has established an exceptional legacy of scholarly research, academic administration, teaching, and mentorship, while holding senior editorial roles with premier global outlets.
If you are looking to deepen your approach to mentoring students through challenging learning experiences, this session offers practical wisdom from one of SMU's most accomplished educators. Prof Robert Deng, the inaugural Zhongni Distinguished Educator 2025 recipient, reflects on over two decades of mentoring both students and peers in deep inquiry. Prof Deng shares the highs, lows, and lessons from his journey, the challenges ahead, and his advice to fellow educators. Central to his message is a conviction that impactful teaching goes beyond content; it demands that we commit to cultivating intellectual courage in learners, aligning learning with individual strengths, fostering collaborative environments, and treat every pedagogical challenge as a learning opportunity. An inspiring call to grow, together, as reflective educators who are themselves lifelong learners.
Registration link will be provided in an internal EDM. Zoom access link will be emailed to registered virtual attendees closer to the date.
For more information, contact cte@smu.edu.sg.
Event Summary
The Zhongni Distinguished Educator Sharing, "A Journey in Teaching: A Zhongni Distinguished Educator Reflects", was held on 31 July as part of the CTE Faculty Teaching Forum 2026. The event featured Professor Robert Deng, who shared reflections from more than two decades at SMU as an educator, researcher and mentor.
Professor Deng highlighted that teaching, research and service are not competing responsibilities, but mutually reinforcing ones that enable educators to develop people, strengthen communities and create meaningful societal impact.
Key takeaways:
- Teaching, research and service reinforce one another. Rather than viewing them as competing demands, Professor Deng encouraged participants to see them as complementary responsibilities that strengthen one another.
- Teach for lasting understanding. Instead of focusing on content coverage, educators should help students develop deep understanding, critical thinking and sound reasoning that endure beyond the classroom.
- Invest in people and partnerships. Strong collaborations, meaningful mentorship and interdisciplinary partnerships create opportunities not only for research, but also for education and societal impact.
- Continue learning as educators. In a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by AI and changing learner needs, the role of educators is not simply to adapt, but to help shape the future of education.