SMU Financial Literacy, Inclusion & Technology Programme

SMU Financial Literacy, Inclusion & Technology Programme for Young Adults

Leading the field of financial literacy to educate and empower young adults

Financial Sustainability in the age of AI

Into its 10th edition this year, the Symposium, which tackles issues of building financial literacy in an age of change and disruption, attracted some 300 attendees comprising students, academics and corporates.

Rise of a Generation: Adaptability in an Accelerated World

The 9th Citi Foundation-SMU Financial Literacy Symposium featured topics to address young adults’ concerns on adaptability and resilience in an increasingly volatile, complex and ambiguous world.

Democratisation of Financial Knowledge

The 8th Citi Foundation-SMU Financial Literacy Symposium delved into four key areas: FinTech & Financial Inclusion, Sustainability, Gig Economy and Financial Well-being for Singaporean Women.

My Money @ Campus 2023

In collaboration with MoneySense and the Association of Banks in Singapore, My Money @ Campus 2023 aims to equip young adults with essential financial literacy knowledge through a interactive hybrid carnival!

About Us

Launched in April 2012 as the Citi Foundation-SMU Financial Literacy Program for Young Adults, the SMU Financial Literacy, Inclusion, and Technology Programme is Singapore's first structured initiative designed to provide financial literacy education to young adults.

Through a combination of workshops, lectures, coursework, and interactive game-based carnivals, the programme aims to equip young adults with essential personal finance knowledge and skills relevant to their life stage. This initiative offers a solid foundation for managing money and gives them a financial head start in their lives. Find out more here.

Demonstrated Impact

SMU Financial Literacy, Inclusion & Technology Programme’s unique peer-to-peer pedagogical model enhances the delivery, outreach and continuity of financial literacy concepts to youths in Singapore.

Over 1500* trainers certified

*Till 2022

Over 9000* Young Adults Reached

*Till 2024

After participating in the programme, beneficiaries observed increased awareness of financial concepts and change in money management behaviour.

66% demonstrated increased levels of financial literacy and appreciation of skills and concepts.

88% improved or maintained their long-term understanding of financial knowledge.

20% increase in participants maintaining adequate insurance coverage (overall 60%) within three to six months after the program.

50% of participants feel that they have started to invest prudently within three to six months after the program.

33% increase in participants who save 10% of their income or allowance within three to six months despite the trying COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

Start Your Journey

WHAT'S ON

WHO ARE WE

What People are Saying

“I would like to commend Citi Foundation-SMU for the good efforts in addressing financial concerns close to the hearts of our youths.”

Ms Gan Siow Huang
Minister of State for Education and Manpower
[At the Opening Address at the 8th Citi Foundation-SMU Financial Literacy Symposium, 2021]

The programme uses a unique peer-to-peer training model that helps empower students to not only take charge of their own financial journey but to support others too.

Mr Lawrence Wong
Then Minister for Education
[At the Opening Address at the 7th Citi Foundation-SMU Financial Literacy Symposium, 2020]

MoneySense works with many partners from both the academia and the industry, and I would like to acknowledge all of you today. We thank our main partners for this series, SMU and Citi-SMU Financial Literacy Program for Young Adults, who are spearheading the carnival segment and have worked closely with student volunteers from our 5 polytechnics to design the carnival and games (My Money @ Campus 2018).

Mr Lee Boon Ngiap
Then Assistant Managing Director (Capital Markets), MAS and Chairman, Financial Education Steering Committee

We have explored a lot of different ways to extend our reach, and I think we have achieved that. It's more of how to enhance to enhance our reach and work more with our affiliates and reach out to more interested people. We had more collaborative and more close teamwork.

Perry Kwan
SMU Alumnus

Even though I learn derivatives and et cetera, I don't know about simple money management things like insurance and credit card. I think there's a gap in learning - at least in my course - they teach a lot of financial products, but they tend to skip over the practical concepts.

Joshua Chow
Polytechnic student

My parents ask me - how come you have so much knowledge on insurance? Because I join the Train-The-Trainers program lah! It does benefit us in the future, you just don't know when. I'm really happy that whatever I learn, I can really teach my parents too. And they're really proud of me!

Winnie Tan
ITE student