On 15 December 2014, SIM University (UniSIM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Royal Institute of Management (RIM), Kingdom of Bhutan at its campus located in Thimphu – Bhutan's capital city. Established in 1986, RIM is Bhutan's premier government management institute mandated to impart, promote and improve professional knowledge and skills in management and public administration in the nation's public and private sectors.
The signatories of the MOU were Associate Professor Lee Pui Mun, Dean of UniSIM's School of Business; and Mr Karma Tshering, Director General of RIM. This partnership was the outcome of a fruitful discussion on possible collaborations between the two organisations when an RIM delegation visited UniSIM in September 2014.
Under this agreement, students and faculty from the Logistics and Supply Chain Management programme at UniSIM and the Logistics programme at RIM will benefit from joint collaborative activities in logistics and procurement management.
Kick-starting this MOU was the first of its kind Bhutan-Singapore Logistics Training Programme held in Bhutan from 14 to 21 December 2014. This real-world problem-solving training programme involved 23 UniSIM and 14 RIM participants jointly visiting several Bhutanese companies to understand the logistics and procurement challenges faced. Participants were divided into cross-cultural teams and mentored by UniSIM and RIM faculty to examine the business and logistics operations of a selected case company – a local supermarket. At the end of a five-day period, the teams presented their recommendations to the supermarket owner.
UniSIM and RIM will continue to organise such problem-solving training programmes and activities that may be held either in Singapore or Bhutan. Both parties will also look into possible areas of joint research.
(From left) Signatories of the MOU – Associate Professor Lee Pui Mun and Mr Karma Tshering.
Participants of the December 2014 Bhutan-Singapore Logistics Training Programme held in Bhutan.
Participants of the Logistics Training Programme being briefed on warehouse operations by the owner of 8-Eleven – the company selected for case study.
The best team, comprising two UniSIM students and two RIM students decked in the Bhutanese national costume, making a formal presentation to the panel of judges.
Not all work and no play – UniSIM students and staff dressed in the gho (Bhutanese national dress for men) and the kira (for women) with the help of the RIM students, to join in Bhutan's 107th National Day celebrations at the National Stadium in Thimphu.
UniSIM students and staff enjoying the "top-of-the-world" feeling and stunning view of the snow-capped Himalayan mountain range at Dochula Pass – the site of the 108 chortens on the road from Thimphu to Punakha.
* On 17 March 2017, SIM University (UniSIM) was renamed Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) as part of its re-structuring to become a Singapore autonomous university.