With a population of almost 640 million people, Southeast Asia (SEA) is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world. To further explore this region, students from various NUS halls, residential colleges and houses embarked on inaugural experiential study trips to neighbouring SEA countries, spanning 10 weeks from May to July this year, as part of the new Southeast Asia Friendship Initiative (SFI) under the auspices of the Office of the Provost and NUS Global.
Focusing on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), SFI aims to expose students to real issues and challenges faced by Southeast Asian communities, while fostering a deeper appreciation of the diverse cultures, histories and complexities in the region.
“SFI blends classroom teaching and a carefully curated study trip in the targeted country to help students gain insights into the history, culture, peoples, and potential of Southeast Asian countries,” explained NUS Associate Provost (Special Projects) Associate Professor Melvin Yap, who is also Chief of SFI.
Reflecting on the intent of the SFI, Associate Vice President (Global Relations) Associate Professor Reuben Wong added, “We hope that through SFI, NUS students will build long-term friendships and connections, appreciate the challenges and opportunities in the region; and that many more NUS graduates will work and live in SEA countries.”
Tapping on the academic expertise of the NUS Southeast Asian Studies and Malay Studies departments, students were given a broad introduction to a selected country of study through informative lectures and tutorials, before heading to their destinations with their fellow resident-mates. For the pilot launch, NUS residential units organised 12 unique overseas field trips to SEA, each narrowing in on specific SDGs and exploring the challenges faced by their chosen destination of travel.
This is the first of a two-part series on the SFI study trips, where students share their insights into the Maritime Southeast Asia region, which is made up of the world’s two largest archipelagos situated between the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, and the Western Pacific.
Sustainable agricultural practices in Malang, Indonesia
Sixteen residents of Pioneer House (PH) were whisked away on a seven-day trip, in May, to Malang, Indonesia, to learn about sustainable agricultural practices. Led by PH Resident Fellow, Dr Andi Sudjana Putra and three other NUS staff, the group interacted with staff and students from Universitas Brawijaya, gaining a deeper understanding of the culture and customs in Malang, as well as the sustainability issues in the city. They also visited Ngroto, a village in Malang, and Bumiaji, an adjacent village outside Malang, where they were introduced to sustainable and organic farming practices, as well as innovative ways to cultivate crops while preserving the ecosystem and promoting biodiversity.
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