Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Brawijaya (FTUB) warmly welcomed the arrival of a group of students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in an academic and cultural visit program that has been ongoing for the past week. A total of 33 students from NUS and 16 Industrial Engineering students from FTUB actively participated in a series of activities aimed at strengthening relations between countries in the fields of education and culture.

The activity, which started last week, was designed to introduce campus life at FTUB to NUS students. They were invited to participate in a number of academic agendas, such as guest lectures, group discussions, and visits to facilities in the Industrial Engineering environment. NUS students seemed enthusiastic in interacting with FTUB academics, especially in sharing insights about the learning system in each institution.

In addition to introducing academic aspects, FTUB also invited participants to explore the richness of local culture in Malang City. In one of its agendas, students were invited to visit Batik Soendari to learn about the art of batik making typical of Malang. There, the participants tried to make Malangan batik motifs directly and learned the philosophy behind each pattern.

The cultural experience continued with a visit to the Kayutangan Heritage area, known for its historic colonial buildings and the lives of its people who still maintain traditional values. NUS students seemed impressed by the beauty and local wisdom they encountered while in the area.

Not only that, the participants were also invited to visit the historical site of Singosari Temple, a legacy of the Singhasari Kingdom which is a symbol of the glory of East Javanese civilization. The historical explanation given by the local guide made this visit an educational and reflective experience for international students.

As part of the community empowerment activities, the group of students also visited Ngroto Village, Malang Regency. In this village, they were invited to interact directly with the local community and observe how the concept of simple technology is applied in everyday life, especially in the fields of agriculture and environmental management.

This visit program was officially closed today, Monday (19/5/2025) with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FT UB and NUS. From FT UB, the MoU was signed by the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr.Eng. Ir. Indradi Wijatmiko, S.T., M.Eng.(Prac), while from NUS it was represented by Assoc. Prof. Prahlad Vadakkepat, as the Master of Pioneer House.

In his remarks, Dr. Indradi said that this collaboration was the first step in a long-term collaboration between the two institutions. He hopes that this visit will be a foothold for the development of joint academic programs, student exchanges, and collaborative research in the future.

“Thank you for your visit which brings positive things from both institutions. Although NUS has come here three times, it is hoped that there will be further visits, either from NUS to FTUB or vice versa,” explained Indradi.

Assoc. Prof. Prahlad Vadakkepat also expressed his gratitude for the extraordinary welcome from FTUB. He greatly appreciated this opportunity to establish a closer relationship with Universitas Brawijaya and its students brought many new experiences and perspectives that were very meaningful.

“We really enjoyed all the activities prepared by our colleagues from FTUB. Not only did we learn many new things, but we also felt very warmly welcomed here. Getting to know a new culture is certainly a valuable experience for our students and will not be easily forgotten,” he said.

With the end of this activity, FTUB and NUS hope that the cooperation that has been built can continue to be improved, so that it brings great benefits not only to both institutions, but also to the friendly relations between Indonesia and Singapore. [drn]