From April 2nd to April 10th, 2024, Eastern International University (EIU) and Singapore Polytechnic (SP) collaborated to organise the Learning Express Program (LeX). The program involved participation from faculty members, coordinators from both institutions, as well as 29 SP students and 30 EIU students.
During the 9-day project, using the Design Thinking methodology, SP and EIU students worked together to explore and research real-world issues, including solutions for clean pomelo orchards in Binh Long town, Binh Phuoc province (Pomelo project); waste management in the Becamex Dinh Hoa social housing area (Waste Management project); and proposing solutions to increase bus usage among children aged 6 to 10 (City Bus project).
The students of SP and EIU took commemorative photos together
Specifically, through surveys and discussions with Becamex Tokyu and parents of children aged 6-10, the City Bus team understood the concerns about child safety and the lack of trust in public transportation in Vietnam. Based on this, the team proposed operational models and location-tracking devices to enhance safety and diversity in bus routes, as well as using images to attract children and instruct them on proper seat belt usage.
The City Bus Team
The Waste Management team also studied the waste disposal behaviours of students and residents in the Becamex Dinh Hoa social housing area. They proposed using smart bins for waste sorting, developing a mobile app to identify the status and location of bins, integrating rewards for proper waste disposal, and providing direct feedback to management.
The Waste Management Team
At the pomelo farm in Binh Phuoc, the Pomelo team had an exciting journey, learning about the process of growing clean pomelos and empathising with the issue of delicious but low-competitive pomelos due to imperfect appearance. The team explored methods such as using wrapping techniques or certified organic compounds and developed brand recognition for the pomelo farm on social media platforms and e-commerce sites.
The Pomelo Team
During the closing session of the project, Mr. Ong Chai Lin – SP Representative, expressed gratitude to EIU for its support and facilitation in ensuring the success of the program. He also praised the dynamic, friendly, and enthusiastic spirit of EIU students and expressed a desire for future cooperation and exchanges with EIU.
Mr. Ong Chai Lin – Representative of SP, presents participation certificates to EIU students
Reflecting on their LeX experience, EIU students shared that they had learned a lot from SP students in terms of teamwork, design thinking, problem research, and data processing. Nguyen Quang Giap, an EIU student, expressed, “This has been a valuable experience for me as a student, an opportunity to expand my knowledge and discover myself. SP students are talented, cheerful, and kind. Although the project period was short, we had many memorable moments together, from staying up until 3 am to complete videos, playing sports together, sharing joys and sorrows, and especially becoming ‘tour guides’ introducing Vietnamese culture and cuisine to them. I will cherish these moments forever.”
In response to the EIU students’ sentiments, Nigel Png Jun Hao, a SP student, also shared his special memories and impressions of experiencing a new environment. “LeX was a wonderful experience for me, being able to interact with many friendly Vietnamese friends who were ready to help us adapt to the new living environment, especially during our days at the pomelo orchard. I really enjoyed Vietnamese food, and I will surely miss its taste. Moreover, I feel more confident in communication after conducting surveys and interviews with local people during the project. I hope to have the opportunity to return here and meet again.”
The students from SP and EIU share their emotions after the journey
The Learning Express Program (LeX) has successfully concluded with valuable and memorable experiences for EIU and SP students. Through collaborative work and learning in a dynamic environment and addressing real-life issues, students had the opportunity to expand their knowledge, enhance their design thinking skills, develop soft skills, and increase awareness of community contribution activities. Additionally, the project served as a bridge connecting the younger generation in two different countries, fostering cultural exchange, language learning, and a multicultural perspective. Furthermore, it strengthened international cooperation between EIU and SP, providing students with more opportunities for beneficial learning and experiences in the future.
Here are some images from the program
