Following the opening session on September 29, the Overseas Innovation and Sustainability Program 2025 (OISP 2025) officially kicked off a series of learning, experiential, and creative activities. Within just one week, students from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) and Eastern International University (EIU) came together to create memorable milestones, promising to deliver fresh, practical, and community-oriented ideas.
NYP students learned about waste management and energy conservation at the dormitory
From the very first days, students were introduced to the “Challenge Statement” at the Dinh Hoa Social Housing Area and the EIU Dormitory, focusing on waste management and energy conservation. Through field trips and on-site observations, they listened to residents’ insights, observed current practices in waste sorting and energy use, and gained firsthand experiences that enabled them to create empathy maps, develop user personas, and identify the core issues that needed to be addressed.
During team working sessions designed by EIU’s Community Engagement Office, students were guided to apply Design Thinking principles to gradually shape their solution development process. Starting from identifying user needs, each group formulated “How might we…” questions that encouraged creative exploration and served as the foundation for developing innovative ideas.
Students learned about AI
In addition, during a specialized training session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for rapid prototyping, led by EIU’s Faculty of Information Technology, students learned techniques to transform their ideas into sketches, wireframes, and initial prototype plans using advanced AI tools. Going beyond the ideation stage, many groups also began assessing the technical feasibility of their concepts and identifying the necessary resources for implementation.
After one week, student teams made remarkable progress on their journey toward developing sustainable solutions — from understanding users and analyzing stakeholders to proposing potential ideas that deliver real community value. A number of initial prototypes were created, ranging from improved waste sorting systems and energy-saving models to community engagement initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability.
OISP 2025 is now entering a more critical phase, where ideas will be refined, tested, and perfected. The first week concluded with valuable learning experiences, while the upcoming week promises bold strides as innovative solutions move closer to real-world application and community impact.
Some images at the program:
