From April 2 to April 10, 2024, Eastern International University (EIU) and Singapore Polytechnic (SP) jointly organized the Learning Express (LeX) community engagement program, with the participation of lecturers, coordinators from both institutions, along with 29 SP students and 30 EIU students.
During the 9-day project, using the Design Thinking approach, SP and EIU students collaborated to explore and research real-life issues, including solutions for clean pomelo farming in Binh Long Town, Binh Phuoc Province; waste management in the Becamex Dinh Hoa social housing area; and proposals to encourage children aged 6 to 10 to use city buses more frequently.
SP and EIU students took a commemorative photo together
Specifically, through surveys and discussions with Becamex Tokyu and parents of children aged 6–10, the City Bus group identified parents’ concerns about their children’s safety and the general lack of trust among Vietnamese people toward public transportation. Based on these insights, the group proposed activity models and tracking devices to enhance safety and diversify bus routes, as well as the use of visual materials to attract children and teach them how to properly use seat belts
The student team working on the City Bus project
In addition, the Waste Management team conducted research on waste disposal behaviors among students and residents at the Becamex Dinh Hoa Social Housing Area. Based on their findings, the team proposed the use of smart trash bins for waste sorting and the development of a mobile application to track the status and location of the bins. The app would also allow users to earn points and redeem rewards for proper waste disposal, as well as send direct feedback to the management board. Furthermore, the team suggested creating videos and games to educate and raise environmental awareness among young children.
The student team working on the Waste Management project
At the pomelo farm in Binh Phuoc, the Pomelo team had an exciting journey as they witnessed firsthand the clean pomelo cultivation process and empathized with the challenge that, despite the fruit being delicious and sweet, its market competitiveness remained low due to its imperfect peel appearance. In response, the team explored and proposed gardening methods such as using fruit-wrapping techniques or certified organic compounds, while also developing brand identity strategies for the pomelo farm on social media platforms and e-commerce sites.
The student team working on the Pomelo project
Speaking at the closing session of the project, Mr Ong Chai Lin – Representative of Singapore Polytechnic (SP) – expressed his gratitude to the university for its support and favorable conditions that contributed to the successful implementation of the program. He also highly appreciated the dynamism, friendliness, and enthusiasm of EIU students, and expressed his hope for continued collaboration and exchange with EIU in the future.
Mr Ong Chai Lin – Representative of SP – presented certificates of participation to EIU students
Sharing about their journey in the LeX program, the EIU student team said they had learned a great deal of knowledge, teamwork skills, problem-solving approaches, and data-handling methods from their SP peers. Nguyen Quang Giap – a student from EIU’s School of Engineering – added: “This has been an incredibly valuable experience for me during my university years. It gave me a chance to expand my knowledge and discover more about myself. The SP students are all talented, cheerful, and kind. Although the project didn’t last long, we made so many memories together – from staying up until 3 a.m. to finish our video, to playing sports, sharing stories, and especially becoming a ‘tour guide’ to introduce them to Vietnamese culture and cuisine. I’ll always remember these moments.”
In response to the warmth from EIU students, Png Jun Hao Nigel – a student from SP – also shared his reflections and heartfelt memories from the program: “For me, LeX was an amazing experience. I got to meet so many friendly Vietnamese friends who helped us get used to the new environment, especially during our days at the pomelo farm. I really loved Vietnamese food — I think I’ll miss its flavor a lot! Most importantly, I’ve become more confident in communication after conducting surveys and interviews with local people during the project. I hope I’ll have the chance to come back here and see everyone again.”
SP and EIU students share their feelings after the journey
The community engagement program – Learning Express (LeX) – officially concluded successfully, leaving EIU and SP students with valuable and memorable experiences. Through working and learning together in a dynamic environment and addressing real-life challenges, students had the opportunity to broaden their knowledge, enhance their Design Thinking skills, develop soft skills, and raise awareness about contributing to community development. In addition, the project served as a “bridge” connecting young generations from two different countries, allowing students from both institutions to interact, connect, and exchange culture, language, and perspectives with a more multicultural outlook. Moreover, this program also helped strengthen the international partnership between EIU and SP, paving the way for more meaningful learning and experiential opportunities for students in the future.
Some images at the program:
