The School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (SBM ITB), welcomed students from Temasek Polytechnic as part of the Global Studies Overseas Study Trip (GSOST) program on Wednesday (May 13). This activity served as a platform for cultural exchange, introduced campus life, and strengthened relationships among students from different countries through various interactive activities and collaborative sessions.
Both participants discussed iconic foods from their respective countries. From Indonesia, SBM ITB students introduced rendang, a national specialty, while Temasek Polytechnic introduced chili crab, a Singaporean specialty.
The atmosphere was further enhanced by an interactive game titled “What comes to your mind when you hear Indonesia?”. Here, SBM ITB students also introduced the diversity of islands and cultures in Indonesia. SBM ITB students also introduced ITB campus culture, from the OSKM tradition, the graduate procession, to the signature SBM ITB chant “Salam 197,” which concluded with the slogan “Ethics, Skills, Knowledge.”
The welcome was enthusiastically responded to by Temasek Polytechnic students with the chant “Business Paddles Up,” which was performed with singing and applause.
Students from Temasek Polytechnic introduced the campus culture and student life in Singapore, highlighting the country’s cultural diversity influenced by Chinese, Malay, and other ethnic communities. They shared some common local terms used when ordering food or drinks in cafeterias and hawker centers. For example, “kopi si” refers to coffee with evaporated milk, “kopi o kosong” means black coffee without sugar or milk, and “tapaw” is a term for food wrapped for takeout.
Temasek Polytechnic students also introduced various campus organizations and activities, such as the TP Business Study Club (TPBSC), the largest student organization at their business school, and the traditional freshman orientation camp, which involves inter-school competitions and a closing night similar to a campus concert.
In addition to the cultural presentation session, the event also featured a Magic Maze game and an ITB campus tour. Participants were split into two groups: one group engaged in collaborative games inside the classroom, while the other explored the campus.
During the visit, Temasek Polytechnic students were also invited to visit the SBM ITB Experiential Learning Games (LEG) Laboratory. Through simulation-based games, participants were encouraged to hone their communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. The group was also taken to see several iconic areas of the ITB campus, including the campus tunnel and various faculty buildings.
One Temasek Polytechnic student, Harpreet, expressed his enjoyment of the visit to SBM ITB. He noted that the atmosphere felt warm and not as stiff as typical formal presentations.
“I really enjoyed the experience. The presentation didn’t feel like a school presentation, but more like sharing school culture, where we could connect with each other like friends. The games were fun, the students were kind and welcoming, and the campus felt very integrated with nature. I hope to visit again someday or even join an exchange program here,” he said.
Meanwhile, Temasek Polytechnic representative Stephen emphasized that human connections remain paramount amidst technological developments and globalization.
“What cannot be replaced is relationships,” he said during the session.
Through this visit, SBM ITB and Temasek Polytechnic not only strengthened institutional ties but also opened up opportunities for collaboration and cross-cultural understanding for students from both countries.
