Prof. Hitoshi Nakamura from the Department of Planning, Architecture and Environmental Systems, Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) when delivering his speech during GPBL, the Global Project Based Learning program conducted by ITS and SIT

ITS Campus, ITS News – The COVID-19 pandemic surely didn’t prevent Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) from expanding its wings and venturing into the international scene. Through the Global Project Based Learning (GPBL) program, ITS collaborated with the Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) in the field of Urban and Regional Planning. This event was held virtually starting on Saturday (3-31/10).

Faiqoh Agustin ST, the representative of the GPBL program team, explained that learning through projects is a strategic way to improve students’ competence. Global-scale activities that involve international students such as GPBL can add value to ITS students. “With all the limitations during the pandemic, we continue to run GPBL and are prepared to face all challenges in the future,” she stated.

The woman familiarly called Faiqoh also continued that they had realized the new challenges of doing things virtually. All activities of Global Project-Based Learning such as discussions, agendas, and many others were carried out virtually through Microsoft Teams and Zoom. “We hope this platform is sufficient enough to facilitate the participants’ discussion activities,” expressed Faiqoh, concerned.

According to Faiqoh, the GPBL this year raised the theme of “New Normal Requirements After COVID Pandemic”. This theme was chosen because there are so many strategies needed to be formed in the sector of urban and territorial planning that should be executed after this period. “I hope participants can work together and think critically to create creative solutions that can be realized in the future,” hoped Faiqoh.

Group photo of the Global Project-Based Learning participants on the first day 

Faiqoh described that this activity was participated by 21 ITS students from the Urban and Regional Planning Department together with 21 students from SIT. Later, participants will be divided into ten groups that have different project areas including airports, terminals, stations, and villages. “Ten ITS lecturers and three SIT lecturers served as supervisors who gave guidance for GPBL to run smoothly and comprehensively,” she informed.

Faiqoh continued that through this program, SIT students also gained experiences because they can exchange cultures virtually. Some of the activities include ITS Campus Tour, Learning Indonesian Language, and Indonesian Dance, as well as learning Indonesian beads. “We also introduced Tor-Tor and saman dances, as well as traditional glass beads as part of the Indonesian culture,” she elaborated. 

Faiqoh hoped that with GPBL, new innovations will be formed and formulated so that complex problems that occur in society can be answered systematically. “I hope that rising from the existing problems, creative solutions or designs can be strategized and can be implemented both locally and internationally,” she concluded. (meg/qin/ory)