In January 2025, eight students from The Business School at Edinburgh Napier University embarked on a two-week, fully funded field trip to Indonesia. Titled Sustainability Exploration: A Journey to Indonesia, the trip was designed to enhance students’ understanding of sustainability in an emerging market. They were accompanied by Dr. Kenny Crossan (Deputy Head of International) and Dr. Sibylle Ratz (SAL for Postgraduate Articulation). This initiative was funded by the Scottish Education Exchange Programme by the Scottish Government, and organised in partnership with BINUS University in Jakarta. The funding was secured by a team of Business School lecturers, including Professor Nathalia Tjandra (Associate Dean International), Sharyn Bennett (Head of the Global Mobility Team), and Dr Pauline Gordon (Deputy Head of International).
The students, selected through a competitive process, came from diverse academic backgrounds, spanning undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD levels. Their disciplines included Marketing, Digital Media, International Business, Law, and Tourism Management, among others. The trip aimed to provide them with an immersive learning experience focused on sustainability, cultural exchange, and global environmental and sociel challenges.
Departing from Edinburgh on 10th January, the group spent their time in Jakarta and Bandung. Their itinerary included industry visits, workshops, and cultural excursions, with a strong emphasis on sustainability practices. They explored how Indonesian organizations integrate environmental conservation with business operations and learned how traditional knowledge is combined with modern innovations to tackle ecological challenges.
Throughout the trip, students had the opportunity to interact with various national and international organizations that focus on sustainability and social impact, including:
- PT DuaPuluhTiga – A sustainable fashion retailer
- Waste4Change – A waste management company
- UNICEF Indonesia – Supporting children’s rights and welfare
- Wahana Visi Indonesia – A humanitarian organization
- PT Pertamina – Indonesia’s state-owned oil and gas corporation
-
Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) – Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency. View the visit video here.
Additionally, the group visited the British Council office in Jakarta, where they engaged with representatives from the British Council and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to understand their work in Indonesia.
This field trip provided students with firsthand exposure to innovative sustainability practices, enhancing their problem-solving skills and understanding of global environmental challenges. By observing sustainability efforts in a developing economy, they gained valuable insights into the interconnectedness of local and global sustainability issues.
The initiative proved to be a successful learning experience, broadening students’ perspectives on sustainability and international collaboration.
