A few days ago, I had the opportunity to visit the National University of Singapore] (NUS) campus as part of the Green Initiative Project, in collaboration with the Faculty of Digital Communication and Hotel Tourism, Faculty of Engineering, Binus International, and Binus Global. Over four days, we explored the NUS campus and learned about various initiatives the university is undertaking to address the climate crisis and create a sustainable campus.

 

Our first visit was to the NUS School of Design and Engineering, where we met Prof. Wong Nyuk Hien. He discussed how the NUS campus is designed to be sustainable. One aspect that caught our attention was the use of a Hybrid Cooling System, which combines fans, air conditioners, and a Smart Ventilation System to create a cool environment that is also energy efficient.

After meeting Prof. Wong Nyuk Hien, we toured the NUS School of Design and Engineering campus with Prof. Johannes Widodo. We observed how the campus is well-designed and sustainable, supported by various facilities such as separated waste disposal, water dispensers, and solar panels, which are claimed to supply daily electricity needs. One intriguing feature was the invisible lifts. The lifts are deliberately hidden and designed to be slow, encouraging students to use the stairs, and promoting a green lifestyle.

Next, we met Mr. Marcel Ignatius Ph.D., who shared the BEAM project, a collaborative initiative between students and faculty at the NUS School of Design and Engineering. The project aims to create a cooler campus environment, considering factors such as paint usage, tree placement, building orientation, and other aspects. This meeting highlighted the importance of data in achieving sustainable living through a Scientific Data Approach.

We also met with Dr. Terrance Tan CL, who discussed Urban Greenery Research and Education at NUS. Dr. Terrance demonstrated how research influences the impact of sustainable actions. He also presented findings showing that people experience less stress when they are close to nature compared to those who are not.

Following this, we met Mrs. Amy Ho, Director of Campus Sustainability and Resilience at NUS. Mrs. Amy Ho shared NUS’s strategies for creating a sustainable campus and the various achievements the university has made, demonstrating NUS’s commitment to sustainability. You can also learn more at sustainability.nus.edu.sg.

We had the opportunity to meet with representatives from Bank Indonesia in Singapore. We discussed various topics, including the significant impact of SMEs on the national economy, the role of Bank Indonesia in promoting SMEs abroad, maintaining the rupiah exchange rate, and the Green circular Economy in Indonesia. This was a valuable opportunity for us to see Bank Indonesia’s role on the international stage.

Finally, we visited the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, where we met Ms. Dini Sandys. We discussed the importance of public policy in green initiatives and the role of LKY SPP in providing critical research directly impacting political governance. Our visit to Singapore provided us with valuable lessons. It became clear that implementing a green initiative requires collaborative actions across various sectors to achieve the best sustainable outcomes. We also saw how each aspect related to sustainability goals receives support from diverse parties, enabling these actions to be realized. Additionally, we
observed the crucial role of data in planning sustainable actions, which is a vital part of achieving better resilience and sustainability