Author name: Elifele Frederick

Between the 6th and 25th of January 2025, Universitas Ciputra partnered with O.P JINDAL Global University to invite 22 students and two supervisors to Indonesia. Committee members from Universitas Ciputra accompanied the participants of this program on their journey to create business ideas as they explored entrepreneurship, Indonesian business, and went on trips to various places in order to find their inspiration. The first week of the program focused on opening the event in the participants’ and hosts’ honor, as well as community service activities. This included a traditional performance that showcased Indonesian culture, team-building games that broke the ice, a visit to the bazaar held by Entrepreneurial Venture Execution (EVE) students in Corepreneur, and an overall campus tour that showed them Universitas Ciputra’s facilities. The real business began with some fun activities, such as community service through learning how to produce Bolen and Es Kopyor, as well as playing board games and learning about Bahasa Indonesia. In order to benefit their business ideation, they were also provided the opportunity to shop for Rp100,000 worth of materials through UC Walk and Hokky to construct product prototypes. The participants also attended some presentation classes that sharpened their audience engagement and exposition skills. Following that, they sat in with an Entrepreneurial Innovation for Sustainability (EIS) class that brought them some more knowledge about Indonesian business culture. The week ended with some performance workshops where the participants learned about Javanese music and language, while they themselves got to share about Indian performance culture. The second week of the program focused almost entirely on company visits and the polishing of the participants’ business pitching presentations that they would finalize on the third week. It opened with seminars that introduced them to the idea of an ‘entrepreneurial mindset’ and taught them how to bring their business ideas to reality, whether that was through spotting business opportunities or through the process of business validation.  Along the same lines, the participants proceeded to visit many companies over the course of the week so that they could gather business experience directly in the field. They were taken on a tour of many diverse corporate centers, such as PT Amerta Indah Otsuka’s Pocari Sweat factory, BUMDes Sewu Barokah’s industrial center for the production of smoked fish, and PT Indospring Tbk’s production center for automotive and industrial springs. The third and final week of the program was conclusive, focusing on realizing the efforts of the participants through presentations and enjoying the fruits of their labor. It began with the participants pitching their business ideas in teams, which would be evaluated by a panel of judges. This evaluation included a Q&A session, so that each team could be probed on their thoroughness, and a feedback session, to foster future improvements in their business ideation. As a leisurely form of cultural immersion, the participants proceeded to visit Pujon, where they could relax as they experienced the mountainous terrain, the ecology of Indonesia, and the design of Batik. The next day, they returned to Universitas Ciputra to immerse themselves in cultural workshops that once again showcased both Indian and Indonesian performance culture, to understand the importance of entertainment both at home and overseas. The latter half of the final week encapsulated a trip to Mount Bromo to see the sunrise there and explore the Bromo Sand Sea. For the participants, it was an opportunity to relax and make some memories before they made their way back home. But before the event truly concluded, the participants were taken to a souvenir shop so that they could buy some memorabilia commemorating their study tour. This was followed by a closing ceremony, where the committee and hosts from Universitas Ciputra had the opportunity to thank the JINDAL students for their participation. An awarding ceremony was held, where both individuals and teams had the opportunities to earn certificates.

As the Universitas Ciputra International Community’s 2024/2025 term comes to an end, we look back on a golden age of achievements and accolades that have both expanded the scope of our responsibilities to something never seen before, and shown us the true potential that the international community has to bring success to Universitas Ciputra through its members, events, collaborations, and more. As such, it would be prudent to recap everything that the international community has played host to and participated in throughout this term.   The term for UCIC’s 2024/2025 heads of department and coordinators was decided between March and June of 2024, culminating in the selection of a roster of leaders that would be able to pave the way for UCIC’s (at the time) new generation. Following that, open registration for new members began in September of the same year. Recruitment efforts would extend from Instagram posts to participating in Ormawa Fest.   In October, UCIC’s 2024/2025 term held its first full-roster event in the form of an inauguration ceremony at Poenya Nyonya Anina, welcoming and celebrating its new members’ success in being chosen to join the committee. Former heads of department and coordinators also came to wish the new committee luck in its duties and all the exciting experiences that would arrive for them throughout their term.   To begin on the body of our recap, UCIC’s activities can be mainly divided into three categories: webinars and seminars, event collaborations, and international programs. Each one holds unique significance and importance to UCIC’s role in bringing international opportunities to UC students alongside the Networking and Partnership (NNP) department.   Throughout the term, both UCIC’s communication and partnership (CNP) and information technology (IT) divisions would collaborate to facilitate the smooth running of webinars and seminars, which often took the form of “UCIC talks” from UCIC itself, or “global chats” and “global talks” by NNP that UCIC often assisted with. The speakers at these conferences included IISMA awardees such as Victoria Janae Supit and Sabrina Marchella, and promoters from other universities such as the University of Otago and University of California, San Diego. They brought crucial information on student exchange programs and international opportunities to the spotlight, particularly for UC students looking to jump abroad.   More in October, UCIC collaborated with the Marketing and Admission (MNA) department to bring its members to a host of university exhibitions at schools all around Surabaya, to assist in promoting UC itself. These included Sekolah Ciputra, Cita Hati West, and Cita Hati East, where UCIC would participate in events such as the Future Awaits Festival. To facilitate a better understanding of other internationalism-based student organizations, UCIC also collaborated with the international office of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) to perform a benchmarking.   Other events that UCIC collaborated on include those conceived by other student organizations at UC. These include the IBM-RC x SUSS Winter Camp 2024 and Acculturate Festival in December, where UCIC provided masters of ceremony from CNP and media assistance from MPD to the International Business Management Student Union (IBM-SU). In May 2025, UCIC also assisted the Conference on Future Food, Entrepreneurship, and Estate (CoFFEE) 2025, directed by the Food Technology Program Student Union (FTP-SU), by providing masters of ceremony, liaison officers, and media crew.   However, UCIC’s primary responsibility as an organization is providing personnel to assist NNP with the arrival of students from abroad, typically through international programs. While this personnel may come from UCIC itself, it may also be in the form of student buddies – UCIC students chosen to assist and socialize with foreign students throughout their time in Surabaya. For this reason, UCIC hosted a student buddy training session in November 2024.    During the 2024/2025 term, UCIC assisted four international programs: Darmasiswa ProgramUCIC would accompany four students enrolling at UC through the Darmasiswa Program, inviting them to dine together at Kamikamu and inquiring to them about their experience far from home in Indonesia.  UC x JINDAL – Short Term Study Abroad ProgramThroughout a period of three weeks, UCIC and its student buddies assisted with the arrival of students from India’s JINDAL O.P. University to Surabaya, accompanying them in exploring various areas of the city and culminating in a business ideation contest that acted as a backdrop to their time in Indonesia. UC x UTM: Colors of Culture, Uniting Creativity and HeritageIn collaboration with UC’s Visual Communication Design (VCD) major, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia students participated in a program known as Colors of Culture, where they would paint a mural in Surabaya’s historic Old Town. UCIC assisted by providing event planners, masters of ceremony, liaison officers, and student buddies that would accompany the Malaysian students on their mural-painting, city-touring adventure.  UC x Ngee Ann Polytechnic: Southeast Asia Immersion Leadership (SAIL) ProgramIn collaboration with UC’s VCD, IBM, and FTP majors, Ngee Ann Polytechnic students would participate in the SAIL program to learn about and ideate on sustainable food waste solutions. UCIC assisted by providing event planners, translators, and liaison officers to guide the Singaporean students throughout their experience.   Unlike in previous terms, UCIC had a flagship event of its own in February 2025: PRISM, or Pathways Reaching Internationalism. It was an educational fair held in UC Plaza involving UC’s partner universities; an opportunity for them to promote their international programs to both UC undergraduates and high school students with an accompaniment of rich FnB tenants and revealing, entertaining talk shows about flying abroad for education. It was capped off by the final webinar featuring Kezia Kevina Harmoko and Gabriella Connie Cecilia, hosted online due to weather-related issues on the day-of.   To conclude, while UCIC still has much room to grow, the 2024/2025 term committee has successfully made the international community a successful fixture of UC’s most driven students. While we should celebrate its achievements and body of work, they will lend the next generation with tall expectations to live up to. Yet, they will also leave a legacy that will guide the next generation on

Between the 20th and 21st of February 2025, the Universitas Ciputra International Community (UCIC), in collaboration with UC’s Networking and Partnership (NNP) department, held an event known as PRISM (Pathways Reaching Internationalism) at Universitas Ciputra Plaza.    PRISM was a fusion of an educational fair and a bazaar, focusing on providing high schoolers and UC students the chance to explore international opportunities, study without borders, and learn about their future abroad, especially through visiting booths, listening to talkshows, and consultations with experts. PRISM also played host to FnB tenants that offered fantastic food and a quest that provided International Office KP.   PRISM involved UC’s university partners, including Singapore Management University (SMU), Institut Français Indonesia (IFI), the University of Liverpool, Monash University, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and Study in UK (SI-UK). Each one offered unique programs and opportunities for students looking to study abroad, particularly for those willing to ask questions at each partner’s booth.   PRISM also hosted internal institutions that could play crucial roles in helping students go international. These included UC’s Language and Culture Center (LCC), Networking and Partnership (NNP), and Career Alumni Development (CAD), Student Affairs (SA), and Marketing and Admission (MNA) departments, all of which offered different services and aid for students looking to go abroad.   PRISM’s roster of tenants was completed by services such as Fortrust Surabaya, an international study consultant, and Jobstreet, a career development service. In order to reinforce the theme of internationalism and to keep the students occupied, PRISM also played host to FnB tenants that offered a variety of foods based on cross-country cuisine, topped off by amazing performances by UKM Resonance and Abstract. Near the exit, students were also offered a photobooth facilitated by UCIC itself.   The first day of PRISM opened with speeches from UCIC’s president and a representative from Networking and Partnership, commemorating the event’s launch. Throughout the day, the MCs invited various tenants to deliver pitching sessions, so that the attendees could better understand what services each tenant had to offer. However, the main event was a talkshow featuring Mr. Atanasius Waluyohadi from UC CAD, Ms. Amalia Nirwana from Jobstreet, and Mr. Wahyudi from Fortrust Surabaya called “Study vs Work Abroad, which one is the right path for you?” that taught attendees about the pros and cons of overseas careers.   The second day of PRISM housed more pitching sessions, each tenant describing their offerings on stage while the MCs chit-chatted and decorated the day’s proceedings. The second main talkshow was titled “The impact of studying abroad on personal growth”, and it featured Ms. Suryani Halim, a former head of UC NNP. Unfortunately, while there was a third talkshow scheduled, poor weather conditions forced PRISM to wrap up early for the day.    In spite of the challenges, PRISM 2025 successfully provided a platform for students to explore international opportunities, connect with university partners, and gain valuable insights into studying and working abroad. With the combined efforts of UC, UCIC, and various esteemed institutions, PRISM not only expanded students’ global perspectives but also strengthened Universitas Ciputra’s commitment to fostering internationalism. As PRISM concludes, it leaves students better equipped to go global.

Between the 16th and 23rd of March 2025, Universitas Ciputra Surabaya partnered with Ngee Ann Polytechnic Singapore to produce the Southeast Asia Immersion Leadership Programme (SAIL), with the theme “Pioneering Sustainable Solutions for Urban Challenges in Southeast Asia”. Universitas Ciputra International Community (UCIC) provided committee members to oversee and supervise the program’s events and proceedings, aided by Universitas Ciputra’s Networking and Partnership department (UC NNP).   The program’s main purpose was to facilitate an innovative and solutive collaboration between students from Universitas Ciputra’s Food Technology Program (FTP), International Business Management (IBM), and Visual Communication Design (VCD) majors with students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Together, they cooperated and workshopped green solutions for food waste management in major cities such as Surabaya, elevating their leadership and problem-solving skills for the future.   The students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic arrived in Surabaya on March 16th to stay at Hotel Whiz, but it wasn’t until the 17th that their activities would truly kick off with a field trip to both Hokky Supermarket in Citraland and Pasar Modern at Puncak Permai. At both locales, they observed the food products and learned about how both Hokky and Pasar Modern currently managed their food waste.   Once they were done, they traveled to Universitas Ciputra for a proper introduction to the program. UC hosted a welcome lunch for them, and it was an opportunity for them to both celebrate their safe arrival in Surabaya and for the committee to thank them for their participation in SAIL. To cap off the day, they participated in a lengthy workshop and team discussion regarding Hackathon and networking before returning to their accommodations.   By comparison, Tuesday was relatively light, and it was mostly a day to gather knowledge and form a basis for the innovations that the UC and Ngee Ann students would be collaborating on together. It began with a SAIL spotlight “fireside chat”, where various experts on food waste, such as a representative from Ecoton, and a professor from FTP, had the opportunity to share about their food waste experience with the Ngee Ann students. This was followed by a discussion on food waste problem statements at UC to finally kick off the students’ ideation on their respective sustainable solutions.   The third day was quite exploratory, as the UC and Ngee Ann students were instructed to gather community feedback regarding food waste from different communities throughout Citraland. Once they returned to UC and had their lunch, they attended a prototyping workshop for their food waste solutions, ideating further and with more context utilizing the feedback they had just gathered. For the common people, sustainability often seems distant and futuristic, and this was a way for the food waste solutions to remain grounded firmly in the concerns of everyday citizens.   The fourth day was highly informative for the students, providing them some perspective on the sustainable food waste solutions that exist currently. Both the UC and Ngee Ann students went on a field trip to the Benowo Landfill (TPA), managed by PT Sumber Organik as the first private waste-to-energy service in Surabaya. Speakers guided them through a tour of the landfill and explained the gassification systems, methane collection mechanisms, and more. It would all be helpful knowledge once the students returned to UC to further iterate on their own food waste solutions, capping off the day.    On Friday, the Ngee Ann students finally presented their food waste solutions in the form of a poster made up of marker art and sticky notes. A panel of judges evaluated the realism and feasibility of each solution, particularly with attention to current market conditions and policy. Of course, the competition was tense. To cool off afterwards, the Ngee Ann students recreationally collaborated with UC’s Culinary Business major to produce ta’jil in the form of banana soup, or kore. They distributed the banana soup amongst themselves, the committee members, and near the Citraland mosque to celebrate the upcoming Eid Mubarak in a show of religious solidarity between Singaporean culture and Indonesian tradition.   On the Ngee Ann students’ final day in Surabaya, they participated in another host of recreational activities. They began in the morning with a batik workshop, where they made their own patterns freely to immerse themselves even deeper in Indonesia’s roots and identity. They also attended a coffee-tasting session–in collaboration with Expat Roasters–so they could better appreciate a cup of joe. Finally, so that their program could go out with a fun bang, the Ngee Ann students went on a city tour: first to the Surabaya Submarine Monument (Monkasel) and then all across the historic Old Town (Kota Lama) to observe the colonial history of Indonesia through the lens of long-abandoned technology and antiquated Dutch architecture.   On Sunday, the Singaporeans flew back to their home, saying goodbye to their colorful week in Surabaya. Their experiences here, immersed in both visions of a greener Earth and a more beautiful Indonesia, has surely taught them to be innovators and visionaries that will stir the world in the future. We hope that they return to Singapore not just with stories, but ideas that will one day grow into genuine sustainable revolutions.

Between the 14th and 22nd of February 2025, Universitas Ciputra partnered with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to realize the Colors of Culture, Uniting Creativity and Heritage program. Committee members from Universitas Ciputra International Community (UCIC) and students from Universitas Ciputra’s Visual Communication Design (VCD) major accompanied the Malaysian students on their trip to Indonesia. Throughout the experience, they had the opportunity to learn about Indonesian tradition, creativity, and artistic expression through painting a mural in the Old Town (Kota Lama) and exploring the wonders, both large and miniature, of the city of Surabaya.   Before the trip started proper, the UTM students attended an online session over Zoom on February 14th. They were introduced to the places they’d be exploring and the activities they’d be partaking in throughout their stay in Surabaya, involving UCIC, students and faculty from VCD, and UC’s Networking and Partnership (UC NNP) department. It was an opportunity for them to observe just a glance of what they’d be tasting in Indonesia, given that for many of them, it was their first time visiting the archipelago.   February 17th marked the first day of activities for the UTM students, and they began with a visit to UC’s grounds. They attended a brief introduction session to the program and a grand welcome lunch to celebrate their safe arrival in Surabaya. This was followed by a cluster of sessions hosted by VCD, including an information session about the mural they’d be painting in the Old Town, and a painting workshop in collaboration with Good Job Project. The first day ended with preparations for the mural proper, before the UTM students returned to their stay at the Arcadia Hotel.   On their second day, the UTM and VCD students finally arrived at the mural site in the Old Town. They held a short briefing before beginning their extensive artistic work until the early evening. The mural featured cultural icons and traditional landmarks from both Indonesia and Malaysia, representing the two nations’ close bond in a tapestry that celebrates their distinctions, commonalities, and strong camaraderie. To rest at the end, the UTM students proceeded to visit Zangrandi Ice Cream to enjoy dessert, followed by Alun-Alun Surabaya to experience more of Indonesia’s spirit. The day ended with a ride on the river at Kalimas Boat Tour, where they could admire the nighttime fairy lights of the city and the towering silhouette of Surabaya’s downtown.    Their third day began, once again, with diligent work on the mural–from the morning hours to the afternoon–between both VCD and UTM. The mural was finished early, and so the UTM students celebrated with a subsequent tour of the ancient De Javasche Bank, where they learned about obsolete Indonesian currencies and finance from the Dutch and Japanese colonial eras. The day was capped off with free time for the UTM students to roam around Pakuwon City Mall, where they were encouraged to visit the bazaar anticipating the release of the new Kung Fu Panda movie featuring treats, exciting premieres, and a colorful cast of tenants.    The fourth day consisted entirely of an exploratory tour across Surabaya. It began with a visit to Monkasel (Monumen Kapal Selam), or the Surabaya submarine monument, where the UTM students were able to explore its innards and marvel at the colonial era technology contained within. This was followed by a wild scavenger hunt across Tunjungan Street, where they were given an opportunity to explore the myriad stores and dining options there, showing off Surabaya’s bustling commerce and rich selection of shops. To end the day, they visited the popular Surabaya Kriya Gallery where a plethora of souvenirs were available for purchase.   On the fifth and final day, the UTM and VCD students came to visit the mural site once more, this time to attend the closing of the Colors of Culture program. They also provided testimonials about the experience, reflecting on their past week in Indonesia and the various ways it has changed them. When the ceremonies concluded, the UTM students proceeded to return to Universitas Ciputra and play traditional Indonesian games together, such as “Dakon” and “Ketapel to a bottle” before visiting UCIC’s flagship event, the PRISM edufair (Pathways Reaching Internationalism). As a final send-off, the program finished with a stop at Bu Rudy, where the UTM students bought souvenirs to bring back to Malaysia to commemorate their time here.   The Colors of Culture program came to a close, leaving behind more than just artwork—it left memories, friendships, and a meaningful cultural exchange between UTM and Universitas Ciputra. From painting the mural in the historic Old Town to sharing traditional games and local desserts, the week was a celebration of uniting creativity and heritage, just as the program was meant to do. As the students return to Malaysia, they take with them experiences that tell a story of both the warmth and uniqueness of the Indonesian people and Universitas Ciputra.

Between the 9th of December and the 14th of December 2024, Universitas Ciputra’s International Business Management Student Union (IBM-SU) and Acculturate Festival committee collaborated to host a weeklong winter camp for international students visiting Indonesia from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). UCIC was asked to help with this event due to our experience handling international programs. On the 9th of December, the students arrived at Universitas Ciputra at roughly noon. They were given a short break before being taken on an hour long campus tour. During the campus tour, the SUSS students explored different floors of both the UC Tower and the UC Main Building, and guides from UCIC explained to them UC’s different facilities and their purposes. The SUSS students were then led to the UC Main Building, where they took a short break. Afterwards, they proceeded to the tech space to the winter camp’s opening ceremony, emceed by members of UCIC. The opening ceremony included a dance and acoustic guitar performance, as well as welcoming speeches from UC’s faculty and a game session where they were provided the opportunity to bond with one another. UCIC then proceeded to guide the students again on the Saturday city tour, which spanned from the early morning to the evening, and comprised the better part of their winter camp’s final day. The SUSS students visited Syrup Siropen Telasih, a traditional syrup factory, and Kantor Pos Besar, where Soekarno himself obtained his education. They were able to admire the historicity and age of these places. At the end of their tour, they were given the opportunity to freely roam Pakuwon Mall, whether to eat, or shop, or experience more of Indonesia’s culture. They then returned to UC and took a short break before attending the closing ceremony, which was once again in the UC Main Building. UCIC provided two emcees once more for this closing, which involved thank you speeches from the committee and faculty, an awarding ceremony for the SUSS students’ team photos, and a nostalgic recap video prepared by the committee’s media team to thank them for their time here.  Afterwards, the SUSS students were invited to see the colossal drama known as Sepanjang Road to Memory in UC’s Dian Auditorium, a part of UC’s Acculturate Festival prepared by students from UC’s Creative Live Indoor Performance class, students from Sekolah Citra Berkat, and dancers from Kampung Bakat, sponsored by many prestigious companies. UCIC also provided emcees for this drama, which marked the end of the SUSS students’ experience in Indonesia.  Overall, it was an unforgettable event that the SUSS students will make many memories from, and we hope that they appreciated the time they spent with the IBM-SU, the Acculturate Festival committee, and UCIC exploring East Java and Indonesia.