SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC AND POLIBATAM TRANSNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE STUDENT PROJECT: INITIAL EXPLORATION

This paper describes the insights gained from a transnational learning collaboration of a capstone project between Singapore Polytechnic (SP), School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering (MAE) and Politeknik Negeri Batam, Indonesia or Polibatam (PB). It highlights the constraints and the benefits using framework outlined by Augouri (2023, p.9) for a deeper academic collaboration in an international setting. It emphasises the importance of cross-cultural sensitivities, transdisciplinary coordination and practical learning experiences in institute of higher learning, and how synergies could be forged in an international collaboration. Both institutions involved being members of the CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, and Operate) international network, therefore the CDIO Framework lends itself readily to facilitate such cross-border collaboration. The deployment of the CDIO framework and its relevance and the benefits in bringing about the learning outcomes needed to prepare graduates in an interconnected global working environment were discussed. 13 students comprise of 3 nationalities were grouped to observe their collaboration process, guided by faculties from SP and PB. The student teams from both countries aimed to use their domain knowledge to solve the problem faced by a household in a village in Batam, Indonesia.