The Beyond Borders program fosters empathy, cross-cultural understanding, and global leadership through an immersive student exchange.
Over the past two weeks, 30 students from Singapore’s Raffles Institution embarked on an immersive journey at SIS KG North East Jakarta, participating in a program that brought cultures, ideas, and perspectives together. The Beyond Borders: Immersing Rafflesians in Indonesia for the Global Leadership program, a collaborative initiative between Raffles Institution (RI), SIS Group of Schools, and Generasi Edukator Indonesia (GenEd), marked a positive step in nurturing globally-minded future leaders.
The program followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier this year between Mr Jaspal Sidhu, Founder and Chairman of SIS Group of Schools, and Mr Aaron Loh, Principal of RI, which laid the foundation for ongoing student exchanges between the two nations.
During the 16-day journey, RI students explored Indonesia from multiple angles: cultural, historical, political, and social, living and learning alongside SIS students. Through workshops, cultural tours, and collaborative projects, students reflected on the similarities and differences between Singapore and Indonesia, developed empathy, and brainstormed initiatives that could benefit both countries.
Why Beyond Borders Matters:
● See the World Differently: Students gain firsthand insight into Indonesia’s culture, history, and society.
● Build Empathy: Comparing life as a Singaporean vs. an Indonesian fosters understanding and compassion.
● Create Impact: Students will design programs, products, or initiatives that could strengthen cross-border collaboration.
Guided by six RI staff and coordinated by GenEd’s Learning & Experience team, the program ensures every activity, from cultural tours to collaborative workshops, is seamless and transformative.
Mr Jaspal Sidhu, Founder and Chairman of SIS Group of Schools, said, “This partnership embodies our vision of nurturing globally-minded leaders. By immersing students in each other’ cultures, we aim to cultivate understanding, empathy, and collaboration that transcends borders.”
Mr Aaron Loh, Principal of RI, added, “Beyond Borders represents more than an exchange program. It is a deeply immersive regional experience — an opportunity for our students to gain firsthand perspectives on diverse cultures, allowing us to nurture students who are culturally sensitive and globally aware.”
The Beyond Borders program marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between RI and SIS Group of Schools, setting a new benchmark for student exchange programs in Southeast Asia.
About SIS Group of Schools
Founded by Singaporean Jaspal Sidhu in 1996, the SIS Group of Schools established its first campus in South Jakarta, Indonesia. Today, SIS Group operates sixteen schools, including SIS South Jakarta, SIS Pantai Indah Kapuk, SIS Kelapa Gading NEJ, SIS Cilegon, SIS Semarang, SIS Palembang, SIS Medan, SIS Surabaya, SIS Preschool Sedayu City, SIS Bandung, SIS West Jakarta, SIS BSD City as well as four international campuses in Korea Selatan, Myanmar, Mumbai, and Chennai India.
The SIS Group of Schools is uniquely positioned to offer three of the world’s best curricula: an adoption of the Singapore Curriculum for Preschool and Primary, Cambridge IGCSE for Secondary, and the IB Diploma Program or A-level for High School.
About Raffles Institution
Founded in 1823, Raffles Institution (RI) is a pre-tertiary institution that welcomes highly able students from diverse backgrounds. It provides students with a holistic education through its integrated six-year Raffles Program, which leads to the GCE A-Level certification for boys aged 13 to 18 and girls aged 17 to 18.
The Raffles Program lays a solid foundation for critical thinking, innovation, and character development. A comprehensive range of curricular and co-curricular programs develops students to use their talents and abilities to serve, and equips them with future-ready skills.
Alongside the school’s focus on embracing diverse strengths as a community, the Raffles Program provides students with agency over their own pathways. Students are nurtured to become learners, leaders and pioneers who are driven by purpose, dedicated to service, and who draw on their unique gifts for a flourishing human and natural world.
About GenEd
Since 2021, PT. Generasi Edukator Indonesia (GenEd) has been a registered Indonesian-based social enterprise focused on bridging the gap between business and education. GenEd strives to empower K–12 students with critical thinking skills and support educators with best practices to reinvent the way they teach.