How my exchange experience challenged and changed me

Learn more about exchange opportunities at our Business School Undergraduate Global Exchange Webinar at 11am on Tuesday 8th June, 2021. Register via Zoom.

Bachelor of Commerce student Martin Ang shares his insights into the challenges of exchange at Singapore Management University.

The opportunity of exchange is a chance to truly challenge yourself: another country with people you've never met and studying at a university that you've only read up on through Wikipedia. It is nerve-racking and exciting at the same time, but by the end of it, a truly rewarding experience.

My exchange experience was at Singapore Management University, which was located at Singapore's city centre. Food is plentiful, with hawker centres cooking up tasty home-cooked style street food, and there's always a bubble tea shop around the corner to quench your thirst. The country is full of attractions, ranging from the concrete jungle of Orchard Road, to the gorgeous Gardens by the Bay, and the Singapore Night Festival can give you a glimpse of why it's termed the city of lights.

The studying was quite full on. I was doing five subjects at the time. Classes were small, capped at about 35 students, in rooms not too much bigger than the tutorial rooms at the University of Sydney. It was different, and almost felt like I was back in high school. Professors would ask students questions on a routine basis and would remember names of students. Assignments were heavily focused on group tasks and presentations. Because of this you were meeting and discussing with a bunch of different people from around the world, understanding where they were from and how they also found themselves in Singapore. It was easy to get lost in conversation.

Getting accustomed to the study culture was a bit of a challenge, but a worthwhile one. Local students study hard and marks are scaled, making it competitive. So don't be surprised if at the end of a presentation, you see arms raised with students waiting to poke holes in the presentation you cooked up the night before.

The main thing that exchange gave me was a newfound confidence in myself: the knowledge that I could venture out in the world by myself without the familiarity of friends or family. I think this is the main takeaway from exchange. It may not revolutionise your career but it will change you as a person.

To students thinking of going on exchange, I say stay safe and embrace the experience - you won't regret it.

Written by Martin Ang (Bachelor of Commerce)

Learn more about exchange opportunities at our Business School Undergraduate Global Exchange Webinar at 11am on Tuesday 8th June, 2021. Register via Zoom.

Singapore – a nation connected by food, but are traditions being overrun by Western influence and rapid economic development?

Prior to departing Australia my knowledge of the Singapore cuisine was almost non-existent. I believed Singapore was filled with expatriates from numerous countries and as such thought that the food culture was one of insignificance.

How wrong I was! Over the past two weeks my initial perceptions of food proved to be extremely naive. I have been exposed to a country where food is the underpinning foundation of its identity and the plate is used to convey and express the intricacies of an extremely complex and unique history. The influences of the Malay, Chinese and Indian culture all seep through in their own right resulting in food with dynamic, vibrant and explosive flavours that I can now distinctly attribute to being Singaporean. Further, the citizens recognise how this combination of flavour and culture create something unique. Everyone we interacted with, from Jeremy, a tour guide to associate professor Siok spoke with an enormous amount of pride for their country and identified as ‘distinctly Singaporean’ opposed to Malay or Chinese. There was also a clear passion for Singaporean food culture, apparent through Raymond and his son David who have a catering business aiming to maintain the Peranakan food traditions.

However, the Western influence also seems to be growing, perhaps due to the rapid economic growth. This is most evident in the shopping scene as huge global brands dominate Orchard Road. However, Western culture also seems to be infiltrating the food scene. This can be seen through the emergence of food courts such as FOMO, where traditional practices are replaced for comfort and a modernised take on hawker markets.

Even when there is a deliberate effort to maintain heritage, gentrification is inevitable. Places such as ‘Awfully Chocolate’ pride their image on maintaining culture, however everything from the layout of the store to the style of their dishes is shaped by changing and contemporary consumer preferences. 

This led me to think, could the pace and speed at which the consumer operates be shaping a new face for Singapore food culture as we move forward into a new era, or will traditions stand the test of time?

I for one believe tradition and new, more modernised preferences and way of life can coexist. Whilst there is no doubt the landscape of food is changing, this does not have to be at the expense of traditions. Whilst on my trail in Bugis I came across a street that perfectly captured this changing landscape. A giant shopping mall was perfectly juxtaposed to a number of small family run bakeries and shops. Standing in-between a multinational coffee shop, in Starbucks that is primarily concerned with their bottom line and a small Chinese diner that was filled with culture, heritage and character it became clear that modernity and tradition could coexist. It seemed the sheer size and magnitude of the shopping centre and the corporate giants that inhabited its walls, could at any point consume and overrun these small, family run shops. Nonetheless, here the two sat, existing in perfect harmony with consumers seamlessly floating between the two. It was not a battle between two eras, one was not a threat to the other, they complemented each other and offered things the other couldn’t - creating a plethora of options for consumers and a food lover’s paradise.

A contrast between the old and the new sit side by side

The overwhelming support for hawker markets to be placed on UNESCO also makes it abundantly clear Singaporeans value the customs and backgrounds that have shaped the present. Hawker culture and the masses of people that eat there every day represent the pride Singaporeans hold for their heritage and shows how admits a global economic hub traditions and core values remain unchanged from yesteryear.   

Ultimately, regardless of the direction and the influences that shape the future of food in Singapore it is clear food will always play a crucial role within Singapore’s society. As heard through Faizah, food is a vehicle that is used to establish and build relationships and communities. From the early time when food was a currency and used as a bridge that connects cultures and religions, to the present, food has and always will be the glue that holds a diverse community together. 

I can also safely say thanks to the New Colombo Plan program (and Dr Jeaney Yip!), I will return home with greater perspective of different cultures. I have learnt so much through my time in this country and my view on the food culture in Singapore is almost the polar opposite of that when I arrived. I now understand the Singaporean identity is one built around food and have seen first hand how the food culture in Singapore is dynamic and constantly has global influences acting on it - evident through little pockets of every cuisine, ranging from Italian to Mexican scattered around the city.

Written by Harry Morrison
Bachelor of Commerce, Finance and Accounting

Katong & Joo Chiat Road: Rediscovering the Peranakans

The Peranakans are a small but extremely distinct community in Singapore, whose culture manifests a confluence of colonial and indigenous influences. Food is arguably the most significant legacy of the Peranakans, and continues to portray a distinct role in the preservation of cultural heritage. As part of the New Colombo Plan Immersion Program coordinated by Dr. Jeaney Yip, I embarked on an individual “trail” to learn more about this unique subculture. The eastern corner of the city-state is renowned for its rich and colourful colonial history, a key piece of Singapore’s transformation from a fishing port to the global commercial hub it is today.

My first destination was the Peranakan Museum. Nestled in the corner of Armenian Street, its neoclassical architecture is reminiscent of the Straits Settlement bungalows occupied by the earliest Peranakans in Katong during the 1950s. Despite its size, the exhibitions express volumes about the pride the community takes in its unique culture.

From the museum, I ventured further east towards Katong along East Coast Road. The bricolage of interacting colonial, modernising and nostalgic motifs translates to an extraordinary culinary setting that undermines the simple dichotomies often used to classify the dynamics of Singaporean cuisine, such as modern/traditional or local/global. Amid the juxtaposition of acai bowl cafes and traditional kopitiams, a sense of cohesion from the shared heritage architecture remains.

Juxtaposition of traditional shopfronts and hipster-style cafes on East Coast Road

Dotted among the vibrant mix of modern cafes, parlours and fusion restaurants, there are old-world kopitiams, earnest traditional shopfronts, boutiques and heritage homes to be found, insistent upon preserving an authentic space for Peranakan tradition. While some contribute to the oxymoron of “constructed authenticity”, Rumah Bebe is a heritage home that emulates much of the physical antiquity by which Peranakan culture is characterised; an ode to the traditional motifs pursued by elder generations who grew up in “old Singapore”.

Peranakan delicacies outside a shopfront on East Coast Road

Rumah Bebe Peranakan Heritage Home

Openly displayed, brightly-coloured delicacies are a token of the geographical influences that shaped Peranakan cuisine: a blend of tropical flavours including coconut, pandan (a fragrant banana leaf), and palm sugar. Because of the confluence of Malay and colonial heritage, Peranakan cuisine has observed many aspects of the Indigenous Malay cuisine and tailored it to foreign acquired tastes. The availability of ingredients at the time has led to a distinct local cuisine that uses glutinous rice and tropical fruits for most desserts, while an affinity for aesthetics has inspired the use of natural colour-dyes, such as the green pandan leaf and the blue-pea flower, to enhance the visual appeal of food.

Kueh Sarlat Cake and Kopi-C at Sinpopo Cafe. Blue-pea flower gives the cake its deep blue colour.

What struck me was how colourful and visually appealing the cultural artefacts were: the garments, the buildings, the food. At the time, I thought the aesthetics purely served as a marketing point to attract the newfangled youth; however, upon reflection I now realise that it is this very aspect of culture that is important to the Peranakans, one that has remained relevant and perpetuated over time.

Vibrant fusion decor along the shopfronts on East Coast Road

Underpinning the mosaic of bustle and vibrancy is an underlying paradox relating to the preservation of cultural heritage through food. I was interested in the way that people elected the aspects of culture they wished to preserve and capitalise upon, manifesting a tension between entrepreneurial spirit and a penchant for nostalgia. Within vibrant facades of European pre-war architecture, vendors appear to self-reflexively project their heritage. Establishments serve foods bearing little resemblance to Peranakan culture and a much greater relevance to that which people are interested in consuming in the moment, all the while championing “true local Peranakan cuisine” in their shopfronts, legitimising and commodifying the culture for tourists. The eateries themselves embody a paradox of conflicting objectives and projects. For example, Sinpopo, a modern café style eatery on Joo Chiat Road, claims on the first page of its menu that it is “not just some hipster café”, despite its media reputation for being exactly that, (as part of its appeal). In a similar vein, fusion restaurants attempt to emulate traditional dishes by tailoring their preparation to the physical and time constraints of modern day dining, eroding traditional methods in the process to remain relevant in a commercial context.

Curiously, in the world of commerce, recognition of culture as impartial to major global business issues is an issue that is constantly overlooked. In an increasingly globalised world, it is becoming more important than ever to understand the nuances of cultural identity and how these impact social and commercial behaviours. The New Colombo Plan Singapore Immersion Program offers an opportunity to bridge these perceived gaps, develop invaluable skills, network and gain humbling insights about business at least and people and the world at most. A special thanks to Dr. Jeaney Yip for coordinating the program; a vivid, deeply rewarding and truly enlightening experience.

Written by Sabrina Zeng 
Bachelor of Commerce and Arts
Majoring in Business Information Systems, Management & Anthropology

How Singapore's food reflects its changing identity

“While the bazaar atmosphere of Bugis Street continues today, the night bazaars of the 1950s to 1980s along the area dazzled in a different way.”

This quote by The National Heritage Board is an elegantly phrased reflection of Bugis’ colourful past; a past which gained international recognition in the 50s for its nightly cabaret shows performed by the transvestite community. A history starkly dichotomous to the nation's usual state rhetoric.

Due to this, it is one which is somewhat white-washed following its revamp in the 80s, with the only remaining indicator being the name itself. The name refers to the seafaring people of Sulawesi who settled in Singapore, pioneering it to become the regional trading hub that it is today. The Bugis people, originally Hindus, were converted with the arrival of Muslim missionaries, with the majority of today’s community embedded within the Malay culture.

Bugis and Capital Mall

Upon exiting the Bugis MRT and scurrying through the bustling grind of Victoria Street, I noticed there existed little to no resemblance of this colourful past. Without prior knowledge, I would have been completely unaware as to the cultural and historical significance of this neighbourhood. The area simply reflected to me a meticulously cultivated modern metropolis. Such insights have helped grow my business acumen, teaching me to look beyond surface level factors and consider other deeper contextual and cultural factors.

Since my arrival in Singapore, it was constantly reiterated that an individual's food choices often reflect their ethnicity, their felt ethnicity or more broadly their identity. This idea became increasingly apparent during my observations. My initial impressions of Victoria Street were that it was littered with food chains and exuded consumerism.

However, when exploring deeper it became apparent to me that the food available was unrepresentative of the Malay culture or any one distinct culture. It housed a diverse range, from Popeyes to Garibaldi’s Italian Restaurant to even contemporary Australian food. The food available to me diverted from this traditional standpoint and, in my opinion, represents the shifting landscape and demographic of Singapore and Bugis. This heritage precinct, now deeply infused with art, culture and fusion food, alludes to the growth and ever-changing global identity of both Singapore and its citizens.

Artichoke Cafe and Bar

Having borne these pre-conceptions, I was expecting to see extensive evidence of traditional Malay culture within the area. These pre-conceptions of traditionalism were heavily contradicted early on, most prominently when I ventured to Artichoke Café & Bar. The walls were coated with posters, LED lights grabbed my attention and the blaring sound of 90’s hip hop filled the al fresco dining area. I was astounded by the atmosphere, housing that of a younger working demographic. It whole-heartedly encapsulated the shifting landscape, oozing this idea of modernity.

As best epitomised by the chef himself, Bjorn Shen, “Artichoke is probably the least authentic restaurant around. And that's exactly how it should be.” The menu accommodated items such as "Squid ink couscous" and "Lambgasm". Initially, I stood there simply perplexed, prompting a state of reflection about my initial preconceptions.

It resonated with me that the premise of the restaurant was not to divert away from these traditional identities and cultures, but to simply try encapsulating a more relevant "Singaporean identity". The food available infused and drew inspiration from traditional flavours, adding a modern twist and scenery more suited to the shifting identity. As a Business Information Systems major who examines systems and proposes improvements to adapt to current circumstances, it’s been fascinating to see this in practice in relation to the adaption of cultures and identities.

Moving further into the Bugis and Bras Basah area, this idea only became more apparent when visiting Chijmes, an Anglo-French Gothic chapel refurbished for dining and entertainment purposes. I stood there astounded at the ornately constructed masterpiece, which stands in stark contrast to the central business district in which it resides. Now home to 23 restaurants and cafes, to me, like Artichoke, it has attempted to shape a modern identity for the precinct. It has conserved this traditional element through its distinct architecture and infused a modern appeal through its diverse food offerings: an attempt to maintain the old rustic charm of Singapore, yet convey a modern ambience.

Chijmes

The subsequent growth of Singapore has prompted this gradual shift in identities away from the distinct Chinese Malay Indian Others (CMIO) ethnicity model. The emergence of fusion food has helped cultivate and illustrate this shift, one which is strongly apparent within the Bugis and Bras Basah communities.

If you had asked me at the beginning of the trip about Bugis, I would have neglectfully answered that it was on the downtown line, a few stops from Stevens. However, upon engaging on the trail and the Singapore Immersion Program, it’s reshaped my understanding of the role food plays in terms of articulating one’s identity. The shifting role food plays in society illuminates the idea that no one’s identity is of a static nature. The program has further taught me to challenge my predispositions and question everything.

Overall this has been truly a tremendous experience. I’d personally like to thank the Department of Foreign Affairs’ New Colombo Plan for providing the funding and support for this program. I’d further like to thank our unit coordinator Dr Jeaney Yip for the effort she put into planning the program and ensuring we had both an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.

Written by Samuel Carroll
Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies)
Majoring in Finance and Business Information Systems

Cultural Immersion Through Food in Singapore

“You don’t truly learn in a classroom. You learn when you go out into the real world and experience life in its truest form.”

This was one of the biggest takeaways during my time on the Singapore Immersion Program.

Presenting to KFC Asia

Before we get into the nitty-gritty stuff, let’s rewind to a year ago. I was a first-year student who was eager and enthusiastic about the different opportunities the university had to offer. It was Information Day and I was in a lecture theatre where student ambassadors were boasting about their experiences on exchange programs and study tours. While I was intrigued by the prospect to learn in another country, I would cringe whenever that one same phrase was repeated, time and time again…

“I’m not going to be one of them,” I said to myself…lo and behold, look at me now!

But it’s true. A textbook, a lecture and a tutorial can only teach you so much.

So, when I saw the little advertisement going around about a 2-week program in Singapore, I literally jumped at the opportunity. Not only did I see this as a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me to develop my researching skills, I also saw it as a means for me to investigate for myself whether or not this was really true!

3D model of Singapore

What is the Singapore Immersion Program? 

It’s a two-week cultural immersion program where students are asked to put their researcher hats on. Through individual- or group-based investigations and projects conducted in-country, we were able to understand and analyse an important demographic trend that significantly impacted Singaporean businesses, societies and markets.

Luckily for me, the theme this year was “food”. Now, you might be asking yourself, why did she say “luckily”? Well, I am a major, proud and passionate foodie. I actively go about consuming different types of food around Sydney and, of course, I take too many aesthetically-pleasing food photos for the gram!

Food photography taken from Ampang Kitchen and Bumbu Restaurant (Instagram: @libbi.le)

But, after reading the advertisement of the program I realised that I was completely unaware of the other aspects of food. So, one of the main reasons why I signed up for this was that I hoped it would allow me to go beyond a superficial understanding of food. For example, I wanted to uncover why specific people, like myself, develop such a growing appetite and appreciation for food – especially in terms of how it connects to identity and culture.

Surprise, surprise! I found that the compulsory individual research project was the best way for me to do this! Specifically, students were asked to write a report evaluating how food impacts different stakeholders – businesses, societies and/or markets. While I explored how culturally significant and embedded food is to the lives of the everyday Singaporean, other students researched topics such as food security, waste, sustainability and perceptions.

Contrary to this, the group presentation was a different story. Here, we entered the corporate world and gained insights into how food is marketed and advertised to its consumers.  In particular we were given the amazing opportunity to develop a marketing campaign for the one and only KFC Asia. As a marketing student, I was acclimated to creating creative projects for businesses. But instead of leaving the campaign to the side to collect layers of dust, from this experience I was able to polish up my presentation skills and finally get a real-life test run pitching and gaining valuable feedback from an actual company.

Why you should apply

Experiencing Singapore to its fullest

The first would probably be how diverse the activities scheduled in the itinerary were. Thanks to Dr. Jeaney Yip for creating such an extensive program, other than eating a lot of food, we were able to experience Singapore to its fullest. From visiting an urban farm, artisanal soy sauce maker, a brewery, Fishery port; having classes at the National University of Singapore; participating in volunteer work for Foodbank to having real conversations to business owners, locals and food specialists, I was able to experience every facet of the value chain that “food” is involved in within a food-hungry country like Singapore.

All of the experiences we were offered, from visiting an urban farm, learning how to pull and make Teh Tarik and volunteering

Getting out of my Comfort Zone

Not only did I learn more about food, but I was also put to the test.

First, I want you all to imagine a 21-year-old university student, who schedules everything to a T and would only become an extroverted human being when it is absolutely necessary. So, it’s kind of obvious right? This particular program definitely took me out of my comfort zone.

Since we had something to do nearly every day of the trip, the program really put my organisation skills to the test! I had to juggle the day-time activities, completing assessments and fitting in as many touristy bits during my free-time simultaneously.  While it felt intense, this program has definitely advanced my ability to maintain a healthy and balance lifestyle.

Additionally, due to the individual research project I had to say goodbye to my introverted self for a while. To understand food in Singapore, I had to culturally immerse myself. So, that means approaching and interviewing locals to uncover how food is significant to them.  Despite it being uncomfortable at first, over time I improved and developed the confidence to objectively extract information like a researching pro!

Being personally taught how to cook traditional Peranakan food in Uncle Raymond's home kitchen (Ampang Kitchen)

Making Friends

With 15 students literally living, breathing and most importantly eating with one another for 24 hours of the day, I don’t think that you’d be surprise if I said that I think I’ve made friends that I will meet-up with every month, grab a coffee and nostalgically laugh about our experiences in Singapore. I know it’s a real cliché, but I think if it wasn’t for this trip, I wouldn’t have met the friends I made. Isn’t it just a beautiful and magical thing? This one program can bring together long-term friendships?

Lunch at Rumah Makan Minang

Signing off

So, my advice to you? If you’re interested in being culturally immersed in another country, learning in ways you cannot possibly learn in a classroom, and you see an advertisement land in your university inbox, don’t click delete. Open the email up, read it. See if it interests you and do it, apply for it. I can promise you, you won’t regret it!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Jeaney Yip for putting so much effort and dedication toward creating such an amazing and rewarding program. I have truly grown and matured as a student and I really owe it to people like her for making these types of programs available for all students.

Written by Libbi Le 
Current Bachelor of Commerce (Management and Marketing) and Bachelor of Arts (Digital Cultures) student at the University of Sydney Business School
Program: International Immersion Program in Singapore, New Colombo Plan Program

Parliament, Presentations and Partings

Parliament House was the first stop today. We joined students undertaking a summer program at the National University of Singapore to learn about the Parliament that runs this amazing city-state. Surprisingly, Singapore’s Parliament shares quite a few similarities with the Australian system, as they are both manifestations of the British system. Unfortunately today was not a Parliamentary sitting day, but nevertheless we could sense the solemnity of the House.

Finally the day has come to showcase what we have learned over these past two weeks, as we delivered our final group presentations at the CPA office. We were all shocked at the quality of all the presentations and the ability of all the groups to critically analyse Singapore’s housing issues. Reflecting on the work of my own group, I cannot believe how far we have come, from knowing nothing about Singapore to becoming experts in sustainable housing. It was different, and sometimes not easy, working as an interdisciplinary group, but this experience has definitely added a new dimension to my teamwork abilities. Learning to work with people from different backgrounds and how to utilise each other’s unique skills will surely be beneficial to my academic and professional ventures. As the presentations came to an end, it finally hit me that this was the last day of the field school. To perfectly finish off the trip, we headed out for a group dinner and enjoyed the Singaporean heat for one last time.

This blog was originially published on Sydney Life: Student experiences at the University of Sydney.

Betty Huang
Current student at the University of Sydney Business School and participant in the New Combo Plan, a short-term interdisciplinary field school in Singapore where students work together to understand and analyse the Singapore government’s housing policy

Out in the community

As presentation day looms all the groups are heavily focused on their chosen topics, gathering final pieces of research and solidifying the huge amount of information we have received over the past two weeks. For Team East Side, this has meant a significant amount of time spent in the community of Bedok, observing how the elderly are catered for in Singaporean housing plans and community layouts. This has meant a day of walking through housing estates and communities, checking for features such as wheelchair accessibility, exercise and social areas, community activities for the elderly and ease of access to key medical services such as dementia care.


These are all crucial features of the Singaporean government approach to dealing with the problem of a rapidly ageing population through promoting ‘ageing in place’. This comprehensive policy aims at keeping the elderly living independently within the community for as long as possible in order to promote a cohesive society and avoid strain on a limited institutional care system. From our research and observations so far, this approach has been largely successful in maintaining quality of life for the elderly and keeping nursing home intakes low. These findings have made me think that perhaps Australia could learn from this approach considering the strain placed on our own nursing homes due to an ageing population.

Today highlighted to me the benefits of living in Singapore as we study its housing system and surrounding policies. For example, talking in person with a manager for the Singapore Program for Integrated Care of the Elderly (SPICE) allowed for a more complete understanding of how home and day care for dementia sufferers is practically carried out. Overall, being in this country has allowed for a more flexible and in depth understanding of our chosen area of research in Singapore.

This blog was originially published on Sydney Life: Student experiences at the University of Sydney.

Jack Collins
Current student at the University of Sydney Business School and participant in the New Combo Plan, a short-term interdisciplinary field school in Singapore where students work together to understand and analyse the Singapore government’s housing policy

‘Hari Raya’ or ‘Celebration Day of Fasting’

Tonight we attended ‘Hari Raya Puasa’, a Ramadan Bazaar in Geylang Serai. Approximately 15% of Singaporeans are Muslim and are currently celebrating Ramadan, which involves fasting from dawn until dusk. The bazaar had food markets that allow the community to collectively break their fast, as well as stalls selling new cloths, decorations and home wares; thus supporting the custom of buying new items for the home. An array of exotic Malay-inspired dishes and snacks were displayed at each stall including spicy fish balls, biryani (a dish of rice, meat and spices), chick-pea biscuits, fried sweet potato, kebabs and pide. These were complemented with colourful and tasty drinks including lychee, mango, sour sok and rose flavoured water. A group of us excitedly selected a few different dishes and drinks and sat in the park nearby to delight in the fascinating new flavours.

While enjoying our meal we reflected on Singapore and the appreciable diversity of this city-state. Singapore is represented by three main ethnic groups with 74% Chinese, 13% Malay, 9% Indian. This leads to an array of unique opportunities for cultural experiences: one night we can be eating dumplings and noodles in a Hawker centre, the next day immersing ourselves in the wonders of the Malay culture near Arab Street and the next nigh delighting in a spicy meal in Little India. There are also four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil, which means there are often four translations on signs with the Straits Times, the Singaporean newspaper, publishing in multiple languages.

Diversity in ethnicities also means diversity in religion. On Sunday we listened to the Catholic church near our hotel ring bells, while tonight we were able to appreciate the sound of a local mosque’s call to prayer. Although Sydney is also a multicultural and similarly a cosmopolitan city, the way the cultures instil themselves into the landscape differs. Appreciating and embracing the new cultural experiences Singapore offers has provided an enjoyable trip and enabled opportunities for understanding this economically important city at a grassroots level. It is also interesting observing and comprehending how these cultures harmoniously interact and co-exist: a lesson of increasing importance in today’s globalised and interdenominational world.

This blog was originially published on Sydney Life: Student experiences at the University of Sydney.

Alexandra Meek
Current student at the University of Sydney Business School and participant in the New Combo Plan, a short-term interdisciplinary field school in Singapore where students work together to understand and analyse the Singapore government’s housing policy

R&R: Research and Relaxation

The final stretch of the field school for the New Colombo scholars has begun. We’ve had a jam-packed week full of meetings, tours, policy discussions, a bit of sight seeing and far too much chicken and rice. Our time so far has been largely structured, looking to give us a complete view of the housing policy from as many perspectives as possible. Today has been our first real opportunity to break off into our respective interdisciplinary groups and tackle our research questions independently.

This has meant a day largely spent indoors researching our chosen question and planning how we want to allocate the precious amount of time we have left before the end of the program. This has challenged my own group to identify what each of our strengths and weaknesses are as well as what our unique disciplinary backgrounds can offer to the group. For example, in dealing with my groups question on how the Singaporean housing policy accommodates for an ageing population, Robbie's familiarity with housing plans accommodating the disabled and frail has been invaluable (Robbie is our resident architect in the making). We have been able to take this knowledge and integrate it into our findings on policies, financial feasibility of housing upgrades and the social impacts of any new government initiatives. This process can be time consuming and challenging, but ultimately rewarding in creating a holistic view of our chosen topic that would otherwise be lacking.

While today has been invaluable in planning for our presentations and conducting our own independent research, we are all extremely keen to get back out to our respective regions to collect primary evidence tomorrow. Comparing the information we have gathered today and over the past week with first hand observations of the housing estates should provide some interesting results.

This blog was originially published on Sydney Life: Student experiences at the University of Sydney.

Jack Collins
Current student at the University of Sydney Business School and participant in the New Combo Plan, a short-term interdisciplinary field school in Singapore where students work together to understand and analyse the Singapore government’s housing policy

Social Issues in Singapore

On Day 5 of our fieldschool, we visited the National University of Singapore where we participated in a presentation on social issues surrounding Singaporean housing. The presentation was given by a doctor from the Asia Research Institute and revealed sharp insights into the realities of the heavily government mandated housing market of Singapore. The discussion surrounded lack of support for divorcees and non-nuclear families and formed a more pragmatic version to the strongly promoted view of the HDB scheme from government agencies we had visited earlier. Issues covered included difficulties of relocation, social stigmas surrounding divorces and a lack of acknowledgment of progressive trends like LGBT rights and alternate families.

As we engaged in an eye-opening discussion of these trends, it became clear that at the crux of the issues was a trade-off between economic efficiency and social flexibility and freedom that differed greatly to what we have in Australia. While Singapore has catapulted to economic superiority in the space of just 50 years, its hardline policies have disadvantaged marginalized groups and the country currently faces deep problems of income inequality and living affordability for most citizens. As we increasingly garnered the impression of the HDB scheme being used as a tool by the state to exert its desired goals, I started to understand the reality in every story having two sides to it.

In the afternoon, we summarized our findings and notes throughout the week and finalized our research questions in our interdisciplinary groups. My knowledge of this small country has quadrupled in the past week and I have developed important teamwork, research and presentation skills. I believe this is beneficial to my future as it will help me engage with our regional neighbours in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world.

Discussing social issues in Singapore and finalising our research questions

This blog was originially published on Sydney Life: Student experiences at the University of Sydney.

Tim Le
Current student at the University of Sydney Business School and participant in the New Combo Plan, a short-term interdisciplinary field school in Singapore where students work together to understand and analyse the Singapore government’s housing policy 

A Seafood Supper in Singapore

After a bustling first two days of extensive research and field investigation in Singapore, our third day was devoted to summarizing our findings and reflecting on the interactions we had shared with various government agencies, academics and locals. As we started to work more specifically in our interdisciplinary groups for the first time, it was interesting to see how our different academic backgrounds and skills came into confluence to enable difficult issues to be solved through multiple angles and frames of thinking. Far from creating technical barriers, working with group members of different knowledge bases helped me greatly in beginning to understand the intricate social and economic factors that dictate Singapore’s strong public housing policies.

As we moved into the afternoon, we were given an eye-opening discussion of housing issues within an Asian and Australian context from Dr. Peter Armstrong, an architect, academic and expert on urban planning. Interesting points were raised surrounding the transformation and adaptability of housing policies amidst migrant preferences and multigenerational trends, and parallels were drawn between Singapore and other major Asia-Pacific cities such as Tokyo, Seoul and Sydney. Peter’s presentation was followed by group presentations on our preliminary findings into housing in Singapore’s different regions and by the end of the afternoon, I found myself struck at how important housing and urban design policies really were to the successful growth of a city.

After an intense day of thinking and learning, we visited a seafood restaurant for dinner where we were joined by Singaporean students who shared with us amazing insights into their life and thoughts on Singapore and Australia. As we talked, laughed and bantered late into the night over crab claws and expensive alcohol, it was amazing to realize how different some aspects of their life were (such as their mandatory 2-year service in the military), yet how similar some of their values and beliefs were to us as young adults. As I write this post after a wonderful night with complete strangers, I feel amazed at how globally connected our world has become and feel excited to continue learning about Singapore knowing that it will benefit both my professional and personal development.

This blog was originially published on Sydney Life: Student experiences at the University of Sydney.

Tim Le
Current student at the University of Sydney Business School and participant in the New Combo Plan, a short-term interdisciplinary field school in Singapore where students work together to understand and analyse the Singapore government’s housing policy 

Hot, humid and a table of seafood

After 24 hours of first visiting our designated regions, we delivered our first group presentations today. The presentations were mostly factual, concerning the architectural, demographic, commercial and social aspects of each region. It was interesting to observe that each group had approached the task differently, some focusing on a single estate whereas others chose to adopt a broader overview. The presentations helped to distinguish the characteristics of each region which would be valuable in moulding our final research question. Through this exercise it was evident that our presentation skills could be improved, in particular, our time management and coherence as a team. But I’m confident that our next presentation will be better!

The evening took on a different twist to the more academic day, as we were joined at dinner by ten Singaporean students who will soon be studying at the University of Sydney. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip so far, we devoured a luxurious (and some exotic!) array of seafood dishes including chilli crab, shark’s fin soup and jellyfish. Talking with the Singaporean students enabled us to acquire a local perspective of the housing policies and the regions we were studying. The conversations also enlightened us to some cultural features of Singapore, while the Singaporeans were interested in our Sydney tales. The night has made me more culturally sensitive and aware of the unique cultural composition of Singapore. We look forward to seeing our new friends back in Sydney!

This blog was originially published on Sydney Life: Student experiences at the University of Sydney.

Betty Huang
Current student at the University of Sydney Business School and participant in the New Combo Plan, a short-term interdisciplinary field school in Singapore where students work together to understand and analyse the Singapore government’s housing policy

Moving beyond Marina Bay Sands

Today was the first official day of the trip and involved an extensive introduction into not only the Singaporean housing policy, but also aspects of culture and politics. This contrasted immensely with our first afternoon which was spent swimming in the pool overlooking Marina Bay Sands. However, such a rigorous introduction afforded unique insight into the ‘real’ Singapore and the history and dynamics of this unique city-state beyond the façade of tourist attractions.

We spent the morning at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) where we were lucky enough to be given a guided tour of the Singapore City Gallery. One factor that really stood out to me, and is something of paramount importance to housing policy, is the fact that Singapore is a city-state. The miniscule area of 716 square kilometres requires intricate urban planning and control, and permeates all aspects of Singaporean public policy. Changes in their economy to a services based industry, quotas on cars - which involves residents requiring a permit that can be in excess of $60,000 – the reclaiming of land and a Master Plan which plans years in advance the urban development of the island opened my eyes to the pervasiveness of Singapore’s size on all aspects of Singaporean life. This contrasts greatly with policy and the economy of Australia and is a factor that will dictate the direction of our research in the next two weeks.

A model of the city at the Singapore City Gallery

In the afternoon we were given a tour of parts of the city and a public housing apartment by Daniel, a professor in sociology from the National University of Singapore. Being offered unparalleled insights into Singapore from a local opened my eyes to cultural aspects of the city. For example, Singapore’s ‘Chinatown’ was gentrified by the Singapore Tourism Board which included the building of a large outdoor theatre and even a new temple, with actual Chinese residents moving out of the area into apartments behind Chinatown. Daniel highlighted that the somewhat artificial tourist areas were separated from the actual Chinese community that remained by the ‘invisible barrier’ of the outdoor theatre. With Daniel’s insight and help we were able to recognise such barriers and were given new perspectives into the true culture of Singapore – as well as knowledge of the cheap eateries called Hawker centres away from the tourist hotspots. I am excited to continue exploring and understanding the ‘real’ Singapore and know that comprehension of this economic powerhouse will benefit my career prospects in business as Southeast Asia becomes increasingly important to the global economy.

A highway near Daniel’s apartment, notice how clean and orderly the streets are (the up to $1000 fine for littering is definitely working!)

This blog was originially published on Sydney Life: Student experiences at the University of Sydney.

Alexandra Meek
Current student at the University of Sydney Business School and participant in the New Combo Plan, a short-term interdisciplinary field school in Singapore where students work together to understand and analyse the Singapore government’s housing policy