FAQs

Welcome to our Southeast Asia Friendship Initiative (SFI) FAQs page! We hope the list of questions and answers below will help to address any questions you may have with regards to SFI. :)

General Information

What is the Southeast Asia (SEA) Friendship Initiative (SFI)?

Southeast Asia (SEA) Friendship Initiative (SFI) officially launched in AY2022/23 Special Term Part 1. 

The course is designed for undergraduate (UG) students in residential units. It is a credit-bearing course introducing them to a S.E.A country, complemented by a study trip to the destination country centred on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) and/or Innovation and Enterprise.

This initiative is run by 12 Residential Units, i.e., 6 Halls, 2 Houses and 4 Residential Colleges in collaboration with the Global Relations Office and Provost’s Office, with Southeast Asian Studies and Malay Studies Departments as academic hosts. 

What is SFI-PH course?

Pioneer House provides PH residents the opportunity to take the SFI Course, which is a 4-unit course with experiential learning component to Indonesia.

Who is eligible and can sign up for this SFI-PH course?

The course is open to UG students living in Pioneer House, being enrolled in full-time UG degree programmes who are paying tuition fees to NUS. As SFI course extends beyond the examination results release date, all students will be receiving an IP grade at the end of the term.  To avoid affecting your promotion and seniority, please plan your study plan carefully. 

This course is not applicable to:

1. Non-graduating/exchange students.
2. Students who have read SFI course. Students can only read the course once during their candidature.
3. Year 4 students in their graduating semester.

What does SFI-PH course consist of?

1. 3 x 2-hour lectures and 2 x 2-hour tutorials

   Participants will be introduced to the country covering relevant aspects in history, population, government, politics and society, economy and heritage.

2. 10-hour Bahasa Indonesia.

   Participants will be introduced to the basic phrases and familiar expressions used in everyday communication. Students will acquire language skills through participation in various communicative tasks. As language is one of the graded components, please note that for students who already have basic conversational skills in Bahasa Indonesia or Malay, they will be required to take another language offered by a different hostel, in replacement.
   

3. Overseas study trip (see below for more information)

When will the course be conducted?

1. AY22/23 Special Term 1: Malang-Batu, Indonesia
2. AY23/24 Semester 1: Yogyakarta-Semarang, Indonesia
3. AY23/24 Semester 2: Malang-Batu, Indonesia
4. AY24/25 Semester 2: Malang-Batu, Indonesia

Are the lectures and tutorials mandatory?

Yes, attendance for both lectures and tutorials are mandatory, as they are designed to enhance participants' learning experience and contribute to their overall assessment.

For more information on lectures and tutorials schedule, please refer to NUSMODS at:
https://nusmods.com/courses/SFI2014/introducing-indonesia-with-introductory-indonesian#prerequisites

What are the key Learning Outcomes from the SFI-PH course?

1. To enable students to acquire a broad-based familiarity with Indonesia.
2. To facilitate an understanding of how key issues normally studied in disciplinary terms (history, anthropology, politics, economics, etc.) are inter-connected in the context of a particular national setting.
3. To help students acquire cross-cultural awareness and skills through academic learning and cultural immersion (e.g. study trip).
4. To help students to be better able to relate to real life issues “on the ground” that affect communities on an everyday basis.
5. The students are able to comprehend words, phrases, and simple sentences on familiar topics about their personal details and surroundings.
6. The students are able to express themselves in conversation on familiar topics using a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences.

 

What are the key differences between a regular course and SFI-PH course?

1. The component of study trip and its focus of experiential learning. Students are expected to apply and promote critical thinking through engagement with important sites, and two-way dialogues with representatives from universities, well-established organisations and community partners related to targeted SDGs or social enterprise, and government offices, to understand and empathise with the issues that are important to the community.
2. Students apply what they learn in classes to out of class through immersion learning and real-life experiences.

Overseas Study Trip

When and where will the study trip be held?

1. AY22/23 Special Term 1 (14 – 21 May 2023): Malang-Batu, Indonesia (Click here for the video highlights)
2. AY23/24 Semester 1 (10 – 19 December 2023): Yogyakarta-Semarang, Indonesia (Click here for the video highlights)
3. AY23/24 Semester 2 (12 – 21 May 2024): Malang-Batu, Indonesia (Click here for the video highlights)
4. AY24/25 Semester 2 (11 – 20 May 2025): Malang-Batu, Indonesia

How much does a participant need to pay for the trip?

The study trip is heavily subsidized by the University, hence each participant is required to pay a minimal co-payment fee of $200.
The co-payment fee will cover air fare, ground transport, overseas accommodation, cultural activities and most meals.

What kind of study trip activities can participants expect?

1. In Yogyakarta and Semarang, participants can expect various activities such as visiting fishery-farm, upcycling, learning about the culture, and exploring the ancient temple complex.
2. In Malang – Batu, participants can expect various activities such as visiting IoT-based farm, learning sustainable farming practices, engaging in some cultural activities and exploring the breath-taking Mount Bromo.
   Please note that these activities are subject to change, and more details will be released closer to the trip.

Click here to read up more about student's experience on past SFI trip.

Assessment

Is this SFI-PH course CS/CU or letter-graded?

Students will be receiving an IP grade at the end of the term.

Students may exercise the satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) option with the understanding that they are Malay Studies/SEA major students, and on the assumption that they have yet to exercise the S/U option for up to 32 Units for courses.

Any other questions?

Please join our SFI Telegram group to stay updated with the latest news and updates!! Feel free to ask any questions you may have in the group or privately reach out to any of our SFI coordinators listed below on Tele:)

1.Questions about SFI experience, please approach seniors coordinating SFI:
- Matthew (@cheeheng19)
- Claire (@squishymei)
- Pranav (@themaharaj01)
- Yixuan (@lenlenlyx)
- Fathul (@ffsfathul)
- Anthony (@danthonyyy)

2. Questions about the Study Trip, please approach Resident Fellows coordinating SFI trip:
- Chang Soo Yen (sooyen@nus.edu.sg)
- A/Prof Senthil Kumar (asenthil@nus.edu.sg)

3. All other questions:
- SFI Admin (sfi-admin@nus.edu.sg)

For more information on SFI, please visit NUS Global's SFI website by clicking here.

You may also like to view the Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) session recorded on 2 November 2023 which will provide additional useful information not covered above.

Link to recording: 
https://nus-sg.zoom.us/rec/share/lfhIoI6DoWGnpi3QqKgMCpwjLnBWS_fIMUHv5K9hS1YHUxUKZVt4Qu2LIef7naP2.L_CpHq3cm0U5FFlu

Passcode: 4JfdE6%^

To view AMA slides, please click here.