The Leiden-Delft-Erasmus joint minor ‘Future Challenges Lab: Co-creating sustainable practices in and beyond the Indonesian City’ is taught entirely in Indonesia. Here, students learn about this rapidly developing country. In 2024, the first group of Dutch and Indonesian students went to work under the leadership of Delft architecture professor Steffen Nijhuis.
Indonesia is in the midst of a true urban revolution, building a new capital city in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. But at the same time, the country is also struggling with urban-rural inequality. Students from LDE universities are working with Universitas Indonesia in Jakarta during this minor. Prof Steffen Nijhuis (Landscape Architecture, TU Delft) reports from Kalimantan.
It was a very enjoyable and productive week with our students and colleagues from Mulawarman University, a university in East Kalimantan. It was fun and very useful to see the progress of the new capital Nusantara and experience the beautiful nature and landscape of Kalimantan.
The colleagues at Mulawarman University were hospitable and did their best to help us on many fronts. After some formalities and introductions about the area, both my lecture and the student presentations were well received. Our students did very well! According to the students and colleagues present, this provides great starting points and an inspiring perspective for building further cooperation. Students can also use the facilities and participate in activities, such as an on-site workshop with Japanese students.
One of the highlighsts was a visit where Prof Rudianto Amirta took us to the mangroves and a fishing village in the Mahaka Delta to see community-driven mangrove regeneration projects. He showed how they develop mangrove forests in relation to the Tambak system and biodiversity.
After a festive reception in the fishing village, we had an impromptu workshop with the village leader and I was able to give them practical suggestions on how to use the landscape to counter erosion and flooding while developing the coastal ecosystem. Drawing and walking around together with the village leader, Prof Rudi and the students was really a special experience. Especially for the students who saw the landscaping approach in action, but also for the fishing community because we're really able to help them.
Prof Rudi was also very enthusiastic about the design perspective for sustainable community and biodiversity development. This brings together landscaping, ecology, water management and aquaculture. The village chief and he would like to organise a follow-up to take the idea further and consolidate the cooperation.
In short, a great and successful start to our initiative, and an unforgettable experience for the students.
Now we are on our way to Bandung!
Indonesia has rapidly developed into the world's third-largest democracy, a major player in the Muslim world and one of the world's most influential economies. This joint minor invites you to immerse yourself in this extraordinary country, where tradition and future intersect.
