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According to one of the lecturers in charge of LeX 2025, Dr. Azka, Ph.D., this location was chosen based on its relevance to FTI ITB's focus on developing sustainable industrial systems, especially concerning waste management and circular economy issues, which are challenges in the area.

The LeX 2025 program applied the Design Thinking methodology, which consists of four main stages: Sensing and Sensibility, Empathy, Ideation, and Prototyping. The students, divided into six multicultural and multidisciplinary groups, also worked to address three main project challenges:

1. How can we improve the health, safety, and well-being of Rukun Warga/Community Unit in Sector 02 Gempolsari?

2. How can we address environmental and infrastructural challenges in Rukun Warga/Community Unit in Sector 02 Gempolsari?

3. How can we actively engage and enhance the community participation in circular economic practices in Rukun Warga/Community Unit in Sector 02 Gempolsari?

These challenges are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

“In the Sensing and Sensibility stage, students conduct direct observations and interviews with residents to uncover the problems they actually face, not based on assumptions,” explained Ms. Low Kangmin, Lead Facilitator from Singapore Polytechnic. The facilitation team from Singapore Polytechnic also included Dr. Jaichandar Kulandaisaasan Sheba and Mr. Wang Yat Keong. From ITB, the facilitators were Dr.-Ing. Daniel Pramudita, Dr. Azka Muji Burohman, and Dr. Destina Ratna Asih Khodijah Kadarsah. All facilitators accompanied the students throughout every stage, from observation to prototyping, ensuring that the solutions remained focused and relevant to the community’s needs.

This experience presented its own challenges for the participants. Besides having to communicate in English among team members, they also faced the challenge of bridging cultural gaps when interacting with the community.

“The biggest challenge is how to translate complex and unstructured social problems into simple yet impactful prototype solutions. This is where their empathy and creativity are truly tested,” added Dr. Nur Faizatus Sa’idah, S.Si., M.T., Coordinator of LeX 2025 from ITB.

According to a community representative and wife of the Head of RW 02 Gempolsari, Arum Kartikaningbudi, the program initiated by the students brought real positive impacts to the residents. She hopes that collaborative activities like this will continue in the future.

"As residents, especially housewives, we feel very helped and happy with this program. The solutions offered are very useful and easy for us to apply," she said. "We hope this program can continue because it teaches us that even waste can be a blessing and have economic value if managed properly," she concluded.

Through the LeX 2025 program, students not only learn to apply technical knowledge but also hone their social sensitivity and cross-cultural collaboration skills. This program is expected to produce future leaders capable of creating innovative and empathetic solutions to real-world problems in society.

Reporter: Muhammad Hanif Darmawan (Mining Engineering, 2021)