Start an Intercultural Collaboration

In a modest classroom at the Universitas Indonesia, Vocational Campus, a group of students were busy preparing posters and PowerPoint slides filled with images of trees, rivers, and the phrase “Save Our Planet.” For them, this was not just a college assignment, but the beginning of a long journey toward an international environmental forum initiated by The Horse project (the-horse.education) in Switzerland. Even though it was conducted online, their enthusiasm and creativity remained high.

Lesley, one of the vocational students involved, admitted she had never imagined voicing small ideas from her hometown on a global stage. “In my neighborhood, plastic waste is still often burned. From there I thought: if something as simple as managing waste can have a big impact, why don’t we start from there?” she said.

Lesley’s story and those of her peers then intersected with The Horse Project, an international collaborative education initiative founded by THE ! association (the-horse.education) (Switzerland). The program encourages vocational students from various countries to share experiences, engage in dialogue, and collaborate on issues related to the environment and climate change.

First Step: From Campus to the World Conference

Their first year of participation was marked by involvement in the 1st The Horse International Conference 2025. The conference brought together students from Indonesia, India, Switzerland, and Dubai, discussing small projects such as aquaponics, ecobricks, and the preservation of local culture.

For Indonesian vocational students, this became proof that simple ideas born in classrooms or local communities could have a place in a global forum. One faculty mentor even emphasized: “This is proof that vocational education is not just about technical skills, but also about social and environmental responsibility.”

Creating innovative business ideas based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environmental issues requires a systematic process, as businesses are expected not only to seek profit but also to deliver positive social and ecological impacts.

The first step is identifying relevant environmental issues and SDGs. Each region faces unique challenges, from plastic waste, food security, and renewable energy to ecosystem degradation. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stresses that entrepreneurs and innovators should align their business ideas with SDG targets to ensure clear direction toward sustainable development (UNDP, 2020). The 17 Goals (un.org) of the United Nations.

Next, it is necessary to observe market trends and community needs. A World Economic Forum (2023) report shows that global consumers are increasingly choosing sustainable products, particularly in sustainable fashion, circular economy, and clean energy Consumers want sustainable options (weforum.org).

By understanding these trends, entrepreneurs can discover innovation gaps that address local needs while aligning with global markets. The next stage is brainstorming ideas through creative approaches. The design thinking method is often used to develop empathy toward users, define core problems, generate ideas, create prototypes, and directly test solutions (IDEO, 2019) Design thinking (ideo.com)

For example, the issue of plastic waste can inspire innovations such as seaweed-based edible packaging that also empowers local farmers. However, an idea cannot merely be creative; it must also be validated against SDG impact. The OECD (2021) recommends using SDG Impact Assessment to measure whether solutions truly support the achievement of SDGs through social, economic, and environmental indicators, OECD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (oecd.org)

This ensures that business ideas provide real sustainable value. Afterwards, business and environmental feasibility analyses are carried out. A Green Business Model Canvas can be applied, which adds ecological impact dimensions into the nine classic BMC elements.

Finally, the process must be iterative. Innovations emerging from initial ideas need to be tested through pilot projects, gather user feedback, and be refined to meet real needs. In this way, businesses not only focus on short-term profit but also create long-lasting positive impacts for communities and the environment.

Some of the ideas that emerged include

• Kattugo – An app-based solution to efficiently organize appointments at hairdressers and barbershops, Kattugo (vimeo.com), Project Pitch at the 1st The Horse International Conference 2025.
• DexAi – Create Something Great with DexAI – An AI-driven tool designed to enhance digital creativity and productivity.
• Kimochi Bajaj – A business idea offering Indonesian-Japanese fusion cuisine with eco-friendly packaging.
• U-EAT! – A website guide to explore Universitas Indonesia’s diverse culinary offerings.
• Usahaku – Focused on wise investment strategies to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), promoting financial growth and sustainability.

Second Year: From Ideas to Real Collaboration

In the second year, the enthusiasm continued. This time, they were not only presenting but also participating in cross-country workshops. Discussions revolved around how vocational education institutions could become drivers of change in facing the climate crisis.

From these forums, joint project plans emerged: simple research on eco-friendly materials and a digital campaign encouraging young people to reduce single-use plastic consumption. This collaboration was made possible with the support of Movetia, the Swiss national agency for education exchange and mobility (teachingweb.org).

Some of the projects included

EcoLoop Refill – A mission-driven initiative to close the packaging loop by empowering households and zero-waste communities with refill stations for liquid essentials.

GreenSteps – Challenging students to walk, bike, or take public transportation during an eco-friendly community week.

Waste Less, Work Better – The Office Sustainability Challenge – Addressing the environmental impact of office spaces with actionable sustainability practices.

Eco-Influencer Grant – Encouraging people to adopt eco-friendly lifestyles from home through simple actions shared on social media.

Ecorise Lab Bootcamp – A program supporting students in designing environmentally innovative startups.

Idearth – A mentorship program fostering young generations to become environmental ambassadors, guided by climate professionals and enthusiasts.

Between Local and Global

The story of Lesley and her peers highlights how vocational education bridges two worlds:

• The local world: addressing concrete problems such as waste management, small-scale renewable energy, and sustainable lifestyles in villages or small towns.
• The global world: building networks of ideas, research, and joint actions across multiple countries.

Beyond that, the experience with The Horse Project gave them a new awareness: climate change is not “someone else’s issue,” but our shared issue.

The participation of Indonesian vocational students in The Horse Project is a story of courage: The courage to dream, to speak, and to act. From modest classrooms to international forums, they carry a strong message—caring for the Earth is our collective responsibility. As The Horse concept itself emphasizes, education is a “journey of transformation”—a journey that changes not only knowledge but also perspectives on life (The Horse Concept, THE ! association, 2020). For Lesley and other vocational students, that journey has only just begun. And quietly, the Earth is placing its hope on young voices like theirs.

Deni Danial Kesa Associate Professor of Marketing Innovation and Technology, Vocational Program, Universitas Indonesia (ui.ac.id)

Widyo Suwasto IT Professional, Vocational Program, Universitas Indonesia (ui.ac.id)

Lesley Tricia Widjaja Founder of KATTUGO Project (vimeo.com), Student in the Vocational Program, Universitas Indonesia

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