To be able to navigate Singapore’s increasingly globalised workforce, the Ministry of Education identified global awareness and cross-cultural skills as key competencies that institutes should aim to cultivate among in students. We believe that these skills are integral not only for students within Singapore, but for all students in preparation for their occupations and their daily lives in a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected. Therefore, the ‘Global Studies” module and supplementary experiential learning programmes was devised by Temasek Polytechnic, a Singaporean tertiary educational institution to develop students Global Mindset. The module introduces cross-cultural awareness and skills in its curriculum, which would be honed during their supplementary experiential learning programme, which is either a five-day overseas study trip to ASEAN, China, or India, or local experiential learning activities depending on the student’s preference.

A study spanning two years involving over 5000 students was also conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme overall and the specific mechanisms by which Global Mindset can be cultivated among tertiary students. It was found that regardless of the type of experiential learning programme students took part in, students consistently improved in certain facets of Global Mindset, namely intercultural communication, adaptability, and global awareness. Cultural immersion through short-term overseas trips was found to have the greatest impact on student’s Global Mindset, with students who participate in the overseas study trips seeing consistent improvements in more facets of Global Mindset; in their attitudes towards overseas opportunities, interest in other cultures and perspective-taking. The study suggests structured experiential learning programmes are the most effective method for cultivating Global Mindset among students.

Therefore, we wish to inform educators from other Institutes of Higher learning of the mechanisms the programme in Temasek Polytechnic utilised to effectively cultivate students Global Mindset, such that they are willing to and capable of pursuing and capitalising on educational and career opportunities beyond Singapore’s borders.