In October 2025, students and teachers from Omiya Kita High School in Japan visited PPK Petra in Surabaya for a two-day academic and cultural exchange programme. On 13 October, the visit began with activities at Alam Sari Petra, the school’s environmental learning garden, which functions as a living laboratory for ecology and sustainable cultivation. During this session, students explored plant propagation, biological observation techniques, and the school’s ongoing sustainability initiatives aimed at promoting responsible environmental stewardship within the school community.

Following the garden activities, a formal partnership signing ceremony reaffirmed the continued collaboration between the two institutions. The day continued with a chemistry laboratory session focused on the global issue of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). Students conducted an experiment using polystyrene foam and acetone to examine how certain materials break down and transform—an activity that prompted discussions on the challenges of plastic waste disposal. Rather than presenting dissolution as a complete solution, the experiment encouraged students to assess both the possibilities and limitations of chemical approaches in addressing large-scale marine pollution.

On the second day, students participated in a Model United Nations-style forum, again centred on the issue of the GPGP. Each group represented different stakeholder interests and proposed strategies combining policy action, technological innovation, and community-based environmental awareness. Through debate and negotiation, students practised evaluating environmental responsibility not as a single-nation issue, but as a shared global commitment. Although cultural exchange activities were shorter this year due to time constraints, students still had the opportunity to play traditional games and exchange souvenirs—allowing interpersonal cooperation to complement the academic discussions.

This visit marked the third consecutive year of collaboration between Omiya Kita High School and PPPK Petra. Beyond strengthening academic ties, the programme continues to cultivate intercultural understanding, empathy, and shared responsibility towards global challenges. The exchange serves as a reminder that meaningful learning extends beyond classrooms and national borders—developing students not merely as knowledgeable learners, but as thoughtful global citizens prepared to address the environmental questions of their generation.