Surabaya, 14 September 2026 — Fortrust Education Services, a leading education consultancy in Indonesia, once again hosted the Study in Singapore Education Fair 2026 on Saturday (12/9), bringing together more than 500 students from Surabaya and surrounding areas with representatives from five top Singaporean universities.
The five universities in attendance were Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
Andrew Low, Head of Undergraduate International Program at SMU, explained that their visit to Surabaya was part of a broader effort to help students and parents gain a clearer understanding of what studying in Singapore is actually like. “This is a valuable opportunity for us to engage directly with secondary schools and share practical information that can help students make more informed education decisions. Singapore’s relatively close proximity to Surabaya also makes it a practical option for students considering studying abroad,” said Andrew.
Fortrust believes that having access to comprehensive information is important because the biggest challenge for students is not their interest in studying abroad, but finding a university that best matches their interests and career plans. Each university has different strengths, and these nuances are often not fully communicated to prospective students.
The five universities in attendance each have distinct strengths. SMU is known for its graduates achieving the highest starting salaries in Singapore, particularly in business, economics, management, computing, computer science, and social sciences, supported by an interactive, seminar-based learning approach and strong industry connections. NTU, meanwhile, is known as a research-intensive institution with particular strengths in engineering and science, reflected in its rise to 12th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, up from 15th the previous year, marking one of the highest rankings achieved by a Singaporean university.
SUTD integrates design, technology, and artificial intelligence into its curriculum, with more than 90% of its graduates securing employment within six months of their final examinations. SIT takes a different approach as Singapore’s first university fully focused on applied learning, offering both its own degree programs and joint programs with overseas university partners. This is supported by the Integrated Work Study Programme, which allows students to undertake internships of up to 12 months during their studies. Meanwhile, SUSS focuses on social sciences and lifelong learning, offering flexible programs for both young learners and working professionals seeking to pursue their studies while working.
In addition to connecting students with the five universities, Fortrust also introduced its scholarship readiness assessment at the event. The assessment is designed to help students evaluate their preparedness before applying to top universities worldwide, whether through scholarship or self-funded admission pathways.
Gani Djuandi, CEO & Founder of Fortrust Education International, explained that the assessment was developed to address a gap he has observed firsthand. “We often find students with strong potential to be admitted to top universities in Singapore, but who do not fully understand their own strengths and weaknesses, whether they are pursuing scholarship or regular admission pathways. This scholarship readiness assessment is designed to help students and parents understand exactly what they need to prepare well in advance of applying,” said Gani.
