As part of the “JENESYS2.0” project, a youth exchange program launched by the government of Japan, a visiting group to Japan consisting of 47 Malaysian university students made a visit to our Nagamachi campus on Thursday, May 22. The report on students, who had observed the classes at the departments of Faculty of Life Design on that day, as well as their comments, were published in a local newspaper “Kahoku Shinpo”‘s morning edition on Friday, May 23.

After receiving a summary of Faculty of Life Design on Nagamachi campus, the visiting group to Japan consisting of Malaysian university students were divided into 3 groups, and each group observed their designated class of Department of Creative Design, Department of Life Design for Safety and Amenity, or Department of Management and Communication. After having an experience of the classes, they deepened exchange with our students through a discussion.

■Reports from faculties which accepted the visiting group from Malaysia

【Department of Creative Design】
It was unfortunate that the number of participants was limited, because many students at this faculty had classes on that day. However, for those students who participated, it was a meaningful event to be able to have an opportunity of cross-cultural exchange, which is difficult to experience at their daily lives.

Some of our students told us that they keenly realized the necessity of English proficiency as a communication skill. Meanwhile, although it is uncertain whether we have met the expectations of the Malaysian side, they seemed to have become lively in its own way by the end of free discussion.

We would like to express our appreciation for the support of boosting awareness among students at this faculty toward their internationalization.

Associate Professor Umeda Hiroki

【Department of Life Design for Safety and Amenity】
We offered a workshop to review between Malaysia and Japan about “Sightseeing program for foreigners by utilizing the potential of Ogatsu-town in Ishinomaki-city that suffered from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami”. The contents were basically successful.

Some groups initially had difficulty in learning the ropes. However, as time passed, the sound of laughter started to come from all over the place. What was particularly impressive was the announced contents itself. Presented as a result of the workshop by 4 groups, the contents included so many hints that should be utilized in community support on which our faculty as a whole has been working.

Now we have new goals in the future, such as to review a program which can give a guided tour of fields in the surrounding areas, and to improve our English conversational skills other than Tohoku dialect, at which students at our faculty are excelled. We would like to express our appreciation for giving us this meaningful opportunity.

Associate Professor ONUMA Masahiro

【Department of Management and Communication】
Those Malaysian students and our students are fellow students belonging to nearly the same age group. However, some students at our faculty were surprised to see the differences with themselves, after knowing Malaysian students’ dedicated attitude toward religion that our students do not come to know so much at their daily lives. In addition, listening to the thoughts of overseas students also inspired our students. There were some students who even declared to study English harder in order to communicate with more people by their own strength.

We have come to know that people from overseas understand Japan as well as Japanese cultures, and that Japanese things exist in their lives beyond our imagination, with penetration of such things as electric appliances made in Japan, sweets with matcha green tea flavor, and sushi.

We had a lively discussion and cross-cultural exchange, such as needing to focus attention to halal food for cultivating the Malaysia market. We are grateful for giving us this opportunity, allowing students at our faculty to participate this event, which leads to their increased motivation.

Associate Professor SATO Asuka