Beyond stimulating classroom lessons are fun educational tourism, also known as edutourism, programmes, organised by the Centre for Corporate and Community Development (CCCD) to provide students with a holistic education and the opportunity to broaden their horizons.

“These edutourism programmes in UTAR are carefully created and developed to enable our students to enjoy their recreational activities while gaining real-world experience, as they learn about the culture, history, environment, and heritage of the places they travel to. This is important because, in this globalised and digitalised age, employers are focusing on hiring potential candidates who have high cultural intelligence. After all, this skill enables a person to adapt quickly and easily across cultures and diversity,” said CCCD Corporate and Community Training Head Mohd Faizul bin Ahmad.

For this trimester of July-September, CCCD organised a Malaysia Study Tour programme for Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan, and English and Cultural Study Tour Programme for Deh Yu College of Nursing and Health, Taiwan; Josai International University, Japan; Kurume University, Japan; and University of Toyama, Japan.

Mohd Faizul explained, “The Malaysia Study Tour programme aims to empower and develop participants’ knowledge and insights into issues around the world, as well as, connect and exchange thoughts and opinions despite different culture and social backgrounds.”

The Malaysia Study Tour Programme was conducted from 31 July to 9 August 2023. It was participated by 15 Kwansei Gakuin University students, who visited the Dahikmah Orphanage, Persatuan Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti Buntong (Disable Rehabilitation Centre), Laut Matang Mangrove Park, and Islamic School. The programme provided participants the opportunities to learn about the local lives and cultures as they interviewed and interacted with people of various backgrounds, including people with disabilities, teachers, villagers, school students, and orphans.

Kwansei Gakuin University student Yuma Suita said, “I had the opportunity to visit many places in Malaysia and I learned a lot about Malaysia. I understood that multicultural coexistence is not only about talking and hanging out together, but it is also about respecting differences, including different beliefs. The people I met were warm and friendly, and I created many awesome memories. I am grateful for this lovely experience.”

Kwansei Gakuin University student Yuki Imura said, “I am a big fan of Malaysia’s food and its people. The UTAR students brought us to try various local delicacies each day, and I found my love for roti tissue; it was a truly flavourful experience. Participating in the various activities helped me learn some new things that I believe can also be practised in Japan. I would definitely want to visit Malaysia again, and I am thankful to the UTAR students and teachers who have made this study tour a meaningful one.”

Kwansei Gakuin University Naho Yamamoto said, “Before coming to Malaysia, I was nervous, but the UTAR students and teachers helped me to adapt easily. As the days went by, I learned more about Malaysia and its people, and that helped me to understand Malaysia more. I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in this programme.”

Kokoro Hayashi expressed, “This is my first visit to Malaysia and I fell in love with Malaysia. The culture here is unique and there are so many beautiful places in the country. I am most impressed with the Malaysians’ hospitality. I was able to visit many places and I learned about their culture and social issues. The hospitality of UTAR students also made us feel very welcomed and their patience in explaining everything to us was really helpful.”

Mohd Faizul also said, “The English and Cultural Study Tour Programme, on the other hand, aimed to introduce the notion and practice of correct English grammar and tenses, while conversing and writing in English. It also aimed to provide international learning and knowledge acquisition that propel students towards accepting and understanding different cultures and community perspectives. Some of the cultural activities that we have conducted included introducing the international students to local cuisine, traditional arts and crafts, and visiting cultural exhibitions. We also brought the students for an educational yet leisure tour to Pangkor Island, Ipoh, and Kuala Lumpur. This enabled them to gain first-hand experience of local culture and lifestyle. It gave the students an opportunity to engage in active learning experience, both inside and outside of the classroom.”

Chih Han Yi commented, “The indoor class sessions enabled us to practise our English further as we communicated with one another. It took me some time to confidently speak in English, but it did not affect the friendships I have built with my other classmates. It was challenging, but it was also fun navigating this challenge with my classmates. The outdoor cultural exploration activities also added fun to our learning as we visited historical sites, and the Hakka Museum. I am very happy to participate in this overseas study tour, and I am also very grateful for the opportunity and help from UTAR and the lecturers. I hope I have the opportunity to participate in similar activities in the future, and make more friends while learning.”

Chiu Yueh Ching expressed, “I have always intended to undertake a study tour and though I’m in my 50s now, it is better late than never. Hence, I decided to pursue my goal at UTAR as a result. The instruction in English class is engaging and stimulating. Over the 19 days, I learned the four core language learning abilities: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students were guided by Teacher Rekha to talk about social issues by reporting news, portray their future aspirations by creating vision boards, and master simple and compound phrases by writing a tale. Ipoh’s historical museum helped me to comprehend Malaysia’s history of Chinese migrants better. Additionally, snorkelling on Pangkor Island broadened my perspective on life. My study abroad experience at UTAR has been truly unique.”

Momoka Kaijima, of Kurume University, said, “I study English and Chinese, so Malaysia was a very good learning environment for me. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country, so I was able to experience various cultures. The teachers and helpers were very kind, and even though I was nervous at first, I was able to enjoy interacting with them. It was my first time in a foreign country, so I was a little worried, but thanks to the people of UTAR, I was able to have such good memories. Thank you very much.”

Kurume University student Ruka Nakano, enthused, “I came to Malaysia for the first time to attend the English and Cultural Study Tour Programme. I was so nervous on the first day but the UTAR lecturers and students were very friendly. Thanks to them, I felt more confident conversing with them in English. Malaysia is a multiracial nation, so everything seemed new to me. Malaysia is blessed with nature like Pangkor Island and Mangrove Park. I was fascinated by the beautiful beach and magnificent scenery in Malaysia. Also, the food is delicious. I enjoyed eating many types of food like Chinese, Malay, Indian, and so on. Through this programme, I learned not only English but also the importance of respecting each other and their history. I met many people during my stay and saw many traditional buildings, which allowed me to experience the historical heritage of Malaysia. Additionally, I was able to discover different accents because there are many international people in Malaysia. It was really good to participate in this programme as I had a valuable experience. I treasure every meeting and encounter I had, and would like to come back again. Thank you for the wonderful time in Malaysia.”

Tung Hsin Hao said, “My first study trip to Malaysia has been an incredible experience. I’ve grown academically and made friends with kindred spirits. By exchanging ideas with classmates from different countries, discussing each other’s perspectives, and enhancing my English proficiency during class, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the customs and traditions of this country through cultural experiences. The UTAR students provided constant assistance whenever I encountered difficulties and were willing to help to the best of their abilities. With their help, I was able to integrate into this place more quickly. I’m truly grateful for their support. Participating in this event will become one of my valuable experiences.”