KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 – The Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), proudly welcomed Komaba Toho Junior and Senior High School, Tokyo, Japan, for a large-scale academic and cultural visit. The program was jointly organized with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Malaysia Office and facilitated through the Malaysia–Japan Linkages (MJL) Office.
The delegation was led by Kazuhiko Oie, Principal of Komaba Toho High School, and Daisuke Shimoyama, teacher of Contemporary Japanese and Head of the Second-Year Group, together with nine accompanying teachers. In total, the group comprised 182 second-year high school students (aged 16 to 17), bringing the overall number of participants close to 200 people, making it one of the largest school delegations ever received by MJIIT.
Held at UTM Kuala Lumpur, the visit was designed to provide the Japanese students with meaningful insights into Malaysia’s higher education system, while at the same time nurturing stronger academic and cultural ties between Malaysia and Japan.
The program began with a welcoming session by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nurulakmar Abu Husain, Dean of MJIIT, who was joined by members of the MJIIT management team. In her address, Dr. Nurulakmar warmly welcomed the principal, teachers, and nearly 200 students, noting the significance of hosting such a vibrant group at MJIIT. She introduced UTM as one of the nation’s oldest and most respected universities in science, engineering, and technology, with campuses in Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur. She also highlighted MJIIT’s establishment in 2011 as a unique partnership between the Governments of Malaysia and Japan, describing the institute as a bridge that combines Japanese Monozukuri values with Malaysian creativity.
Following her speech, Dr. Farah Liana Redzuan delivered an Introduction to MJIIT presentation, offering students an overview of Malaysia’s higher education landscape, the history and development of MJIIT, its academic strengths in engineering and technology, and the vibrant multicultural environment of UTM Kuala Lumpur. This gave the Komaba Toho students a clearer understanding of how MJIIT stands at the crossroads of two nations, blending the best of Japanese precision and Malaysian innovation.
The visiting students and teachers then introduced Komaba Toho High School, showcasing their academic curriculum, extracurricular activities, and achievements. Their presentation also included expressions of appreciation for MJIIT’s warm welcome, reflecting both their excitement to learn more about Malaysia and their gratitude for the opportunity to engage in such an international exchange.
In the second half of the program, JICA Malaysia coordinated a session conducted in Japanese. It featured an introduction to JICA’s initiatives and its partnership with MJIIT, along with a sharing session by a JICA Volunteer who reflected on his experiences working with MJIIT and the positive impact of international cooperation projects.
The day concluded with a group photo session followed by a short campus tour, allowing the Japanese students to explore MJIIT’s modern facilities, interact informally with MJIIT staff and students, and experience the multicultural learning atmosphere of UTM Kuala Lumpur.
This visit marks another important milestone in the strengthening of Japan–Malaysia educational linkages. For MJIIT and UTM, the event reaffirmed their role as key platforms for global academic collaboration and cultural exchange, while for the Komaba Toho students, it offered invaluable exposure to Malaysia’s higher education ecosystem and a chance to broaden their horizons through international learning and friendship.
