The Faculty of Language and Communication, UNIMAS and Utsunomiya University (UU) Japan have successfully completed the 4th edition of EduTour despite having to deal with travel restriction due to Covid-19 pandemic. With the “new normal,” the e-EduTour2021 is carried out fully online and students from both higher learning institutions can still interact actively in this mobility programme. This international collaboration has been an annual event since the MOU between UNIMAS and UU was signed on 11 May 2017. For this year’s edition, UNIMAS welcomed 22 UU students and ten UNIMAS student buddies from various faculties.
The one week programme was officiated on 15 February 2021 by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and International, Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit and UU’s Executive and Vice President of Research and Global Strategy, Prof Dr. Natsuaki Tomohide.
The e-EduTour 2021 was packed with interactive online English Lessons on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), virtual visits to UNIMAS PETARY, Lake, Pavillion, Faculty of Language and Communication, Faculty of Engineering, and Faculty of Resource Science and Technology. The participants were also introduced to the heart of Kuching City and its main tourist attractions such as seeing the Darul Hana Bridge, enjoying the Darul Hana Musical Fountain, riding the traditional ‘perahu tambang’ and shopping for souvenirs at Main Bazaar. The SMK Batu Lintang’s principal Mr. Bahtiar Afandi, teachers and students shared insights to the lives of a Malaysian school students through an informative video and interactions with the participants. UNIMAS alumnus, Mr. Jonathan Dason who was awarded the Chancellor Award in 2018 inspired the participants through his sharing about his adventurous undergraduate life and how the experiences have equipped him for career and life beyond university. The participants also had the opportunity to exchange information about their unique cultures, traditions, cuisines, songs and dances through various activities conducted throughout the programme.
The closing ceremony which marked the end of the e-EduTour2021 was broadcasted live from the MyCapsule Space on 20th February 2021. The UU students and UNIMAS buddies participated in colourful performances of music from Mr Junya Koyama, Ms Mizuki Ochiai and Ms Manae Ichida, dance by the UNIMAS Buddies, and poetry by Ms Ai Motegi and Mr Yuto Ueta - showcasing their English proficiency and appreciation of each other’s cultures. Two UU participants, Ms Kana Miura and Mr Tomohiro Ogane delivered a heartwarming farewell speech, highlighting the experiences they had, and new friendships forged throughout this programme.
The guests of honour, Vice Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi and Prof Dr Natsuaki Tomohide expressed their gratitude toward all parties and collaborators involved in ensuring the smooth running of this year’s programme. Special thanks was also extended to the Coordinator of the e-EduTour2021 - Associate Professor Dr Souba Rethinasamy, her dedicated team members consisting of Ms Dayang Hartijah, Ms Nurul Huzaimah, Mr Damien Mikeng, Ms Liyana Rosli, Ms Keezrawati Mujan Yusuf, Dr Joseph Ramanair, Mr Mohd Ismail Jolhip, Mr Azlandy Mohammid Ali Tuah, and Mr Dabif Jack Shaw for pulling off yet another successful and the first full online edition of this programme.
- TheStar ‘Unimas holds virtual exchange with Japanese students’
- The New Sarawak Tribune ‘Unimas, Utsunomiya University carry out e-EduTour2021’
- SarawakVoice ‘Unimas, Jepun bertukar maklumat’
- Shimotsuke Shinbun (Japanese newspaper) ‘Bonds of Online Exchange between Utsunomiya University and Sarawak University, Malaysia: Learning English and multicultural coexistence’
