BANGI, SELANGOR, 3 November 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) continued to showcase academic excellence on the national stage through active participation at the Next Generation Symposium on Japanese Studies 2025, held at the Perdana Hall, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

The event, jointly organised by The Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL), the Malaysian Association of Japanese Studies (MAJAS), and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UKM, with support from Mitsui & Co. (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., brought together emerging scholars from across Malaysia to exchange ideas and research in the field of Japanese Studies.

USM’s Dr. Nur Hafeeza Ahmad Pazil from the School of Social Sciences served as a mentor in the Japanese Studies Essay Contest and was invited as a roundtable panellist to discuss the current and future trajectories of the field.

In her session, Hafeeza highlighted her work in digital sociology while introducing the soon-to-be-launched Bachelor of Japanese Liberal Studies (JLS), a transdisciplinary programme designed to equip graduates with intercultural competencies through the lens of Japanese culture, society and technology.

The JLS programme, developed by the School of Social Sciences, aims to enhance academic cooperation between Malaysia and Japan by promoting global perspectives among students.

USM was also represented by two Essay Contest participants:

• Geraldine Wong Sau Kum
  (School of Languages, Literacies and Translation)
  Presented an essay exploring Japan’s disaster prevention framework and how it contrasts with Malaysia’s community-led disaster response model.
• Siti Safya Omar Mohd Azam
  (School of Social Sciences)
  Wrote on the adaptation of Japanese cuisine to suit local Malaysian tastes and cultural context.

Siti Safya Omar’s entry, praised for its originality and depth, secured First Prize in the Undergraduate Category, marking a proud moment for USM in fostering globally relevant research and student engagement.

The symposium reflected the ongoing commitment of JFKL and MAJAS to nurture the next generation of scholars and promote deeper understanding of Japan through academic discourse.

As shared by Hafeeza during the roundtable, “Japanese Studies is not confined to language and culture alone, it offers valuable perspectives on how societies adapt, innovate, and collaborate in a changing world.”

USM congratulates Hafeeza, Siti Safya, and Geraldine Wong for their active involvement and achievements at the Next Generation Symposium on Japanese Studies 2025 and looks forward to further contributions that strengthen the academic bridge between Malaysia and Japan.

Text & Photo: Dr. Hafeeza Ahmad Pazil, School of Social Sciences/Editing: Shafinaz Md Ismail