HIROSHIMA, JAPAN, 11 December 2015 - 14 students of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and 14 students from Hiroshima University (HU), Japan attended the HU-USM Student Forum 2015 to discuss globalisation and sustainability issues for five days, from 7 to 11 December 2015.

Among the issues discussed were concerning ‘halal’ food, the problem of food security, globalisation effects on food supplies and also on native languages, culture, architecture and the national education system.

The annual forum involving students from both universities was organised for the first time in 2012, and later organisations were done alternately each year, for example last year it was held at USM and for 2015 it was hosted by HU.

The USM Students Representative Council (MPP) President, Mohd Fahmi Mohd Fadzli said, such a programme was truly beneficial to all the participants in allowing them to share new ideas on global issues, improving their communication skills in English, building their self-confidence and learning about the Japanese culture.

“Throughout this programme, I have learned three things from the Japanese students namely being punctual, being committed and dedicated at work and also not giving up when faced with failure,” he said.

Mohd Fahmi added, this programme has the potential to be expanded to other student societies and schools at USM, more so to other universities in Malaysia as students need to establish networks with other foreign universities, especially those from the developed countries such as HU in Japan.

Mohd Fahmi also commented that, having a programme of this nature was also to heed the call of the USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman to produce students from USM who would have global outlooks and mindsets.

Meanwhile, the President of the Educational Studies Society, Mohamad Azroy Effendi Mohd Jasman said, the experience of interacting with students from HU in Japan and personally seeing the education system there is hoped to increase the participants’ knowledge, especially on the aspects of the Japanese education system which are applicable in Malaysia.

“Apart from that, it is hoped that such a programme will also foster good relations between the students of USM and HU, and at the same time strengthening the ties between Malaysia and Japan,” said Azroy.

Those who were among the USM delegates include the Dean of the School of Educational Studies Professor Dato’ Dr. Abdul Rashid Mohamed, Deputy Dean Associate Professor Dr. Shaik Abdul Malik Mohamed Ismail and a lecturer of PPIP, Dr. Mohd Ali Samsudin.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Zamani Abdul Rahim

Photos: Facebook Rasis M. Rosdi