Multicultural Co-learning Program Conducted in Malaysia in Partnership with SMBC Group
2026.03.18
From February 8 to 15, 2026, University of Tsukuba conducted a multicultural co-learning program in Malaysia DOJO. Based in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, Malaysia, the program focused on the theme of water environments. A total of 27 students participated, including 15 from our university, 10 from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and 2 from the University of Malaya.
Through activities such as water quality surveys in local rivers and company visits, students deepened their understanding of sustainable water use and environmental conservation from an international perspective.
This program was supported financially by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMBC Group), which also contributed to the program’s development. As part of the program, participants visited SMBC Malaysia and were introduced to Kurita Water Industries Ltd., a company engaged in the manufacturing and sales of water treatment chemicals in Malaysia. With the company’s cooperation, students took part in a factory tour and attended lectures.
Visit to SMBC Malaysia
Students were divided into mixed groups consisting of members from all three universities. Through fieldwork, they explored local water quality issues as a key social challenge and proposed solutions during the final presentation session. The session was attended by faculty members from our university and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, as well as representatives from SMBC Malaysia, Kurita Water Industries, and the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) in Johor.
Lecture at Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
Water Environment Measurement Practicum
Participants received valuable feedback from diverse perspectives spanning academia, industry, and government. Since fiscal year 2024, our university has been selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) project, “Multicultural Campus Project toward Social Impact.” This program was implemented as part of the DOJO Program under this initiative. Moving forward, we will continue to actively promote multicultural collaborative learning programs, enabling both Japanese and international students to engage with social issues from diverse perspectives.
Laboratory Experiment at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
Scenes from the Final Presentation Session
Group Photo at the Final Presentation Session