KUCHING – Swinburne recently hosted 59 Japanese students from the Faculty of Global Liberal Arts, Kanda University of International Studies as part of the immersion programme offered by Swinburne Innovation Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SWIM).
The first-year students who specialise in Japan’s and other countries’ languages and cultures started its four weeks of round-the-world study tour with a week of classes from Lithuania, followed by another week from Jerusalem. They spent week three with a university in Pune, India focusing on the work of NGOs in Indian society, and concluded their study tour learning about the culture and environmental issues in Sarawak.
Initially, the Japanese students were scheduled to visit Swinburne’s Sarawak campus last year to undergo the study tour for 10 days but due to the pandemic, the delivery mode was changed to online mode for one week.
Centred on the theme ‘Biodiversity’, the virtual study tour featured a series of panel discussion and seminars where students from both universities had the chance to interact and exchange ideas on environmental conservation effort at both university and country levels. Several Swinburne staff were also invited to speak at the seminars and be involved in panel discussion as moderators and panellists.
On the last day of the event, students from both universities were invited to share their learning experience throughout the five-day immersion programme. The highlight of the event was an evening performance by sape player Alena Murang jointly organised by SWIM and Swinburne’s School of Design and Arts. The performance aimed at showcasing the indigenous musical instrument of Sarawak which was a continuation of Seminar 2 ‘Arts and Crafts of Sarawak’, one of the activities of the study tour. The multimedia works of students from the School were also featured and demonstrated that evening.
The programme was made possible with the support and assistance from students representing Student Experience, Swinburne Sarawak Student Council, Green Club, Biotechnology Club, and Nyalang Warriors Club.
Swinburne August 2021 intake is now open for enrolment into its foundation, diploma, degree, and master programmes. All classes are expected to commence on 30 August 2021. For more information, chat with Swinburne’s Education Counsellor via WhatsApp at 019-819 6353 or email to study@swinburne.edu.my. Online counselling on demand is also available from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm daily.
For more information about Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website www.swinburne.edu.my, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).