JOHOR BAHRU, 21 Aug. — Two outstanding Japanese Language lecturers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) were awarded with Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendations (Individual category) for the Year 2021.
They are Associate Professor Kumaraguru Ramayah of Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities(FSSH) and Mrs. Hasparina binti Abdul Ghafar, Head of Japanese Language and Cultural Center, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT).
This award was given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan on the basis of their outstanding contribution to the promotion and development of Japanese Language Education in Malaysia.
The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups around the world with outstanding achievements in international fields, in order to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship and to promote similarity between Japan and other countries and areas.
It was initiated with the aim to recognise and honour individuals and organisations that have made tremendous contribution to promote amity between Japan and other countries.
On the receiving of the award, Assoc.Prof Kumaraguru said he was very happy to be selected and it was an honour not just for him but to UTM to be endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in the field of Japanese Language education.
“I am so glad to be able to take UTM higher globally through this award. Even by merely offering Japanese Language as an elective subject, it has helped our graduates to secure career opportunities in Japanese companies locally and in Japan. The uniqueness of our syllabus is our strength”
Moving forward, I hope to inspire more younger generation from both Malaysia and Japan to enhance the mutual cooperation and friendship between the two nations, ” he added.
Meanwhile, Mrs Hasparina binti Abdul Ghafar also expressed her gratitude for being selected as one of the recipients.
“Thank you very much to MJIIT(UTM), JICA, JFKL, and many other organizations that have been supporting my career in MJIIT since 2013 and their support to MJIIT Japanese Language and Cultural Centre (JLCC) since its establishment in 2018.
The Japanese language education in MJIIT has been tremendously improved these few years and now we have many students with JLPT qualifications and many getting offers from Japanese company especially since we started a special course for Job Hunting in 2020. JLCC regularly conducts language and cultural programs weekly, monthly and yearly since 2018 and these are also the catalyst for the improvement, ” she said.
To note, a lot of UTM’s graduates from multiple courses were offered jobs in Japan through this program.
Last but not least, her gratitude is also dedicated to the Embassy Of Japan in Malaysia for the continued support given to Japanese language education in Malaysia and MJIIT particularly.
According to its website, https://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/newinfo_20082021B.html, this year, the Commendations has awarded 177 individuals and 41 groups (22 individuals and 5 groups reside in Japan, and 155 individuals and 36 groups reside overseas).
The recipients would be awarded with certificate and a commemorative gift.