(behind, left-right): Tang Kui Ee, Hervineshwaran A/L Ravindran, Prof. Dr. Tomoya Tsuji, Rukeish A/L Kannan
(front, left-right): Lee Yuet Ee, Siti Aishah Binti Muhammad Firdaus Soh, Kodiswari A/P Jayakumaran, Shaidatul Noraqila Binti Shahrizal, Elleasha Grace Richard, Ir. Dr. Kiew Peck Loo
Kuala Lumpur, 22 August 2023 – 8 students from Chemical Process Engineering, Malaysia Japan International Institute of Japan (MJIIT) had been sent to participate in the Sakura Science Program 2023 together with Prof. Tomoya Tsuji and Ir. Dr. Kiew Peck Loo at Chuo University Tokyo, Japan. The program was held from 22nd to 29th August 2023.
The Sakura Science Program is one of the prominent programmes funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) that promotes the culture of innovation and encourages innovative science. The Sakura Exchange Programme offers students the chance to explore Japanese culture and lifestyle while simultaneously learning innovative scientific and technological concepts. This program also provided the kohai-senpai concept to them. Local students were friendly to help them with their work. Then, based on the students’ preferences, they were assigned to various labs such as Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Organic Chemistry Laboratory and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory to perform the various experiments. They have approximately four days to finish the required lab assignments and also do the preparation for the presentation.
On 25th August 2023, they were given a chance to visit the Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum in Yokohama (left photo) where they were being exposed to current and future advances they can rarely see in daily life. Next, on 27th August 2023, they visited one of the popular tourist attraction spots, Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation with the accompaniment of their local labmates (right photo). During the visit, they also took the opportunity to experience the culture of japan. As it is easy to find halal restaurants through this trip, the participants enjoyed various Japanese foods such as bento sets, ramen, sushi, etc.
On 28th August 2023, all the laboratory results and findings were presented group by group to the lecturers and postgraduate students. Then, the farewell party was prepared by the Chuo University for them. The next day, which are 29th August 2023, the students and the respective lecturers left for Malaysia from Narita International Airport.
Prepared by,
Shaidatul Noraqila binti Shahrizal
Kodiswari A/P Jayakumaran
Lee Yuet Ee
Siti Aishah binti Muhammad Firdaus Soh
Rukeish A/L Kannan