Sakura Science Exchange Programme to embrace Japanese culture of innovation

UTM Office of Sustainability | Hafizan

The Sakura Science Exchange Programme is one of the prestigious programme sponsored by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) to embrace the culture of innovation and promoting advanced scientific.
This programme is an international program where Japan’s host universities will invite selected universities from ASEAN countries to send their students to participate in selected courses available for the programme.
The recent activities of Sakura Science Exchange Programme are hosted by Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech), Japan from 21st October until 26 October 2019, which was initiated by Professor Ir. Dr Mohd Fadhil bin Mohd Din, as advisor and leader of Japan’s host university, Dr Mitsuhiro Honda.
There are four invited universities from three different Asean countries, including Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) from Malaysia, Vietnam National University (VNU) from Vietnam and National University of Laos (NUOL) from Laos.
The program was participated by a total number of 10 students (UTHM-4, UTM-3, VNU-2 and NUOL-1) and lead by Ts. Dr Nickholas Anting Anak Guntor (UTHM) and Dr Eliza (UTM).
The choice of course for this cohort was Course B (Collaborative Research Activities), with the theme of Nano-Technology for Advance Environmental Material. In general, the main agenda was to establish a collaborative partnership in term of research in the field of nano-technology.
To fulfil the content of the theme, there were various activities held, such as research symposium and presentation, discussion and laboratory tour.
Meanwhile, the student also had the opportunity to be trained and experienced laboratory work for a simple experiment at the host’s university.
Special thanks to JST as the main sponsor for this event, which covered transportation, accommodation and allowance for logistics and food for all participants.
This program was a great platform for knowledge sharing and collaborative partnership while promoting science and technology between Japan and ASEAN countries.