KOTA SAMARAHAN: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is urged to lead stronger two-way student exchanges with Japan as Tokyo seeks a more reciprocal partnership beyond the traditional Look East Policy.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Malaysia, His Excellency Shikata Noriyuki, said there is strong potential for more Japanese students to pursue their studies in Sarawak, noting that current numbers remain very small despite growing academic cooperation.
He described the university as an ideal destination for Japanese students due to its strengths in biodiversity, environmental science, engineering and medical research, as well as its unique multicultural setting.
“At this point, there are only a handful of Japanese students here, and that shows how much room there is to grow.
“Sarawak’s rich biodiversity, cultural diversity and strong academic environment offer learning experiences that cannot be found in Japan,” he said during his official visit to DeTAR PUTRA, UNIMAS today.
He proposed that the traditional Look East Policy, which has for decades sent Malaysian students to Japan, evolve into a more balanced approach where young people from both countries study and learn from one another.
“This should not only be Malaysia looking at Japan, but also Japan looking at Malaysia and Sarawak,” he said, adding that such exchanges would help build long-term partnerships through shared experiences and mutual understanding.
Shikata noted that many Malaysians who studied in Japan are now playing important roles in government, industry and academia, and have become key bridges in bilateral cooperation.
He said expanding student flows in both directions would strengthen these people-to-people ties even further.
He also called on the UNIMAS leadership to expand collaboration with Japanese universities through more exchange agreements, joint or double-degree programmes and larger-scale research projects.
The ambassador assured that the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia stands ready to support stronger academic links and facilitate connections with Japanese institutions.
Addressing students directly, he encouraged them to consider studying in Japan while also welcoming future Japanese students to Sarawak.
“True partnership is built not only by governments and institutions, but by people, by friendship, shared experiences and mutual respect,” he said.
