Cultural Exchange in Action: Japanese Students Enrich Their Learning Journey at Taylor’s

The School of General Studies and Languages was delighted to host 17 Japanese high school students, aged 16 to 19, from Hyogo Prefectural Sumoto High School (Awaji Island), Ikawadani Kita High School (Kobe), and Kobe Gakuentoshi High School, for a two-day English Language Workshop at Taylor’s University on 5 and 6 August 2025. The sessions, facilitated by Ms. Evon Lee Yin Cheng, Lecturer, engaged participants in interactive and culturally enriching learning activities. The programme commenced with a light warm-up and ice-breaking session, setting the tone for an enjoyable and immersive learning experience.

On day one, students explored Malaysia’s vibrant food culture, learning practical English phrases before role-playing as restaurant customers and waiters ordering favourites such as roti canai, nasi lemak, and teh tarik. They then discovered Malaysia’s popular tourist attractions, including Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Pinang, Melaka, Genting Highlands, Sabah, and Sarawak, before presenting must-visit destinations in Japan. The day concluded with a well-loved local snack, Mamee Monster.

Day two centred on Malaysia’s multicultural festivals, with visuals and videos that illustrated festive foods, traditions, and cultural practices for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Gawai Dayak, and Kaamatan. Students also learned seasonal greetings and received festive packets with Malaysian culture-themed stickers as keepsakes.

The session continued with traditional hobbies such as congkak, carrom, checkers, wau, sepak takraw, and batu seremban. After discussing the value of hobbies, students enthusiastically tried batu seremban, similar to the game “five stones” filling the room with laughter and excitement. A lively pop quiz wrapped up the workshop, with winners receiving Malaysian postcards before enjoying another local favourite, Super Ring.

The two-day workshop proved both enriching and memorable, equipping students with practical language skills while offering them an authentic cultural experience that deepened their appreciation of Malaysia’s heritage and diversity.

From Dialogue to Impact: Educational Psychology in Focus at the Indonesia-Malaysia Roundtable

Dr. Hue Chi Yin, Lecturer from the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, was invited to deliver a keynote address at the Indonesia-Malaysia Educational Psychology Academic Roundtable, hosted by Muhammadiyah University, Bandung, Indonesia. The event was jointly organised by the Indonesian Educational Psychology Association (West Java Region) and Muhammadiyah University Bandung. Representing Malaysia, Dr. Hue presented a keynote entitled “Voices of Educational Psychologists in Malaysia: Exploring Roles, Challenges, and Support Needs for Professional Recognition.” 

In her address, she highlighted the pivotal roles of educational psychologists in Malaysia, examined the challenges in achieving professional recognition, and emphasised the need for stronger institutional and policy-level support to advance the profession. The roundtable convened eight distinguished speakers, four from Indonesia and four from Malaysia, providing a dynamic platform for scholarly exchange. Discussions centred on training practices, models of professional development, and collaborative approaches to strengthening the field across both nations.

The event attracted Indonesian students, academics, and practising educational psychologists, fostering meaningful dialogue and regional collaboration. It also underscored the evolving role of educational psychology within the ASEAN region and reinforced the importance of cross-border partnerships in shaping the discipline’s future.

Waves of Innovation: Hospitality & Tourism PhD Student, Md. Tariqul Wins Best Paper Award at Hospitium Symposium 2025

The School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events (SHTE) is proud to announce that Md. Tariqul Islam, a PhD student in Hospitality and Tourism at Taylor’s University, Malaysia, has once again been recognised for his academic excellence and impactful research. His doctoral work focuses on cruise tourism and its implications for Malaysia’s economic development. At the Hospitium Symposium 2025, hosted by Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences in Bangalore, India, Tariqul presented his paper entitled “Technological Waves in Maritime Tourism: A Bibliometric Review and Directions for Future Research.” His presentation earned the Best Paper Presentation Award, further strengthening his reputation as a promising scholar in tourism research.

The study offers a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global scholarship on technological innovations in maritime tourism. By identifying emerging trends, influential authors, and future research directions, the paper underscores the transformative role of technology in shaping the cruise and maritime tourism sectors. Importantly, it addresses innovation gaps and provides pathways for enhancing technological integration, particularly significant for Malaysia’s evolving cruise tourism landscape.

This research was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Jeetesh Kumar, Head of Research at FSLM, whose guidance has been instrumental in supporting Tariqul’s scholarly journey. The award-winning paper has also been featured in Hospitium Magazine, the university’s in-house publication, further showcasing the vibrant research culture at Taylor’s University and its contribution to advancing the hospitality and tourism industries.

This recognition highlights once again the cutting-edge work undertaken by Taylor’s postgraduate researchers and reflects the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and global impact in hospitality and tourism research.