Focusing on the main aim to become a Globally Renowned University and respected globally, the Academy of Language Studies, UiTM Kedah Branch, Malaysia does its part for UiTM by initiating a collaboration with a reputable and prestigious Japanese university, Akita International University. Sealing the linkage between both institutions with an online signing ceremony on 31 January 2024, UiTM Kedah Branch and Akita International University are set to proceed with more mutually beneficial activities.
So far, before signing the MoU, there were already two activities conducted by both institutions. Firstly, Mr. Travis Senzaki, the International Relations Officer was invited to give an online Global Learning talk to more than 100 UiTM students on 8 May 2023. The talk was on how to provide personal responses to a short story. Mr. Travis was invited because he is also a fiction writer. The Global Learning session was organized by a group of English language lecturers led by Puan Syazliyati Ibrahim and assisted by Puan Robekhah Harun, Puan Nor Asni Syahriza Abu Hassan and Puan Sharifah Syakila Syed Shaharuddin.
The second activity conducted was the International Teaching Practicum project held from 1 October 2023 until 31 December 2023. UiTM Kedah Branch received three post-graduate students from AIU who taught three English language diploma classes. The post-graduate students completed three two-hour sessions observing the classes and two two-hour sessions teaching the students. The post-graduate teacher-students are Rintaro Ikegami, Farhana Sarmin and Wenxin Zhang. These AIU students were co-supervised by Puan Syazliyati Ibrahim, Puan Robekhah Harun and Puan Syakirah Mohammed from UiTM and also Professor Hiroki Uchida and Professor Dr. Chris Carl Hale from AIU.
Both universities are grateful and satisfied for the dynamic participation of the lecturers in the activities conducted so far. Going forward after the MoU signing, it is hoped that other useful activities will be planned and executed to benefit the students in producing globally oriented students in the future.