{"id":143100,"date":"2025-11-06T17:38:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T08:38:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/project\/international\/penang\/2025-2"},"modified":"2025-11-06T18:12:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T09:12:29","slug":"2025-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/en\/project\/international\/penang\/2025-2","title":{"rendered":"FY2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Malaysia and Penang Cross-Cultural Understanding Training” FY2025<\/p>\n

Updated date: October 31 (Friday) *The event has been canceled.<\/p>\n

Explanation video of the training (about 7 minutes)<\/a>
Last year’s training video (about 3 minutes)<\/a><\/p>\n

We will hold the second “Malaysia-Penang Cross-Cultural Understanding Training” for university students, junior college students, and graduate students (including international students) belonging to member universities of the University Consortium Kyoto.<\/p>\n

Features of this training<\/u><\/h5>\n

\ud83d\udd36 At Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), students will receive lectures on culture, history, and ethnicity in English with local students (buddies), and deepen their interactions with buddies through hands-on experience.
\ud83d\udd36 Visitors to the Refugee Center and Mangrove Center will experience the significance of the SDGs firsthand through fieldwork. On the last day, one person will give a presentation in English.
\ud83d\udd36At USM’s CEMACS (Ocean Center), students will observe the creatures and plants that live in the ocean and learn about the SDGs from the perspective of marine resource conservation activities.
\ud83d\udd36 Visited Japanese companies, toured factories, and conducted Q sessions with local staff. You will be exposed to real voices working in multinational workplaces and learn how to work globally.
\ud83d\udd36 With a Buddy guide, you’ll tour the World Heritage Site of Georgetown in a small group, deepening your understanding of history and culture and friendship through exchanges.
\ud83d\udd36 As a day of self-improvement, we will set up free activities in the group to fulfill each person’s “I want to see”, “I want to go”, and “I want to do”.
\ud83d\udd36 For breakfast and dinner, you will enjoy a variety of local dishes with your buddy, and deepen your interactions with your buddy by experiencing real student life.
\ud83d\udd36 A large supermarket is a 2-minute walk away and there is also a food court where you can buy sweets, drinks, food and souvenirs, and you can enjoy popular cafes and restaurants in the nearby shopping mall.
\ud83d\udd36 At hawkers (street food stalls) and Ramadan Bazaar, which are popular locally, you can enjoy cheap, delicious and safe meals.
\ud83d\udd36 University Consortium Kyoto staff will lead the journey from beginning to end. Even students who are new to overseas can participate with confidence.<\/p>\n

Recommended for people like this<\/u><\/h5>\n

\ud83d\udd37 People who want to make friends abroad
\ud83d\udd37 People who want to experience Malaysian culture, ethnicity, and history and have a cross-cultural experience
\ud83d\udd37 People who are not confident in their English skills but want to take lectures in English and interact with local students
\ud83d\udd37 People who want to visit overseas Japanese companies
\ud83d\udd37People who are interested in the SDGS (mangrove observation, refugee support activities, marine conservation efforts at CEMACS, etc.)
\ud83d\udd37 For those who are new to overseas training (we also do pre- and post-training!) \uff09
\ud83d\udd37 If you want to interact with students from other universities in Kyoto, please join us!<\/p>\n

The charm of Penang<\/u><\/h5>\n

Penang, Malaysia is one of the safest cities in Southeast Asia. In addition, prices are very cheap, and even now, when the yen is depreciating, it is very cheap, 1\/3 of Japan, and you can enjoy breakfast and dinner within 300 yen to 500 yen at local hawkers. In addition, there are three main ethnic groups living in Malaysia: Malay, Chinese, and Indian, but the people are very friendly and many are pro-Japanese, so you can stay with peace of mind. English is used as a semi-official language after Malay, and since Penang is visited by tourists from all over the world, English is spoken in most public places, including convenience stores and supermarkets. The climate in Penang is very mild, with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius in the morning and 30 degrees Celsius in the afternoon, and the period from November to March is a time when rainfall is low. Although it is during Ramadan, you can also enjoy the Ramadan Bazaar, which is only held at this time, and it is the best time to visit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u3010Details\u3011<\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date and Time<\/td>\nMarch 4th (Wed) to March 12th (Thu), 2026 (8 nights, 9 days) Departing from Kansai International Airport with Cathay Pacific Airways<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
cost<\/td>\n310,000 to 350,000 yen (including local accommodation, training costs, airfare, and airport taxes) *Fuel surcharge excluded<\/span>
*The fuel surcharge (currently 20,000 yen as of September) is subject to change, so the price will be finalized around early January and the remaining balance will be paid.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Training location<\/td>\nUniversity of Science Malaysia<\/strong> (USM), CEMACS<\/strong> (Centre for Marine Sciences), etc.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accommodation<\/td>\nU Hotel<\/a> (planned) 3-star hotel (2 people per room) *Separate for men and women (8 minutes walk from the university)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
subject<\/td>\nStudents enrolled at member universities of the University Consortium Kyoto (including international students),<\/span> undergraduate, junior college, and graduate students<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minimum number of participants<\/td>\n10 people (including 2 leaders) *The tour will not be held if there are 7 or fewer people<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recruitment quota<\/td>\n4 people *First come, first served<\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deadline<\/td>\nFriday, October 31, 2025, noon<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
How to apply<\/td>\nPlease apply by clicking the [Apply] button above. After the deadline, please transfer the application fee (45,000 yen) by Friday, November 7th. (Details will be provided later.) * Cancellations <\/span>are<\/u><\/span>
\n not permitted after application. *<\/span>

\nHowever, in unavoidable circumstances such as illness, cancellation is possible after paying the cancellation fee.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Main training contents<\/td>\nParticipants will take English-language lectures on intercultural understanding at the University of Science Malaysia and interact with local students.
\nWhile all lectures will be conducted in English, they will be conducted in easy-to-understand English, so high school-level English proficiency is sufficient. Participants will also<\/span>

\nvisit local Japanese companies and factories, and socialize with local employees
\n. Participants will explore the World Heritage Site of George Town and experience a multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual society through fieldwork
\n. Participants will also participate in fieldwork at the Refugee Center, CEMACS, and Mangrove Center. Participants will receive pre-
\nand post-training training on five separate occasions: \u2460 November 15 (Sat), \u2461, \u2462, and \u2463 (three sessions between February 18 (Wed) and February 26 (Thu), and \u2464 March 21 (Sat). Participation is encouraged. <\/span>
\nA safety management seminar will also be held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*Overseas travel insurance<\/td>\nBasically, you will be required to take out overseas travel insurance from AIG Sompo Insurance through HIS (separate fee required).<\/strong>

\nAIG is available 24 hours a day in Japanese and provides local support. In the unlikely event of an accident, injury or illness while on-site, support will be provided by the HIS Kuala Lumpur branch, and the accompanying staff will respond in cooperation with local USM staff.
\nAIG Sompo: https:\/\/travel.aig.co.jp\/<\/a>

\nAIG support system: https:\/\/travel.aig.co.jp\/ota\/service<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u3010Organizer\u3011<\/h5>\n

University Consortium Kyoto, International Business Department<\/p>\n

[Travel agency]<\/h5>\n

H.I.S. Educational Travel Co., Ltd. 2nd Sales Office<\/p>\n

\u3010Itinerary\u3011<\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
date<\/td>\ntime<\/td>\nschedule<\/td>\nmeal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March 4 (Wed)<\/td>\n07:25
09:25
13:00
15:15
19:05<\/td>\n		Meet at Kansai Airport
\ud83d\udeeb By air, to Hong Kong
After arriving at Hong Kong Airport, transfer
\ud83d\udeeb Departing from Hong Kong Airport
Arrival \ud83d\ude8c at Penang Airport Take a private car to the hotel and check in [Overnight in Penang]<\/td>\n		Morning: \u00d7
Lunch: In-flight meals
Dinner: In-flight meal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thursday, March 5<\/td>\n8:00
9:00
09:30
10:30
12:00
14:00
16:00
18:00<\/td>\n		Breakfast with Buddy at a nearby restaurant
Depart from the hotel (on foot)
Opening Ceremony at Universiti Sains Malaysia
Lecture: History and Culture of Malaysia
lunch
Lecture: Refugees in Malaysia
To the hotel
Dinner with Buddy (at a nearby restaurant) [Overnight in Penang]<\/td>\n		Morning: \u00d7
Lunch: \u3007
Evening: \u00d7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Friday, March 6<\/td>\n8:00
09:00
09:30
11:30
12:00
13:00
14:00
17:00
18:00<\/td>\n		Breakfast with Buddy at a nearby restaurant
\ud83d\ude8c Depart by private car (accompanied by a local student buddy)
Visit to the Refugee Learning Center
Move to Universiti Science Malaysia
lunch
\ud83d\ude8c Private car to Sumira Bar Malaysia
Factory tour reception at Sumira Bar Malaysia
After departing from the site, go to the hotel
Dinner with Buddy (at a nearby restaurant) [Overnight in Penang]<\/td>\n		Morning: \u00d7
Lunch: \u3007
Evening: \u00d7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saturday, March 7<\/td>\n08:00
09:00
12:00<\/br><\/br>13:00
16:00<\/td>\n		Breakfast with Buddy at a nearby restaurant
\ud83d\ude8c Depart by private car
Visit to Georgetown (Multi-Ethnic, Multicultural, and Historical Training)
\u2605 Guided by Buddy (planned visits to Kapitan Klin Mosque, Srimaha Mariamman Temple, Kannon Temple, street art, Penang Peranakan Mansion, Kranjeti, etc.)
Lunch at the restaurant
After inspecting Georgetown, disbanded freely and went to a hotel [Overnight in Penang]<\/td>\n		Morning: \u00d7
Lunch: \u3007
Evening: \u00d7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March 8 (Sun)<\/td>\n07:00
08:00
10:00
11:30
13:00
14:00
16:00
18:00<\/td>\n		Breakfast with Buddy at a nearby restaurant
\ud83d\ude8c Depart by private car
Visit to Matan Mangrove Forest Eco-Education Center (Learning about Natural Environmental Protection)
lunch
Visit to a fisherman’s village (fish farming and learning about marine life)
\ud83d\ude8c Private car to the hotel
Arrival at the hotel
Dinner with Buddy (at a nearby restaurant) [Overnight in Penang]<\/td>\n		Morning: \u00d7
Lunch: \u3007
Evening: \u00d7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monday, March 9<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSelf-improvement day (free all day in group activities)
Optional tour or Penang World Heritage Site exploration [overnight in Penang]<\/td>\n		Morning: \u00d7
Day: \u00d7
Evening: \u00d7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tuesday, March 10<\/td>\n07:00
08:00
09:00
09:30
11:30
12:30
14:00
16:00
18:00<\/td>\n		Breakfast with Buddy at a nearby restaurant
\ud83d\ude8c Depart in a private car (accompanied by a buddy)
Transfer by boat from Teluk Bahang
CEMACS Visit (Learning about Natural Environment Conservation and Facility Tour)
Go to USM
lunch
Preparing for a Presentation
To the hotel
Dinner with Buddy (at a nearby restaurant) [Overnight in Penang]<\/td>\n		Morning: \u00d7
Lunch: \u3007
Evening: \u00d7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March 11 (Wed)<\/td>\n08:00
09:30
10:00
12:00
15:00
16:30
17:00
18:00<\/td>\n		Breakfast with Buddy at a nearby restaurant
Depart from the hotel (on foot)
Cultural Exchange with Students at Universiti Sains Malaysia
lunch
Final Presentation by Japan Students (Buddy Staff Comments)
Certificate of Completion and Graduation Ceremony
To the hotel
Dinner with Buddy (at a nearby restaurant) [Overnight in Penang]<\/td>\n		Morning: \u00d7
Lunch: \u3007
Evening: \u00d7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March 12 (Thu)<\/td>\n05:00
07:50
11:30<\/p>\n

16:40
21:05<\/td>\n

After checking out of the hotel, \ud83d\ude8c take a private car to the airport
\ud83d\udeeb Departing from Penang Airport to Hong Kong Airport
Transfer in Hong Kong (lunch at the food court) After that, free time in Hong Kong until departure
\ud83d\udeeb Departing from Hong Kong Airport to Kansai International Airport
Arrival at Kansai International Airport, after customs clearance, disbandment ~Thank you for your hard work~<\/td>\n		Morning: In-flight meal
Day: \u00d7
Dinner: In-flight meal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

*Please note that the schedule may change depending on local circumstances.<\/p>\n

Voices of last year’s participants<\/h4>\n

*Last year, the number of participants was 12 (2 males and 10 females), and 5 universities (Kyoto Koka Women’s University, Kyoto Women’s University, Kyoto University, Kyoto Prefectural University, Doshisha University, 50 syllables)] participated, and more than 90% of the students rated it as “satisfied”<\/u>.<\/p>\n

\u30fbThe local buddy was very kind and I was able to interact with him a lot. I was able to experience Malaysia’s multiculturalism firsthand.
\u30fbI was able to learn and experience various things with generous support throughout.
\u30fbIt was good to have many experiences that I could not have done even if I went to study abroad on my own, such as the Refugee Center, Seamax, and Sumirabar.
\u30fbThere were many things that I would not have been able to experience if it weren’t for this training, such as interacting with local buddies and activities at USM.
\u30fbThere were a wide variety of programs, such as World Heritage sightseeing and contact with the natural environment, and I was able to learn about Malaysia from various directions and enjoyed it.
\u30fbI was worried about my first time abroad, but I was able to truly enjoy it with the reliable support system.
\u30fbThrough the training, I was able to learn comprehensively about different cultures, the natural environment, and overseas companies, and I was able to balance learning lectures and sightseeing such as self-improvement.
\u30fbI was able to get along with local university students and feel a lot of culture that is not found in Japan.
\u30fbIt was good to actually see and experience the cityscape and people of Malaysia, which is a multi-ethnic country.
\u30fbIn addition to sightseeing, there were many opportunities to learn about Malaysia, such as interacting with buddies and giving lectures at universities.
\u30fbThe training from various angles was substantial, and I was able to have a better experience than the short-term program at the university.
\u30fbUnlike when I went alone, it was good that I was able to interact with local university students and prepare various experiences.<\/p>\n

Q from applicants *We will update the content sequentially according to your inquiries. <\/span><\/h4>\n

Q1  I’m not sure about other overseas training, can I cancel after applying?
A1  We are very sorry, but we do not accept cancellations after application. This is because those who have already applied may not be able to go.
We are accepting applications until October 31st, so if you have a first-choice training, please apply after knowing the results.<\/p>\n

Q2  How much does a fuel surcharge cost?
A2  If you issue a ticket from September to October, this section is 20,000 yen round trip with Cathay Pacific, but the amount is still undecided because the ticket will be issued in January.<\/p>\n

Q3  I want to participate alone, but I’m not sure if I can make friends.
A3  Last year, about 40% of the students participated alone, but there is no need to worry because we plan to interact with each other through self-introduction and games in the four pre-trainings.<\/p>\n

Q4  There are days when I can’t participate in the pre-training twice, can I participate in the overseas training?
A4  Yes. It is possible to participate in overseas training. However, it is necessary to discuss group activities and cultural exchange in the local area, so please participate as much as possible.<\/p>\n

Q5  I don’t have a passport, when do I have to prepare it?
A5  Please obtain your passport by mid-January. If it is difficult to prepare, we will consult with the travel agency, so please be sure to let us know.<\/p>\n

Q6  Do I have to purchase overseas travel insurance?
A6  Please be sure to sign up as compensation in case of emergency. We recommend that you purchase insurance that can cover not only illness and injury, but also lost luggage and flight delays.<\/p>\n

Q7  In the unlikely event that I have an accident or serious injury on site, who will respond to me?
A7  In cooperation with local Universiti Sains Malaysia staff and travel agencies (HIS), staff from the University Consortium Kyoto will respond. We will also handle transportation to the hospital and contact with parents in Japanese.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[About HIS’s optional tours]<\/h5>\n

\u2605 Malaysian Cooking Experience: Payment and application will be made at the local Penang venue. (For details, please refer to the first pre-training) There is also a plan to apply online.<\/strong>
\u2605 World Heritage Penang City Tour: https:\/\/activities.his-j.com\/TourLeaf\/PEN0073\/<\/a>
\u2605 Penang Hill and Gokurakuji Temple Visit: https:\/\/activities.his-j.com\/TourLeaf\/PEN0078\/<\/a>
\u2605 Peranakan Mansion and Georgetown World Heritage Site Tour with Tri-Show Ride https:\/\/activities.his-j.com\/TourLeaf\/PEN0077\/<\/a><\/p>\n

*In addition, as introduced on the website, various optional tours can be used for an additional fee.<\/p>\n

*If you have any questions or inquiries, please feel free to contact us at the contact information below.<\/p>\n

Inquiries<\/h5>\n

[University Consortium Kyoto, International Business Division]
\u3012600-8216 Campus Plaza Kyoto
Phone: 075-353-9164 (Tuesday and Saturday 9:00-17:00 Closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Email: kokusai\u25a0consortium.or.jp (Please change \u25a0 to @ and send it.) \uff09<\/p>\n

\u300aClick here for information on Penang\u300b<\/p>\n

\u25c6Universiti Sains Malaysia
URL:\u3000https:\/\/www.usm.my\/<\/a>
URL:\u3000https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JJfoREjcbOE<\/a>
\u25c6USM Campus Tour 2020 (USM Campus English Explanation Video)
URL:\u3000https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IQSrzpcScEo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u25c6CEMACS (Center for Ocean Research) https:\/\/youtu.be\/uWkZKa8ei9E<\/a>
\u25c6Malaysia Penang Tourism Board
URL:\u3000https:\/\/www.tourismmalaysia.or.jp\/area\/penang_01.html<\/a>
\u25c6Penang Digital Brochure
URL:\u3000https:\/\/www.tourismmalaysia.or.jp\/pamphlet\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Malaysia and Penang Cross-Cultural Understanding Training” FY2025 Updated date: October 31 (Friday) *The event has been canceled. Explanation video of the training (about 7 minutes)Last year’s training video (about 3 minutes) We will hold the second “Malaysia-Penang Cross-Cultural Understanding Training” for university students, junior college students, and graduate students (including international students) belonging to member universities of the University Consortium Kyoto. Features of this training \ud83d\udd36 At Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), students will receive lectures on culture, history, and ethnicity in English with local students (buddies), and deepen their interactions with buddies through hands-on experience.\ud83d\udd36 Visitors to the Refugee Center and Mangrove Center will experience the significance of the SDGs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":127665,"menu_order":2262,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-143100","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-26 08:37:19","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"for-page-group"},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143100"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143100"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":143133,"href":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143100\/revisions\/143133"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/127665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.consortium.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}