UCSF Reaching Out for Friendship & Cultural Exchange During Restrictive
Time
Today, we live in very globally connected world, some even believing that we are over connected, where society is becoming more mobile. Keeping in sync with contemporary trend, University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) as an institution of higher learning takes cognizance of the importance of being contemporary in its approach to be at the forefront in its engagement with the world.
Although UCSF is relatively a young institution, its International Outreach Programme is an initiative specially created with the aim at ensuring its vision and mission gain more traction as it continues its efforts to transform into a futuristic, contemporary, open and globally connected campus.
The thrust of the our International Outreach Programme is not only to extend our hand of friendship and cooperation with other endeavouring institutions overseas, but also to provide a contemporary platform for our local students in Sabah, many of whom are marginalised, to be able to engage and interact with students/youths from other parts of the world. These intellectual and cultural engagements will nurture towards a wholesome and globally savvy youths who are ready to actively contribute to the global society in enriching socio-cultural and environmentally sustainable knowledge and practices. We are preparing our students to be competent players in the fields of tomorrow which include a global landscape requiring the capability of building cross border bridges, working in trust collaborative relationships as well as appreciating and harmonizing cross-border diversity.
Despite prevailing conditions that are challenging, travelling and borders of many countries being closed as preventive measures against the Covid-19 pandemic, it has not restrained UCSF in its effort to reach out internationally.
Across consecutive weeks, beginning in mid January 2022 up to mid-February 2022, UCSF has been actively engaging with two Junior High Schools in Japan. It was a 3-days online engagement with Aitoku Gakuen Junior High School, and a 2-days with Yokohama Jogakuin Junior High School. Both events involved over 100 Japanese student participants, their respective English teachers and Japanese translators.
This International Outreach Programme was entitled “A Workshop on Nature, Culture and Society.” The workshop encompassed a talk on the topic of ‘The Value of Nature’. It focused on understanding the underlying Green Concept and Philosophy of UCSF based on an eccentric worldview which encompassed sustainability and harmonization within an ecosystem. Topics on Conservation of nature and Multiculturalism were also delivered by the various discipline experts from the fields of natural science, developmental and cultural science, and eco-tourism.
UCSF students from its various undergraduate programmes were also actively involved, playing the role of tutors who facilitated the various mini workshops and interactive sessions with the Japanese students.
The sessions were conducted in English. Each student was required to converse in English with their workshop tutors, as well as taking part in groups’ presentation in English.
As a special feature, for both events, UCSF invited its collaborative green partner, Sabah Wetland Conservation Society (SWCS), to share their experiences in the conservation of a RAMSAR site in Sabah.
“The Japanese students were indeed very shy initially but opened up with excitements as they gained their confidence interacting with UCSF student tutors. They initially knew little about Sabah but after the workshop, they got to know much of Sabah and its assets. They also get to know more about Japan as well when they began to compare Sabah and Japan. Most certainly they enjoyed this online experience as conveyed by their English teacher from Aitoku Gakuen Junior High School
“The engagement has not only been very education but a revelation, as the online engagement has also made the Japanese students realised the value of their own culture in Japan, which is also rich and worthy of continuing” said the lead English teacher from Yokohama Jogakuin Junior High School.
The events were conducted fully online and part of the highlights from the events was that the Japanese guests were taught the Sumazau dance by the students of UCSF. The Japanese counterparts thought it was fun.
“I enjoyed facilitating the workshop especially the Sumazau dance. I never imagined that I would be acting as an ambassador of Sabah spreading the Sumazau when I joined UCSF. This is definitely an experience I never expected!” joked Kalvin Jonathan Sapian, a student tutor of UCSF.
Apart from the certificate of appreciations being awarded by both UCSF and SWCS to the Japanese schools, the best presentation groups were also given gift tokens from UCSF Nature Inspiration Art Gallery, which houses the handiworks of art trainees in UCSF.
This unique experience was made possible through an international collaborative effort which also involved Global English Centre and Ryugaku Journal. For the time being, these engagements will be conducted online until the borders between countries reopen, where the participations will be enriched further with actual visits and experiences of the rich diversity, culture and environment of Sabah.
