The University of Kitakyushu MBA Delegation Visits New Era University College for a Study and Exchange Programme
The Institute of International Education (IIE) at New Era University College hosted an MBA delegation from The University of Kitakyushu, Japan, from 13 to 19 September 2026 for a week-long study visit and exchange programme in Malaysia. The participants visited Kajang, Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, engaging in a range of activities including academic lectures, corporate and institutional visits, and cultural exchanges. These experiences provided them with diverse perspectives on Malaysia’s business environment, social and cultural landscape, while facilitating interaction with local industry and broadening their international outlook.
The study visit officially commenced with an opening ceremony held at New Era University College on 14 September. In her welcoming remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lew Siew Boon, Assistant Dean of the IIE, noted that this was the University’s first time hosting an MBA-level study delegation from The University of Kitakyushu. She expressed the hope that by stepping beyond the classroom and engaging with real-world social and business environments, the participants would encounter different perspectives, exchange professional experiences, and further strengthen the connection between the two institutions. Professor Wang Xiaoping of the Graduate School of Business Administration, The University of Kitakyushu, also shared his expectations for the study visit and introduced the geographical setting, regional culture and distinctive characteristics of Kitakyushu, expressing the hope that the visit would serve as a starting point for both institutions to deepen their mutual understanding and pursue future exchanges.
Throughout the week, the delegation participated in four thematic lectures and visited organizations and enterprises from various sectors. Through classroom learning, site visits, industry interactions and case sharing, the participants gained a deeper understanding of Malaysia’s business environment, industrial development and social and cultural landscape, broadening their perspectives on management and cross-cultural understanding.
On the final day of the programme, Professor Dr. Mok Soon Chong, Vice-Chancellor of NEUC delivered a lecture entitled “Confucianism and the Corporate Culture of Southeast Asian Chinese Enterprises,” exploring how Confucian values are reflected in the management philosophies and business practices of Chinese family enterprises. This was followed by a closing ceremony, where student representatives shared their learning outcomes and reflections from the study visit. In his closing remarks, Prof. Dr. Mok emphasised that management education should extend beyond the classroom, and that international exchange and experiential learning can broaden the perspectives of future business leaders. He encouraged the participants to value the opportunity for cross-border exchange and to serve as bridges between the two institutions. He concluded by sharing the Japanese expression Ichigo Ichie, encouraging the participants to cherish each unique encounter and carry the experiences and insights gained in Malaysia back to Japan.
Through academic learning, campus engagement, corporate visits and wider social and cultural exposure, the programme enabled participants from both institutions to deepen their understanding of one another’s educational, business and cultural environments, while laying a stronger foundation for future student and academic exchanges as well as broader forms of collaboration.
