benifits of learning from japan

8/9/2019 Benifits of Learning From Japan

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MALAYSIA and Japan have both enjoyed very good relations withone another. One of the pillars of this long-lastingrelationship has been the Look East Policy launched byMalaysia in 1981.

In the expectation that Malaysia could learn from Japan's

economic success, the Government decided to send Malaysian

students, Government officers and technical personnel tosearch and study from the Japanese "something ... which is not

found at home," "the virtue of hard work," "diligence inwork," "the paternalistic cradle-to-grave type of relationship

within Japanese companies," "the concept of Japanese

Incorporated," and the highly successful strategies, a devicewhich is greatly needed for the development of the nationaleconomy.

There are several ways that Malaysians can get to Japan to

study. The sponsored ways include: selection under theGovernment's Look East Policy; the programmes of the various

Japanese universities and colleges; through the programmes of

the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, the Asean-JapanFriendship Programme for the 21st Century, and the Ship for

the South-East Asian Youths Programme.

To date, Malaysians trained under these programmes have

reached the following totals: Look East Policy, 4,000;

Graduates, 1,000; Jica, 420; Friendship, 1,785; Ship, 948.

These figures have been supplied by the various alumni

associations during a seminar in conjunction with the JapanFestival in Malaysia 1999.

The main areas discussed in the seminar were human resource

development and education in Japan, understanding Japanese

culture, promotion of friendship and understanding throughjoint activities, and technical training and transfer of

technology.

The seminar agreed to do the following: increase efforts to

promote Japanese human resource development programmes,encourage studying of Japanese language and culture among theMalaysian public, organise forums on Malaysia-Japan relations,

enhance transfer of Japanese technical skills, expertise andtechnology to Malaysia, establish a Joint Council to look into

Malaysia-Japan relations, publish a newsletter, begin a Joint

Secretariat office for alumni affairs, and establish aJapanese Education Counselling Service centre to promote

Japanese tertiary education among Malaysians.

From the Japanese side, the prevailing view is that they were

honoured by the Look East policy. They felt Malaysia has

prioritised its human resource needs very well and istherefore able to utilise the policy most effectively.

In the light of future changes inside Japan itself, they have

come to realise their problems could not be solved alone.

Japan needs to reach out to its neighbours.


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Malaysia-Japan relations have much to offer and will take onnew meanings for the two countries.

The list of unresolved problems is long. On education alone,the Japanese are known to favour the Chinese and the Koreans.

The fees charged are still exorbitant and conditions for

students to do higher studies are still very strict.

Besides, the language requirement is still keeping outstudents.

Moreover, students are not encouraged to gain employmentexperience in Japan.

Many believed it should go on but with some changes. The levelof students has to be reviewed in terms of age and human

resource needs of the country.

Perhaps the emphasis should be on gaining training and

experience and on how to achieve excellence in internationalmarketing.

As for the role of both governments in the area of humanresource development, some of the critical issues that need

attention include:

* ensuring the relevance and quality of training;

* appropriate selection of host training organisations;

* provision of advanced level training for outstandingtrainees;

* the offer of more practical training with the Japanese;

* more Japanese language teachers;

* more twinning opportunities with other Japanese

universities; and

* translation of more Japanese textbooks into English and

Bahasa Malaysia.

The present status of Malaysians employed by Japanese

companies in Malaysia has not been all that successful. Manyproblems have surfaced.

According to a survey conducted by the Japanese GraduatesAssociation, the questions of working environment, salary

structure, promotions, behaviour of Japanese senior managers,

and other related problems have not been satisfactorilyresolved.

While the gathering was aware there are such sensitive areas

in the conduct of relations between the two countries, the

youths are nevertheless willing to play their part as the


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catalyst to push for strengthened ties in the future.

If anything, their presence at the seminar could serve as alobbying exercise to make their voices heard.

The seminar also drew the presence of the Japanese Ambassador

and other officials. Representatives from the Japanese

private sector were also there.

There will be many such changes in the future, including howMalaysians can prepare for the period when the Japanese will

expect us to help them solve some of their problems.

High on their list of problems will be the issue of dealingwith the aged, the environment, social issues and basic

infrastructure.

More Malaysians will be going to Japan and more Japanese willbe coming to Malaysia.

The Look East Policy will have to be reviewed against theseexpected changes. It has to be managed to derive the maximum

benefits for the two countries.

benifits of learning from japan

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