Monash University Malaysia Students and Staff Participate in Short-Term Training Program at the University of Toyama

From June 29 to July 10, 2026, three medical students and two faculty and staff members from Monash University Malaysia visited the University of Toyama (UT) to participate in a short-term training program. Since the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences (JCSMHS) at Monash University Malaysia and the UT School of Medicine signed an interfaculty academic exchange agreement in 2024, the two institutions have maintained active exchanges in education and research. This program provided a valuable opportunity to further strengthen international collaboration between the two universities.

The program centered on clinical and academic training at the School of Medicine and Toyama University Hospital. Participants also visited the Museum of Materia Medica and the Experimental Station for Medicinal Plant Research, toured the Training Lab of CITIR (Center Initiative for Training International Researchers), and took part in exchange activities with students from the International Course of the School of Science. In addition, visits to the Itai-itai Disease Museum, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gokayama, and the National Treasure Zuiryuji Temple helped participants deepen their understanding of the history, culture, and environmental initiatives of Toyama Prefecture.

On July 9, a farewell party was held, providing an opportunity for the participants to share their experiences and memories from the program with UT students and faculty members. At the closing ceremony, the participants reflected on the knowledge and experience they had gained at UT, as well as the insights and achievements they had obtained through international exchange.

Participants expressed their appreciation for the thoughtful instruction provided in English, the excellence of Japan’s team-based medical care, and the opportunity to visit distinctive UT facilities such as the Museum of Materia Medica and the Experimental Station for Medicinal Plant Research.

In recent years, the UT School of Medicine has regularly dispatched students to JCSMHS at Monash University Malaysia. During this visit, lively interactions took place between students from both universities. The strong relationships developed through past exchanges were also evident, demonstrating the lasting impact and success of the continuing student exchange program between the two institutions.

Through this program, exchanges between UT and Monash University Malaysia were further strengthened, and continued growth in international collaboration and student exchange in education and research is anticipated.