International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW) Students Experience a Rich Cultural Exchange

International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW) supported a study tour in Kuala Lumpur where the Welsh students from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) visited sunny Malaysia to introduce Wales’ rich tradition and culture.

Updated 21 Apr 2020

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What comes to mind when you think of Wales?

Most students studying twinning programmes abroad will immediately think of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Some may picture the country's distinctive white-and-green flag embellished with a red dragon, while others may quizzically ask "Wales? Where's that?".

In a bid to expose students to new cultures, International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW) supported a study tour in Kuala Lumpur and hosted students from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD).

The Welsh students who visited sunny Malaysia were given the opportunity to learn more about our country while introducing Wales’ rich tradition and culture to IUMW students. After crossing off the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and China Town from their must-visit list, the UWTSD students took a tour of the National Mosque and Museum, Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) and IUMW’s city campus.

At the IUMW campus, students learnt about the tourism landscapes of Malaysia and Wales from IUMW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Stephen Griffiths and UWTSD Masters in Tourism Director Jacqui Jones respectively.

IUMW’s Deputy Vice Chancellor Stephen Griffiths described Malaysia’s tourism as rich in diversity with prominence in ecological, business, food, adventure and event tourism while UWTSD’s Masters in Tourism Director shared strategies to raise the number of overseas visitors to Wales.

While UWTSD learnt a lot about Malaysia, IUMW students gained more knowledge about Wales — including the legend of Wales’ red dragon and the history behind the Welsh flag. They also discovered that Wales has a different tourism theme each: Year of the Sea (2018), and Year of Discovery (2019). Overall, both groups of students experienced a positive worldview that in turn, led to broader and enriched mindsets.

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