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Institute for Global Network Innovation in Technology Education

Toyohashi University of Technology,
Institute for Global Network Innovation in Technology
Education

News from Penang（Vol.10 2016/3/10）

Reports

Lectures in Malaysia
Takumi Ohnuma, National Institute of Technology, Numazu College
1. Outline
In the third part of the FD program, we gave
lectures at universities in Penang, Malaysia. We
visited PSP (Politeknik Seberang Perai) and USM(Universiti Sains Malaysia). We also had some
opportunities to give some presentations about ourresearch at a conference, IGNITE 2016, PSDC(Penang Skills Development Centre), and USM.

I gave two lectures to the students in semester two

However, unfortunately, our research talk at the PSDC

(the second semester of the first year). The student

wasofparticipation was very active and I enjoyed the classes.

participants. According to the coordinator, the reason

I succeeded eye contact with the students sitting in thewas that the talk was scheduled after Chinese New

half front of the classroom; it was not enough toYear week.

communicate with the students sitting in the back row

canceled

duetoinsufficientnumberI gave two lectures for 90 minutes at PSP and 120

though. In the second lecture, exercise was effective

minutes at USM, respectively. At the USM, we werefor their understanding. When the students didn’t

requested to include active learning, and actually, weunderstand well, they expressed me the sign ofneeded to coordinate our lectures by ourselves. We

confusing on their face, and I could respond them bydiscussed with professors who are in charge of theadding more detail explanation. It was well worth therelated courses and took over some regular classes.

effort. I was glad to get a warm welcome.

We had a look at the classroom and talked with theprofessors in advance and they were helpful for us to3. Lectures in USM

prepare for the lectures. It was really useful for me toI gave two lectures for two hours each in the classgrasp an atmosphere of the classroom and students.

for the third year students at school of Electrical andElectronics Engineering. I took over the third and2. Lectures in PSP5

fourth sessions in the course titled “Advanced PowerElectronics.” I revised some teaching materials andemphasized the connection to the power electronics.
The number of the students was about 30 and the sizeof the class was comfortable for me to communicatewith them. It was very helpful for me that I could
discuss with the lecturer about the course and teaching
method. After the lecture, some students who areinterested in my lecture came to my room and talked
more about advanced power electronics. I wassatisfied with the experiences at universities in Penang
thanks to the faculties and students there.

The minimum wage in Malaysia
Tomoki Takezawa, National Institute of Technology, Maizuru CollegeWe stayed in Penang, which is a state in Malaysia,

stall because we couldn’t cook at our accommodation.

for about 50 days to give lectures at Politeknik

There are a lot of food stalls in the town.

Seberang Perai (PSP) and Universiti Sains Malaysia

pay only 4-7 ringgit, we can eat one meal at a food(USM).

stall.

We also visited the Panasonic Automotive

When we1 ringgit has the value of about 28 yen inSystem Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., the Toray Industries

Japanese currency, so the price of one meal is only(Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd, and the SONY EMCS

112-189 yen.

However, in Penang, there are many(Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. to talk about an internshipprogram.

We had many opportunities to come into

contact with the daily life of Malaysian during ourstay.

I will write about what I felt about the economy

which directly relate to their daily life in Malaysia andus because I sometimes wondered at it.
We always had to eat at a restaurant or a food

The food stall in Penang

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luxury Japanese and German cars which typical

Malaysian minimum wage in Japan.

Japanese cannot afford to buy and many luxurious

wage which is decided as a minimum in Japan to live

houses which are built in a wide site. According toin Japan.

what I heard from the Japanese employee of ain foreign countries but we had to begin it to compete

Japanese-affiliated company, the minimum wage

with foreign companies. Even if the wage for the(monthly amount) in Malaysia is 900 ringgit (25,200

manufacturing labor force in Japan is reduced becauseyen).

I think that the Malaysian employees in theseof the difference between the value of the currencies

companies receive the minimum wage as first salary.

in Malaysia and Japan, the decrease in the wage might

When we take account of only the price of the meal in

be canceled out if we reap the benefit of higher value

Malaysia, the minimum wage might not be low.

of currency sufficiently.

TheWe need theI think that we didn't wish the production

Of course, I can never buy acompanies can obtain manufacturing labor force byluxury car, and furthermore, the professors of thepaying the salary on which Malaysian can live in

USM seem richer than me.

Malaysia.

is better or not for me that the Japanese currency hasWhenI

visitedthefactoriesofI don’t know whether itJapanese-affiliated companies, I have realized that thethe higher value.

quality of the manufacturing labor force in Malaysia isseems that the wages for the simple production work

almost as high as that in Japan.

are quite inexpensive.

It means that

Both in Japan and in Malaysia it
I hope that the production in aalthough the manufacturing labor forces in Malaysia

foreign country by a Japanese company contributes

and Japan have almost the same quality, those prices

not only to the company but also to all Japanese andare different.

foreign people.

Usually cheaper one is chosen toreduce the production cost, so we have to lower theprice of the manufacturing labor force to produce inJapan.

However, of course we cannot live by theToyohashi University of Technology
Institute for Global Network Innovation in Technology Education
Center for International Education
1-1, Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
Tel: +81-532-81-5161
Mail:unireform@office.tut.ac.jp

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