UMP, Sango-Town and Social Welfare Corporation Lemonkai collaboration establishes inclusive rehabilitation and leadership programme

JAPAN, 28 November 2022 - Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sango-Town and Social Welfare Corporation Lemonkai Japan which will witness collaboration in establishing a module focused on inclusive rehabilitation and leadership.

This includes accommodating people with disabilities (PWD) and senior citizens as well as working spaces for formulating ideas towards building an inclusive and sustainable global community involving industrial collaboration and volunteerism.

The visit of the NARA Society 5.0 Development Centre (MEiNARA) Inclusive Ecosystem mission to Japan provided an opportunity for the three parties to collaborate in consultation, human capital development, research and development activities.

The ceremony saw the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin sign the MoU with Sango-Town Mayor, Hironori Mori and Chairman of Social Welfare Corporation Lemonkai Japan, Kotaro Maeda.

Also present were the Director General of Higher Education (Research and International), Ahmad Rizal Adnan and the President of Seibu Shoko Corporation Limited, Nobi Fujita.

According to the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, this pioneered collaboration for UMP, a technological and engineering university, is a very effective matching platform for launching collaborative initiatives with industries that benefit all parties.

“UMP also concentrates on the well-being agendas for campus residents in the UMP Strategic Plan 2021-2025, which focuses on the health and safety of campus residents and emphasises the PWD at this university.

“The success of Sango-Town and Social Welfare Corporation Lemonkai in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with the concept of smart cities involving PWD and needy people including women and senior citizens is an example of this sealed collaboration,” he said during a meeting at Leimond Village (Asca Tech Lab Facilities), Japan.

Meanwhile, UMP is also developing the Rehabilitation Project and the In-Community Rehabilitation Centre (PPDK) Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Ministry of Finance Malaysia and Department for the Development of Persons with Disabilities (DDPWD) under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

He added that the project led by UMP also involves five public universities including International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

“I hope that the inclusive technology model that will be developed with several elements, namely Inclusive, Comprehensive, Independent, Altruistic, Authentic, Free and Everlasting (iKMAL) involving the disabled community will be the first as a technology provider in Asia towards a harmonious ecosystem,” he said.

The delegation of the NARA Society 5.0 Inclusive Ecosystem Mission Development Centre in Japan (MEiNARA) also visited Jounetsu Company Co. Ltd., a company with more than 50 per cent employees from among PWD who cultivate agricultural farms covering rice, vegetables and fruits in Tokushima, Japan.

The delegation welcomed by the President of Jounetsu Company Co. Ltd., Miki-san also had the opportunity to witness the plantation and greenhouse development activities carried out by the company which is among the largest in Tokushima.

Also joining the delegation were the Director of the Department for the Development of Persons with Disabilities (DDPWD), Zuhami Omar, Director of the OKU UMP Service Unit (OkUMP), Dr. Munira Abdul Razak, Head of the Office of the Deputy Rector (Student Development & Community Engagement), Professor Dr. Ruzita Mohd Amin and Senior Manager, Student Affairs and Alumni Department, Haryani Abdullah.

The Inclusive Ecosystem Mission to Nara, Japan is an initiative of the UMP Campus In-Community Rehabilitation Program (PPDK).

This project is led by Dr. Munira Abdul Razak, Director of the OKU UMP Service Unit (OkUMP).

UMP is one of five universities selected for the programme.

Participating with the delegation were representatives of IIUM.

By: Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology