𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻–𝗔𝗜 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗯

ACES 2026 was developed as an “internationalisation at home” initiative which enabled UTM students to gain international and intercultural exposure without travelling abroad. It received project support valued at RM7,500 from 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝘆𝗼, 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻. The programme also involved academicians from－Meijo University－Nagoya, Japan and Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia as below:
𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗶𝗷𝗮𝘆𝗮, 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮:
Dr. Inggang Perwangsa Nuralam
Madam Edlyn Khurotul Aini
Madam Lusy Deasyana Rahma Devita
𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗠𝗲𝗶𝗷𝗼 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗡𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘆𝗮, 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻:
Prof. Dr. Yusuke Suzumura
𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝘆𝗼, 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻:
Mr. Hidetoshi Horibe
Through 6 integrated modules, students explored Malaysian and Nusantara culture, tangible and intangible heritage, business, marketing and entrepreneurship, sustainability innovation, change making and social impact, Zapin dance, cultural textiles like Batik and Kain Benang Johor. Their learning was strengthened through field based activities at the Faculty of Management, Yayasan Warisan Johor, Kompleks Kraf Johor, AEON Mall Tebrau City, and Forest City Marina Hotel.
At Yayasan Warisan and Kompleks Kraf Johor, participants experienced Johor’s living heritage through Rumah Zapin, traditional games and musical instruments, art and handicraft, Batik, textile weaving and Kain Benang Johor. These first hand encounters provided the cultural knowledge and evidence needed for their innovation projects.
The students subsequently worked in mixed Malaysian-Japanese teams on two business case challenges. During the AEON Industry Case Challenge, they proposed ways to make Malaysian traditional textile such as Batik more relevant to younger consumers. A second Change Maker Innovation Case challenged them to preserve the identity of Zapin dance and Kain Benang Johor while exploring their potential for contemporary innovation and comparison with Japan’s Kurume Kasuri textile.
Generative AI was used as an exploration and visualisation partner to develop ideas, product mock-ups, prototypes, videos and presentations. However, students remained responsible for verifying information, protecting cultural authenticity and defending the feasibility of their recommendations.