Thursina International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) once again held the Overseas Japan Program on February 3–11, 2026 as part of the International Outreach Series, designed to build graduate profiles that are internationally minded, adaptive, and globally competitive.
The nine-day program combines academic engagement, cultural immersion, urban observation, and experiential learning, providing cross-context learning that broadens the students' global perspective.
Upon arrival at Kansai International Airport, the students immediately embarked on a cultural and urban introduction to Osaka, including a visit to Osaka Castle to learn about Japanese history, architecture, and the dynamics of Japanese civilization. The observation became a starting point for strengthening intercultural awareness and understanding Japan's transformation into a developed nation based on discipline and innovation.
The visit to the Osaka Mosque maintained spiritual identity in the context of a pluralistic global society. This opportunity has been a reflection on how Muslims contribute to and adapt in an international environment.
The journey continues to Kyoto with an exploration of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, providing an experience of harmony between nature, culture, and modernity—a contextual lesson on sustainability in Japanese society.
In the academic segment, the participants visited the Yamanashi Waste Management & Environmental Processing Facility, focusing on Sustainability and Waste Management Systems. In this session, they learned about Japanese best practices in waste management, waste sorting culture, and sustainable city systems.
The educational discussions during the visit deepened conceptual understanding of environmental responsibility and civic discipline as the foundation of social progress.
The experiential learning series includes observations of public service systems and operational management at Tokyo Disneyland, as well as experiential activities at Fujiten Snow Resort. These activities provide insights into service excellence, operational management, and public system efficiency within a global industry context.
The Japan Overseas Program also features an academic visit to Kisarazu Sohgoh School & University, where students participate in campus tours, comparative education discussions, and interaction with Japanese students.
For high school students, the program concludes with an official visit to Tokyo International University, including an introduction to the faculty, international student life, and an academic Q&A session. It becomes a strategic opportunity to build global network awareness and open up perspectives on international studies.
Ustadzah Khusnul Ifada, MA, the Manager of the Global Outreach Program, emphasized that the program is part of Thursina's global education strategy. "We designed Overseas Japan as an experiential global learning experience. The goal is to deepen the students' global perspective while improving their foreign language skills, particularly in the context of international communication and cross-cultural interaction," she said.
She added that the expected output is the profiles of students who are adaptive, have an international perspective, and the academic and character readiness to compete on the global level.
She said, the firsthand experience of observing the Japanese education system, city management, and culture of discipline offers contextual learning that cannot be achieved through classroom theory alone. Through a combination of cultural immersion, academic exposure, sustainability learning, and international interaction, this program demonstrates Thursina's commitment to develop Muslim generation, capable of competing on the global stage without losing their Islamic identity.
The Overseas Japan Program is more than just an international trip; it is a global character-building process, discipline, responsibility, open-mindedness, and the ability to adapt to a multicultural environment. (iz/lil)
