Faculty information | School of Transdisciplinary Science and Design | Univer...

The School of Transdisciplinary Science and Design (University of Tsukuba, Malaysia: UTMy) is the first overseas campus of a Japanese university to award Japanese degrees outside Japan. UTMy is dedicated to developing globally minded graduates who can address complex global issues through problem-solving.

UTMy has established a truly transdisciplinary education team, bringing together academic staff from a wide range of fields. It also offers an advanced curriculum centred on Problem-Based Learning (PBL).

Designed around the principles of design thinking, the UTMy curriculum places data science at its core and draws on knowledge from both the sciences and humanities and social sciences to develop advanced approaches to problem-solving.

Students at UTMy are awarded a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree. This is a Japanese degree awarded by the University of Tsukuba and is backed by the same academic standards and quality assurance as a degree awarded at the University of Tsukuba in Japan.

【1. Continuous Problem-Based Learning (PBL)】
Students learn by identifying problems themselves and developing solutions to address them. The value of PBL lies not simply in the final outcome, but in the learning process itself — discovering new knowledge and, ultimately, learning how to learn.

Many PBL projects are carried out in teams, where discussions with team members, academic staff and people involved in the project play a key role in identifying the right problems and finding effective solutions. Students are therefore encouraged to develop strong communication skills, particularly in English.

Multiple academic staff members act as facilitators, guiding students through projects covering a wide range of topics, from the natural sciences to the humanities and social sciences. This enables students to approach each project from a fresh perspective.

Through continuous PBL, students develop the ability to learn independently and communicate effectively, while building the skills and confidence needed to tackle global issues throughout their lives.

【2. An Innovative Approach to Learning Data Science】
Addressing global challenges requires the ability to analyse global data and use evidence to predict the potential impact of proposed solutions. For this reason, developing data science skills is essential.

A fundamental part of understanding and effectively applying data science is a solid grasp of the mathematics behind it. To help students acquire these skills effectively within the time available, UTMy has developed an approach that differs from a conventional science-based curriculum.

In their first year, students study information literacy and the fundamentals of probability and statistics alongside programming. In their second year, they gain a broad foundation in both the natural sciences and the humanities and social sciences, while exploring their connections with data science. Through this process, students discover how many scientific questions are closely linked to mathematics, helping to increase their motivation to study it.

In their third year, students study the mathematical foundations of data science. By first building sufficient readiness and motivation to learn the necessary mathematics, students can develop a deeper understanding of data science.

Students also apply their data science skills through PBL according to their level of understanding, gradually developing practical skills throughout the four-year programme.

【3. Learning Across Disciplines】
Solving global issues requires us to look at problems from multiple perspectives and select the best solution from a range of possible approaches that can be put into practice. To achieve this, students need to develop the ability to think beyond the boundaries of individual academic disciplines.

Transdisciplinary education is one of the key strengths of the University of Tsukuba. In their first year, students are introduced to interdisciplinary perspectives through university-wide subjects. In their second year, they build a broad foundation across the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences. In their third year, they use this broad foundation to explore more advanced areas of study.

The ability to bring together academic staff from a diverse range of disciplines is another major strength of the University of Tsukuba, enabling UTMy to provide students with a truly transdisciplinary learning environment.

【Born from a Japan–Malaysia Summit】
UTMy was established following a 2018 meeting between former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

The opening ceremony of UTMy, held in September 2024, was attended by numerous government representatives from both Japan and Malaysia. Former Prime Minister Mahathir also delivered a special lecture, offering his strong support and congratulations on the establishment of UTMy.

【From the Asian Gateway to the World】
UTMy is pioneering a new model of education by bringing the University of Tsukuba’s strengths in interdisciplinary and international education to Asia. As a result, UTMy is expected to serve as an Asian Gateway — a hub for developing networks of highly skilled people connecting Japan and Asia.

Through collaboration among a diverse, multidisciplinary team of academic staff and students from different countries, UTMy is creating a truly open learning environment that is unique on a global scale.

As an “open university”, UTMy represents an ambitious project that builds on the University of Tsukuba’s long-standing spirit of openness and develops it further for the world of the future.