Factors of Preferences for Virtual and Physical Japanese Exchange Programs

Abstract

In Malaysia, Japanese exchange programs have been in place for decades. Both countries have enjoyed continuous knowledge and cultural exchange throughout the years. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has temporarily halted the exchange activities. In this period, virtual exchange has started to gain the attention of academia. Despite current situation continues to improve and travel restriction has been largely lifted, virtual exchange continues to co-exist with physical exchange program. Hence, it is vital to understand the level of interest towards both physical and virtual exchange programs among the Malaysian academia so future exchange program can be further refined in the post COVID-19 era. Analysis was conducted by using the Partial Least Squares. The findings demonstrated that participants who express a strong preference for Physical Exchange Programmes (PPE) are more likely to have a heightened Interest in Exchange Programmes (IEP). Factors such as safety measures, flexible program options, and technological advancements have played a crucial role in keeping exchange programs relevant and attractive in the post-Covid-19 world.