Monash Malaysia students expand global perspectives through MGCI in Italy
Monash students on an excursion to Fiesole in Italy for the MGCI program.
From 28 June to 17 July 2026, students Sara Yu Mengying, Wu Jingwen, and Jason Yeap Kang Sheng participated in the Monash Global Campus Intensives (MGCI) program at the Monash Prato Centre in Italy.
Yu and Wu, both Bachelor of Business and Commerce students, studied ATS2213 Imagining Europe, while Jason, a Bachelor of Computer Science in Advanced Computer Science student, studied ATS2264 Intercultural Skills for Global Leaders.
Jingwen during a class excursion in Fiesole.
Jingwen Wu studied ATS2213 Imagining Europe in the Monash Prato Centre.
For Wu, one highlight was the field trip to Fiesole, a historic hilltop town overlooking Florence, where instructors lectured amid ancient ruins. “This brought the material to life and truly bridged the gap between classroom theory and hands-on practice,” she said. Wu also valued adapting to new languages, food and lifestyles, noting that academic and social activities helped her settle in and make friends.
Sara Mengying Yu enjoys a day out of the classroom in Italy.
Yu found the unit’s exploration of identity, political change and regional integration especially meaningful. “Studying in Europe led me to draw connections with Southeast Asia and ASEAN, sparking my interest in International Political Economy,” she reflected. With the experience strengthening her teamwork, independent research and critical thinking skills, she hopes to explore these questions further through future study and research.
The experience of studying in Prato was particularly significant for Yeap because it marked his first time in Europe and his first solo travel. Studying Intercultural Skills for Global Leaders in Prato meant that intercultural learning was not confined to the classroom.
Outside of the classroom, he learned to navigate unfamiliar systems and social norms. “Different social norms apply to interactions with students from Australia as well, not just with Italian locals,” he said. “I learnt to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds and adapt to unfamiliar environments.”
Jason Yeap poses in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, half an hour away from Prato.
The short-term MGCI program delivered at the Monash Prato Centre in Italy serves as an alternative pathway for students who may not be able to commit to a semester-long exchange program. Through the Monash Global campus network, participants extend their academic journey beyond Malaysia while engaging with international expertise and diverse perspectives.
More information about the MGCI program in Prato is available here.