Kota Kinabalu, 12 June 2025 – In conjunction with World Environment Day 2025, the Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management (FHTM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sabah reinforced its commitment to sustainability-focused education through a meaningful academic expedition to Manukan Island, one of Sabah’s most iconic marine destinations.
This impactful initiative involved more than 90 students and academic staff and was carried out in collaboration with Sabah Parks and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Designed as part of UiTM’s coursework for HTT557: Destination, Planning and Development and HTT511: Digital Technology in Tourism, the programme bridged classroom theory with immersive, real-world learning in the heart of a protected ecotourism setting.
The visit featured professional knowledge exchange sessions, including a briefing by Mr. Royston Tiam, Park Manager of Manukan Island, and academic dialogues between Mr. Jason Kelly (PolyU) and Dr. Spencer Hedley Mogindol (UiTM Sabah). Topics addressed included conservation planning, sustainable visitor experience design, and digital innovation in tourism—directly contributing to UiTM’s educational mission of producing future-ready tourism professionals.
Throughout the day, students engaged in meaningful environmental initiatives including the planting of native trees, park signage refurbishment, and a coordinated beach clean-up, showcasing UiTM’s leadership in student-led ecological action. The event also fostered cultural exchange and inclusivity through Sabahan traditional dance performances and informal student bonding activities.
Back in the classroom, the experience was further enriched under the guidance of Dr. Tania Maria Tangit, where students critically reflected on the integration of smart technologies—such as AR-assisted interpretation, mobile self-guided tours, QR-coded education displays, and AI-driven multilingual support—to enhance accessibility, awareness, and sustainability in tourism destinations.
This programme not only fulfilled key learning outcomes under the SULAM framework (Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society) but also strengthened UiTM Sabah’s role as a regional leader in sustainability-focused, digitally enabled tourism education. It exemplified UiTM’s alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
UiTM Sabah remains committed to nurturing students who are not only academically competent but also socially conscious and equipped to shape the future of sustainable tourism at both local and global levels.
By: Nurqurratu Ain binti Ali Husin
Editor: Dr. Tania Maria Tangit