8 July 2024 – The pressing need for sustainable development and environmental conservation has prompted educational institutions worldwide to take proactive measures. Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Perak Branch, through its Green Campus and Gresafe Cities initiatives, has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable practices.
On 8 July 2024, a delegation from UiTM Perak visited Chulalongkorn University, a leading university in Thailand renowned for its sustainability efforts. This visit aimed to foster collaboration, share best practices and explore new avenues for environmental stewardship. This visit has been organized by the Green Campus committee of UiTM Perak and Tier 4 of UiTM Research Group, Green Safe Cities (GreSafe).
The primary objectives of the UiTM Perak delegation were to exchange knowledge and best practices by learning from Chulalongkorn University’s successful implementation of green initiatives to share UiTM Perak’s experiences and achievements and to identify potential areas for joint research projects that address pressing environmental issues.
The visit led to discussions to explore the challenges and opportunities in implementing green initiatives on campus. Interactive discussions facilitated knowledge exchange on overcoming challenges in sustainability practices. Associate Professor Dr. Nur Azfahani Ahmad and Associate Professor Ts Dr. Siti Rasidah Md Sakip were representing the UiTM’s Perak delegation for the interactive discussion sessions with Dr. Phimsupha Kokchang, a researcher at the Energy Research
Institute, Chulalongkorn University.
The visit strengthened the relationship between UiTM Perak and Chulalongkorn University, setting the stage for future collaborations in sustainability research, projects, seminars, workshops, and conferences. Furthermore, it marked a significant step towards strengthening international collaboration in sustainability education and research. The exchange of knowledge, best practices, and innovative ideas will undoubtedly enhance the capacity of both institutions to address
environmental challenges effectively and underscores the importance of international collaboration in fostering sustainability in higher education.
This benchmarking visit achieves PI023 regarding the number of collaborations with agencies, industry, NGOs, and higher education institutions (both local and international), PI135 ‘Keceriaan Kampus’ project, and SDG Goal 11 for sustainable cities and communities.
(Authors: Nur Azfahani Ahmad, Siti Rasidah Md Sakip, Siti Jamiah Tun Jamil, Asmalia Che Ahmad, Farihana Abdul Razak, Sallehan Ismail & Nurul Shima Taharuddin)