Shah Alam, June 5, 2024 – The Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM) programme is a meticulously planned teaching and learning activity for semester 6 students. It is conducted as part of the Leadership and Professional Ethics for Engineers course (CPE680). It involved students from the CEEH220 programme and was co-facilitated by Associate Professor Ir Dr Zulkifli Abd Rashid and Ir Syafiza Abd Hashib.
With full enthusiasm and commitment, a group of 25 students, under supervision of two Senior Lecturers namely Dr Siti Fatma Abd Karim and Dr Noorsuhana Mohd Yusof from School of Chemical Engineering at UiTM Shah Alam, accomplished a successful event entitled, EcoUnity : Science towards Environment Sustainability at SMK Shah Alam on 5th June 2024. An impressive and highly engaged participation of 122 Form 4 students was involved in this event, actively taking part in various activities designed to foster a deeper understanding of environmental sustainability and the importance of scientific approaches to addressing ecological challenges.
At the opening ceremony, Tuan Saripah Nor Riha Tuan Jaafar, the administrative senior assistant of SMK Shah Alam, highlighted that our event’s initiative to promote environmental sustainability is greatly appreciated. This is because it aligns with the school’s aspirations to produce individuals who are responsible for society and the environment, in addition to being academically excellent and attentive to current issues.
“For the knowledge of the students, the programme EcoUnity: Science towards Environment Sustainability not only represents their concern for environmental sustainability, but it also emphasizes the significance of science and technology in attempts to protect and conserve our planet. We should applaud students for their tremendously significant efforts in educating and increasing public awareness of the value of environmental protection.”
In our commitment to environmental sustainability, we incorporated variety of engaging activities. Highlights included “Plastic Revive: Transforming Waste into Worth,” where participants creatively repurposed plastic waste, and the thrilling “Explorace: BrainyQuest Adventure Rally & EcoQuest Expedition,” which encouraged students to cooperatively solve challenges in a team. These activities help to integrate science into environmental sustainability education where it provides high school students with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to address environmental challenges and become informed global citizens committed to creating a sustainable future.
Ainin Sofiya Mohamad, Program Director shared her insights regarding this programme, “We are delighted to celebrate the success of this event as all the activities that has been earnestly planned have come into reality. The enthusiastic participation from the students and the dedication of our organizing team have truly made EcoUnity: Science Towards Environmental Sustainability a memorable and an impactful event.”
“Our goal was to instil a sense of environmental responsibility and awareness in the young minds of our participants. We aimed to provide them with not only knowledge but also practical skills and inspiration to act towards a sustainable future. The interactive activities were designed to be both educational and engaging, and we are thrilled to see the positive responses from the students.”
“This event underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between educational institutions and the community in addressing environmental challenges. We believe that by empowering the younger generation with the right tools and knowledge, we can make significant strides towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious society.”
In an interview with one of the participants, the student mentioned the importance of practicing 3R, especially recycling as it can help in terms of economics because it is more sustainable. Furthermore, the students were able to have fun throughout the event as they had the chance to unleash their creativity by transforming recycled materials into innovative products and most importantly, they managed to grasp the main goals that were aimed to convey important information on environmental sustainability.
At the end of the event, both the organizers and the students believe that this effort can inspire communities to embrace sustainable lifestyles and act as a starting point for future environmental sustainability programmes.