AsiaEngage Regional Conference on Higher Education-Community-Industry Engagement Puri Pujangga, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

7 - 9 May 2012

UKM-MNS INAUGURAL PROJECT ON ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

Wan Juliana, W.A., Ruzi, A.R., Shaharuddin, M.I., Maye Yap, Prasad, V., Prabha S. & Kamelia S.

EnvironmentalAwareness

How do we overcome nature appreciation ignorance?

Is it possible to incorporate a sustainable environmental awareness and community

engagement module in our mainstream curriculum?

• Partnership: Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)• Two modules:

i. Biodiversity assessmentii. Environmental education outreach

Knowledge-Driven Community Engaged Curriculum

Objectives• To expose the participants the observatory skills and

field work techniques of selected species in their natural habitat

• To explore the concept of environmental education & nature interpretation

The Challenges…Industry UKM Curriculum

Stakeholders’ core mission Follows MQA and MQF guidelines

Has its own procedure in achieving its core mission

Specific course and learning outcomes

Engagement can only be applied to courses that are closely related to the mission of the stakeholder

Any changes must be approved by the faculty

Most of the individuals from the industries are able to commit within a very limited time i.e. as guest lecturers or briefing

PBL component in a course cannot exceed the required course learning hours

Technical coordination of such initiatives is very time-consuming

Viability and sustainability of the proposed program needs to be carefully considered before much time is invested

Benefit To CommunitySharing information by the participants on the diversity and behavior of

fireflies, birds has attracted the locals to participate and become volunteers at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park.

• The participants are closer to and love the nature…

We had a life changing experience...

Measurable ValueParticipants

Stakeholder

Community

• Gained co-curricular credits• Training of trainers• Marketable skills

• The park receives good publicity• New education modules created• Ambassador of the park

• Aware of the park’s unique feature

• Willing to contribute as volunteers

The Way Forward

• Sustainable funding and mechanism

• Offer elective courses on conservation at all faculties

• An example of a pioneer collaboration between a higher learning institute and NGO in Malaysia

Thank you!

Contact:Dr. Wan Juliana Wan Ahmad

wanjulianawanahmad@yahoo.com