UKM-MNS Inaugural Project on environmental awareness

Abstract

This programme was initiated with the ultimate of aim to integrating environmental engagement and knowledge-driven volunteerism into the curriculum and co-curriculum at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. With the partnership of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), two modules - Biodiversity assessment and environmental education outreach - were prepared. The programme objectives were to expose the participants the observatory skills and field work techniques of selected species in their natural habitat and the concept of environmental education & nature interpretation. The 18-day programme took place at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP), a thriving and well established nature park which was once marked to be bulldozed to make way for a golf course. The programme involves 24 multi-disciplinary students from the UKM's Friends of the Garden Club as a platform to enhance the students' generic skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication ability and decision-making skills through experiential learning and volunteerism. With the input of an NGO that is directly involved in conservation and awareness, the programme focuses on educating the younger generation on conservation awareness, one of the important first steps towards preservation and sustainability. Through this programme, a successful educational module was developed, enabling the students to become effective facilitators who could educate young school-going children and members of the public on the natural environment. As a first step towards integrating community engagement into the curriculum and co-curriculum, the students involved in this pilot have successfully gained co-curricular credits through UKM's Student Learning Contract Programme. Long term goals involve securing sustainable funding and developing mechanisms to integrate this program into the curriculum, and eventually lead to UKM offering elective courses on conservation and the natural environment that will be available at all faculties.