“Communiversity”: Students and community members work together for better environment

Students at IIUM are leaving the confines of their university campus to transfer the knowledge they gain to communities all over Malaysia.

Prof. Ts. Dr. Hazleen Anuar, Asst. Prof. Dr. Nurul Arfah Che Mustapha and together with representative of the community in Kg Batu 10, Mr. Mohd Fouzi Danial.

Students at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) engaged in an environmental awareness project with residents of the Kampung Batu 10 , Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The project organized by Persatuan Saintis Muslim Malaysia (PERINTIS)  was funded by Suruhanjaya Kebangsaan UNESCO Malaysia and IIUM.

The students, as part of their Usrah in Action 2 course, which aims to involve IIUM students with local communities, provided solutions for residents to use less paper, upcycle unwanted materials into mini-decorations and 3D-printed products, and plant tree seedlings to improve local air quality.

 “The students, together with their instructors, prepared the project by combining theoretical and practical knowledge in a simple yet effective way,” says materials engineer Professor Hazleen Anuar, one of the course instructors. “The community at Kampung Batu 10 gained skills and exposure to digital solutions, such as cloud technologies, and on recycling old materials, while also learning about the positive impact of reducing paper use on the environment.”

 “This falls in line with Islamic perspectives on environmental preservation and also with Malaysia’s commitment to reduce carbon emission intensity by 45% by 2030,” adds Assistant Professor Nurul Arfah Che Mustapha, who specializes in engineering technology.

 The visit to Kampung Batu 10 included a talk by Mrs. Nor Hairiah bt Md from the town of Teluk Intan in western Malaysia, who shared her experience building an agricultural-based business that focuses on the use of noni leaves for traditional medicine and in products such as toothpaste.

 “This transfer of knowledge and skills will have a massive impact on helping our community to protect its surrounding environment,” said Mr Fouzi Danial, a representative of Kampung Batu 10.

The project was awarded a bronze medal by IIUM’s Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity.

Contact details:
Prof. Ts. Dr. Hazleen Anuar
[email protected]  
Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering,
Kulliyyah of Engineering,
International Islamic University Malaysia,
53100 Jalan Gombak,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Few saplings were shown on the day of the programme to demonstrate each method of planting trees to protect the environment.

Some upcycling products such as mini decorations and 3D printed products.

Published: 17 Mar 2023

Contact details:

International Islamic University Malaysia
53100 Gombak Campus
Selangor Darul Ehsan

+603 6421 5002/5010
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Funding information:

UNESCO
PERINTIS
IIUM