Enhancing knowledge of Environmental Engineering students in water sustainability through community engagement

By Ir. Dr. Tan Yee Yong, Dr. Paran Anak Gani & Dr. Wai Lai Yan

Due to the growing population and the expansion of water-intensive industries in Sarawak, water sustainability has become a pressing concern. Public awareness of efficient water management plays a crucial role in ensuring long-term water security, resilience against climate change, and protection from water pollution, as highlighted in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

As a higher education institution offering environmental engineering courses, Curtin University Malaysia recognises its responsibility to contribute to water sustainability. This includes equipping students with both the technical knowledge and professional skills needed to promote sustainable water practices and foster community awareness in the region.

With support from the Curtin Malaysia Community Engagement Fund, a team comprising Ir. Dr. Tan Yee Yong, Dr. Paran Gani, and Dr. Wai Lai Yan initiated a collaboration between Environmental Engineering students and Sarawak Water Sdn. Bhd., the regional water supply company. Together, they organised a World Water Day event dedicated to water sustainability.

The event aimed to deepen students’ understanding of responsible water management and inspire them to adopt and advocate sustainable water practices through active community engagement.

This teaching initiative was guided by Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, which emphasises that learning is most effective when students are actively engaged. By integrating concrete experience with reflective observation, students can better understand and apply their knowledge. The theory also advocates for real-world interaction with stakeholders and environments, enabling mutual influence between the learner and their surroundings.

Drawing from this approach, the team developed two educational activities for secondary school students: a hands-on workshop and guided plant tours at the Lambir Water Treatment Plant. A total of eight Environmental Engineering students from Curtin Malaysia participated in the project.

Most of the participating students were enrolled in units such as ‘ENEN2004 Water Resource Management and Treatment Principles’ and ‘ENEN4009 Environmental Engineering Design’, both of which focus on water treatment technologies. During the event, these students served as facilitators, conducting interactive demonstrations on fundamental water filtration processes using science purification kits, and as guides during the plant tours.

To prepare for their roles, the students underwent training conducted by their lecturers and the Lambir plant operators. The training covered the technical aspects of the water treatment process and focused on bridging theoretical concepts with real-world application. It also enhanced students’ technical competencies and communication skills, particularly in explaining water treatment and conservation principles to a general audience.

Thanks to the strong support of Sarawak Water Sdn. Bhd., more than 120 students and teachers from SMK St. Joseph, SMK Merbau, SMK St. Columba, SMK Pujut, and ILP Miri participated in the activities. For many, this was their first time attending such an educational workshop and plant tours.

A survey conducted after the activities collected feedback on participants’ views about sustainable water practices. Responses were overwhelmingly positive. Participants found both the workshop and tours to be interesting and engaging. The clear and concise explanations helped them better understand the journey of water treatment from source to tap.

In addition to gaining valuable insights, participants were also encouraged to start water-saving campaigns in their schools and to raise awareness on social media platforms. Their enthusiastic responses demonstrated the ability of Curtin Malaysia’s Environmental Engineering students to effectively engage the public and communicate complex concepts in accessible ways.

The initiative also evaluated the students’ learning outcomes using Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, focusing on learning dimensions, engagement, and overall impact. Only three of the eight students had any prior experience with water awareness programmes.

All the students described the experience as highly engaging and interactive. They reported that their roles as facilitators and guides significantly enhanced their understanding of real-world water treatment systems.

Before the engagement activities, only half of the students rated their understanding of water treatment processes at Level 1 to 3. Following the event, all students rated their understanding at Level 4 or 5. They also expressed increased confidence in discussing water-related topics and a greater ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.

Moreover, all the students acknowledged a heightened awareness of the importance of water treatment and conservation as a result of their involvement in the programme.

In summary, the World Water Day community engagement initiative successfully bridged the gap between academic theory and practical application. It also demonstrated the students’ growing commitment to environmental sustainability and responsibility in promoting water conservation.

As such, this form of experiential learning is a valuable complement to the Environmental Engineering curriculum. It enables students to apply their technical knowledge in real-world settings and strengthens collaboration with both industry partners and the community.

Ir. Dr. Tan Yee Yong is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Engineering First Year at Curtin University Malaysia. A Fellow of Advance HE and a registered professional engineer with the Board of Engineers Malaysia and Engineers Australia, he specialises in water and environmental engineering. Dr. Tan has contributed to various government projects in waste management, wastewater treatment, and flood mitigation, reflecting his strong commitment to sustainable development.He can be contacted via email at tan.yee.yong@curtin.edu.my.

 Dr. Paran Anak Gani is a Lecturer and Programme Coordinator for Environmental Engineering at Curtin University Malaysia. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering, with a research focus on wastewater phycoremediation, biomass production, and phytoremediation technologies. An Associate Fellow of Advance HE, he is dedicated to developing sustainable solutions through environmental biotechnology. He can be contacted via email at paran.gani@curtin.edu.my.

 Dr. Wai Lai Yan is a Lecturer in Civil and Construction Engineering at Curtin University Malaysia. With prior industry experience in treated water supply design, he brings practical insight to his teaching. His academic approach bridges theory and real-world application, driven by a strong interest in industry-academic integration. He can be contacted via email at waiyan.lai@curtin.edu.my.