Miri and Kuching students attend Sustainable Future Learning Camp at Curtin Malaysia

Miri – 23 July 2019 – About 200 students and teachers from nine secondary schools in Miri and Kuching attended the one-day Curtin Malaysia 20^th Anniversary Sustainable Learning Camp at the Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) campus here last Saturday.

Carrying the theme ‘Sustainable Future, Making Tomorrow Better’, the camp focused on the importance of environmental sustainability and exhorted the participating students to join hands in educating others and raising understanding on environmental matters, including protecting wildlife habitats.

In pre-preparation activities, the students brainstormed concepts, formulated designs for devices and approaches to address issues faced, and in general, came up with innovative ideas for overcoming environmental challenges.

During the camp, the students strengthened their ideas for concepts, products/devices using principles of sustainability and innovation, drafted business plans and marketing strategies, learned to communicate their ideas to the public on social media, and pitch their strategies to a panel of judges, all important activities that took them out of their regular classroom activities and into transformational learning.

Curtin Malaysia’s Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan, who was present at the camp, praised the students for their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. She said there was a high level of participation, including by the accompanying teachers, which made for a very lively and interactive camp.

Professor Giridharan also expressed her gratitude to the academic staff from the university’s Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Engineering & Science and Faculty of Business, who came together to deliver the comprehensive learning camp that received an overwhelming response from the students and the teachers.

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), Miri Branch chairman Musa Musbah and Future Ocean Borneo and Borneo Ghost Nets Hunter founder Iqbal Abdollah also participated as guest speakers, speaking about the Congregating Firefly Zone at the Piasau Nature Reserve and coral reefs, respectively.

“I sincerely thank the all our academic staff and over 40 international and domestic student volunteers, as well as the guest speakers, who provided an excellent opportunity for the students to experience innovative learning at Curtin Malaysia,” said Professor Giridharan.

She added that, as Curtin Malaysia celebrates its 20th anniversary as Curtin University’s largest international campus and global hub in Asia this year, it looks forward to greater connectivity and engagement with local communities in Sarawak.

Some of the participating students posing for a group photo.

Professor Beena Giridharan addressing the students.

Students listening to one of the talks.

MNS Miri Branch chairman Musa Musbah giving his talk on firefly habitats.

Students examining a coral.

Photo-op of participants, teachers, organisers, student volunteers and guest speakers.