JOHOR BAHRU, July 29 — Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) recently played a pivotal role in hosting Australian university students as part of the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Australian-Malaysia SDGs Global Network Study Program 2025, with a focus on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
From 14 to 18 July 2025, twelve Australian students from five renowned universities, Griffith University, Macquarie University, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Wollongong, and The University of Western Australia, embarked on a multi-institutional learning experience across Malaysia. UTM, alongside other Malaysian public universities such as Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), facilitated diverse educational, cultural, and sustainability-related engagements for the visiting students.
Community Connection in Flat Jentayu: A “Truly Malaysia” Experience
The students extended their understanding of sustainable communities through a meaningful community engagement experience with Komuniti Jentayu in Bandar Baru Kangkar Pulai. The initiative, themed “From Waste to Health”, allowed the students to interact directly with local residents, learning how grassroots practices contribute to environmental awareness, health, and social inclusion.
This experience served as a window into Malaysia’s rich cultural fabric, as the Australian participants joined residents in activities blending sustainability with tradition. From culinary exploration to community gardening, the interaction offered them what many described as a “Truly Malaysia” moment, blending education with empathy.
A Broader Impact Through Knowledge Exchange
Beyond UTM’s involvement, the students took part in a range of workshops, campus tours, and cultural visits across other institutions. Notably, they engaged in an ecoprint workshop hosted by the UTM Centre for Campus Sustainability (CCS) and explored aquaponics and flocponics as sustainable food production methods. These multidisciplinary activities reflected the broader intent of the program: to connect SDGs with real-world applications and foster global partnerships through youth education and innovation.
The initiative concluded with student project presentations, a closing ceremony, and a cultural tour organized in collaboration with the Johor Heritage Foundation, rounding off a week of deep academic, social, and intercultural immersion.
UTM’s Commitment to Global Sustainability
UTM’s involvement in this prestigious international program underscores its commitment to the United Nations (UN) SDGs, particularly in nurturing the next generation of global changemakers. By facilitating experiential learning in sustainability, UTM not only showcased its research and innovation capacity but also reaffirmed its role as a hub for transformative education and international collaboration.
As sustainability challenges grow more complex, programs like this reinforce the value of cross-cultural exchange and community-grounded learning in shaping the cities and communities of tomorrow.
