MATARAM, Sept 12 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universitas Mataram (UNRAM) successfully co-organized two workshops in Mataram. The first, a one-day workshop held on 9 September 2025, was titled “Curiosity and Inquisitiveness in Learning Science” and engaged first-year architecture undergraduates. The second, a two-day workshop on 10 and 11 September 2025, titled “Children’s Ecological Literacy Through Play: Evaluating Place Value and Place Quality in Urban Neighbourhoods in Mataram as a Child-Friendly Environment”, focused on children’s relationship with their living environments in the city. These workshops were facilitated by Dr. Ismail Said, a retired professor from UTM; Dr. Teoh Mei Yee, senior lecturer of Department of Landscape Architecture; and Dr. Rohana Mohd Firdaus, lecturer under Academic Flexible Scheme.
The workshops brought together students and academics to nurture curiosity, encourage scientific inquiry, and explore the complex relationship between children and their everyday urban environments. Participants engaged in designing and planning neighborhood landscapes that support child-friendly environments, fulfilling the agenda outlined by Horelli (2007). This marks the second collaboration between UTM and UNRAM, following the inaugural joint workshop on urban vitality in September 2024. Dr. Rini Srikus Saptaningtyas, Head of the Department of Architecture at UNRAM, once again warmly welcomed the UTM delegation, expressing her enthusiasm for the partnership and her hopes for more collaborative initiatives in the future. The workshops offered students valuable insights, positioning them as future architects, urban designers and planners capable of shaping inclusive and resilient cities.
Both workshops were led by Dr. Ismail Said, an interdisciplinary scholar, who emphasized experiential learning through fieldwork. By observing how children interact with urban spaces such as rivers, streets, and open areas, participants gained deeper insights into the principles of child-friendly environments. The field visits highlighted children’s spontaneous play in natural and built settings—where activities such as jumping into rivers, often perceived as dangerous by adults, were revealed as meaningful forms of learning, negotiation, and social interaction. These observations enriched participants’ understanding of children’s behavior, formless play, and the affordances of their living environments.
The workshops also examined how children engage with their peers and natural forces such as sunlight, wind, and rain, all of which contribute to vibrant neighborhoods where children feel safe to play beyond parental surveillance. Through collaborative activities, including observation and urban sketching, the program benefited from the synergy of UTM’s expertise, represented by Dr. Teoh Mei Yee and Dr. Rohana Mohd Firdaus, who delivered lecture inputs to UNRAM Architecture students on the topics “From Data to Design: Unlocking Sustainable Solutions through Climate Inquiry” and “More Than Meets the Eye: The Hidden Stories Within Our Living Environment,” respectively. Together with UNRAM’s faculty members who facilitated the sessions, this interdisciplinary collaboration fostered a dynamic exchange of knowledge and perspectives.
The Children’s Ecological Literacy Through Play Workshop demonstrated how cities can foster safe and sustainable communities by recognizing children as key stakeholders. Beyond academic exchange, the UTM–UNRAM collaboration bridged science, design, and social perspectives to address urban challenges, paving the way for future interdisciplinary efforts toward sustainable development in the region.
