JOHOR BAHRU, 13 Dec — The Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology (FEST), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, successfully implemented the EcoLingo programme at Flat Taman Sri Plentong, Masai, as part of its commitment to community-engaged learning and sustainability education.
Implemented under the Service Learning Malaysia (SULAM) framework, the programme demonstrates how academic expertise can be mobilised to address community needs while enhancing student learning outcomes. The initiative focused on two priority areas: strengthening basic English language proficiency among primary school students and cultivating early awareness of environmental sustainability, particularly in relation to recycling and waste management.
Led by Programme Director Khirtana Asokan and advised by Project Leader Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zainudin Hassan, the programme adopted an experiential learning approach that integrated language acquisition with environmental themes. Interactive activities were designed to encourage participation, reinforce basic grammar and vocabulary, and translate sustainability concepts into practical action through age-appropriate tasks.
A key policy-relevant outcome of the programme was the establishment of a Mini Library within the residential community. Developed collaboratively by university students and local participants, the facility provides a permanent resource to support literacy development and lifelong learning beyond the duration of the programme. This physical legacy reflects an emphasis on sustainability of impact rather than one-off engagement.
The programme also functioned as a structured platform for UTM students to develop transferable competencies, including communication skills, leadership, teamwork, and social responsibility. These outcomes are consistent with national higher education priorities that emphasise holistic graduate development alongside academic achievement.
In essence, the EcoLingo initiative illustrates how universities can operationalise service-learning frameworks to support national sustainability agendas while delivering measurable educational and community outcomes. The programme reinforces UTM’s role as a research university that integrates teaching, community engagement, and sustainable development in a coherent and scalable manner.
