WEEK 9:IIUM AS A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS

 

The Week 9 lecture on May 6, 2025, focused on fieldwork observing IIUM as a sustainable campus, emphasizing students as agents of change. The lecture explored the concepts of sustainable and green campuses, highlighting six indicators which is setting and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation and education. IIUM’s initiatives, like food waste composting (1,329 kg collected April–June 2018), solar energy, and myTREEvolution (planting 150 Karas trees), showcased practical sustainability efforts. Social programs, such as the Food Bank and cat shelters, and environmental projects, like the River of Life, demonstrated IIUM’s commitment. Islamic principles from Surah Al-Isra’ (17:26) and Al-Baqarah (2:60) underscored avoiding waste and preserving the earth. Challenges included water wastage and funding, with solutions like shorter showers and e-bike sharing proposed. The lecture linked to our group project, encouraging proposals to enhance IIUM’s sustainability, such as composting or recycling initiatives.

My Reflection

This lecture inspired me to see IIUM as a living model of sustainability, but also highlighted gaps I hadn’t noticed, like water wastage in dorms. The composting project’s success (748 kg output) amazed me, pushing me to propose a similar initiative for our group project to reduce cafeteria waste. The Qur’anic call to avoid waste (17:26) resonated, making me feel accountable as a khalifah to conserve resources.I’ve started closing taps properly. I’m excited about myTREEvolution’s tree-planting but worried about maintaining such projects long-term. The Food Bank initiative motivated me to volunteer, aligning social justice with sustainability. I feel challenged by the need for student awareness but eager to promote recycling through our project, perhaps via campus campaigns. This lecture strengthened my resolve to live sustainably and contribute to IIUM’s green vision.