UUM Sustainability Report 2020

2020

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

PREPARED BY CENTRE FOR TESTING, MEASUREMENT & APPRAISAL

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT CENTRE UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA 06010 UUM SINTOK KEDAH DARUL AMAN, MALAYSIA

FIRST PUBLISHED, 2021 All right reserved. No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the research and innovation management centre, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 UUM Sintok, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia.

Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia

Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT: UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA/PREPARED BY CENTRE FOR TESTING, MEASUREMENT & APPRAISAL. ISBN 978-967-0458-28-1 (hardback) 1. Universiti Utara Malaysia.

2. Education, Higher--Malaysia--Sintok (Kedah).

3. Universities and colleges--Malaysia--Sintok (Kedah).

4. Universities and colleges--Environmental aspects.

5. Sustainable development.

6. Government publications--Malaysia.

I. Universiti Utara Malaysia. Pusat Pengujian, Pengukuran dan Penilaian.

378.59511221

PRINTED IN MALAYSIA BY UUM PRESS

WORDS FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR The year 2020 was a pivotal year and one to remember for which adversity and resilience, social justice, political hope and heartache came in waves upon us. The coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has taken—and continues to take—a massive toll on countries around the globe. This global pandemic leaves a lasting impact on both personal and professional levels.

Our world has changed dramatically, and we continue to face challenges for which no one could have prepared us.

Higher education institutions (HEI) have not been spared either by the pandemic. HEIs are experiencing multitude of challenges such as in managing negative trend in enrollment rates, and finding the most feasible teaching and learning (T & L) pedagogies to engage students remotely. Leaders of HEIs have their work cut out in ensuring sustainability of respective institutions. At UUM, we set out to ensure that present and future students continue to have access to the T & L and research activities while at the same time preparing a safe environment when our campuses eventually open.

Managing the threats posed by COVID-19 pandemic is critical for HEI survival. The severity of the outbreak necessitated the government in implementing a drastic measure of putting the whole country into total lockdown (MCO) for a lengthy period of time. To survive in this difficult situation, a holistic and pragmatic educational continuity plan can help HEIs manage the impacts. UUM, in responding to this development, has set its primary focus and resources throughout 2020, and well into 2021, towards achieving resilience and sustainability.

It is to ensure that there is continuity, particularly in T & L and that students are able to graduate on time (GOT). Remote learning was implemented in earnest and all instructions and guidelines to facilitate the transition from the traditional into the new mode of learning were efficiently and consistently disseminated to students, lecturers and administrators. We had also engaged and collaborated with industry partners in efforts to enable students from lowincome families to access education through affordable data packages. With regard to administrative matters of the University, all activities were conducted via on-line mode with minimal disruptions.

The shift from the traditional to remote method has yielded many unexpected, yet positive outcomes. Throughout 2020, we witnessed a significant growth of webinars, online discussions and gatherings, and creative educational content on many social media platforms. These developments have gone to show that we are resilient enough to change and adapt to any unexpected developments. The synergy between staff and students during this difficult time has enabled the University to continue prosper, and the results can be seen in the improved rankings in surveys conducted by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) respectively.

The University strives to create a sustainable ecosystem while maintaining its full functions and properties during this testing time. During the lockdown period, the campus environment had had a respite, and nature was allowed to grow unabatedly. Energy consumption such as electricity and water usage were reduced. It was also an opportune time to implement more sustainable programmes such as Dusun Nadir, a green garden project, and a novel UUM new waste management framework to reduce food waste. The University welcomes all these forward thinking initiatives as it can further elevate the university’s brand image, both locally and globally. Lest we forget, the surrounding community is also in need of our support, and towards this end, various programmes and activities were undertaken such as food and basic necessities assistance, counselling services, financial support and others that help bridge the campus with the community.

This Sustainable Report depicts UUM’s holistic and inclusive approach towards achieving sustainability and realizing the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2030 agenda during this uncertain and testing time brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. I strongly believe that each UUM denizen has an important role to play in creating and sustaining a conducive campus ecosystem for our future young learners.

There is a saying about the importance of good teamwork, ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much’.

PROF DATO’ DR AHMAD BASHAWIR ABDUL GHANI Vice Chancellor

WORDS FROM THE DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR

Campus sustainability agenda demonstrates UUM continuous efforts in contributing to the community on campus as well as the development of a sustainable community through education, research and partnership.

These efforts are multilateral in nature that support the well -being of society by expanding education and research at universities rooted in social challenges.

UUM translates support for SDG2030 by implementing targeted programs that have an impact in saving operating costs and using resources such as manpower, facilities and the environment in optimal ways. As the world community faces the threat of Covid-19, the year 2020 witnesses UUM persistent effort to strive in making progress on campus sustainability in various initiatives.

A total of RM100K is allocated to intensify research activities to generate new ideas to face pandemic challenges.

Meanwhile, a matching grant of RM50K is allocated to achieve the campus sustainability agenda, including river conservation, innovation in solar energy management, creative content for university green forests and smart learning in education. Apart from that, RM50K is also offered to improve the quality of the graduate development programs to empower them for incoming sustainability programs.

This report portrays UUM efforts throughout year 2020 in making this university a sustainable institution. The sequence of these programs is improved and continued in 2021 and beyond. It is the hope that more sustainability activities, especially through research and partnership with the industry, will be intensified from year to year.

The implementation of the sustainability agenda in UUM is designed through Living Campus, but all individuals and departments in UUM are given the trust to implement their respective programs.

PROF. DR. HAIM HILMAN ABDULLAH Deputy Vice Chancellor

Editors Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Idayu Mahat Assoc. Prof. Dr. Masnita Misiran Nurulhuda Muhamad

CONTRIBUTORS UUM EQUALLY FIGHT COVID-19, HELP THE FRONT LINE OF THE COUNTRY UUM Online

STATISTICS OVERVIEW

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Idayu Mahat & Assoc. Prof. Dr. Masnita Misiran

RESPONSE TO UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL PANDEMIC Shahrul Nizam Ahmad

WATER IS LIFE CORNER: TREATING RESOURCES WITH CARE Dr. Aili Hanim Hanafiah

SOCIO ECONOMY CORNER: DEVELOPING SOCIETY THROUGH ZAKAT Dr. Mohd Murshidi Mohd Noor

SULAM CORNER: EMPOWERING COMMUNITY THROUGH T&L ACTIVITY Prof. Dr. Nurahimah Mohd Yusoff

NO MOTORIZED VEHICLE

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Idayu Mahat & Assoc. Prof. Dr. Masnita Misiran

TOWARDS CONNECTED CAMPUS

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Masnita Misiran & Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Idayu Mahat

UUM DEVELOPMENT & MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT UUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UUM INSTITUTE OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT UUM ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

CONTENTS

08 S U C C E S S

S T O R Y

I N

A

G L I M P S E

09 U U M T H E

E Q U A L L Y F R O N T

F I G H T

L I N E

O F

C O V I D - 1 9 , T H E

H E L P

C O U N T R Y

11 K E Y

S T A T I S T I C S

21 R E S P O N S E

T O

U N P R E C E D E N T E D

G L O B A L

P A N D E M I C

23 W A T E R

I S

L I F E

R E S O U R C E S

C O R N E R :

W I T H

ACCENT SOLUTIONS INC.

T R E A T I N G

C A R E

01

CONTENTS

28 S O C I O

E C O N O M Y

S O C I E T Y

C O R N E R :

T H R O U G H

Z A K A T ,

D E V E L O P I N G S U S T A I N A B L Y

30 S U L A M

C O R N E R :

C O M M U N I T Y

E M P O W E R I N G

T H R O U G H

T & L

A C T I V I T Y

33 N O

M O T O R I Z E D

V E H I C L E

P O L I C Y

35 S D G

C O M M I T M E N T

39 G E A R I N G T O W A R D S

T O W A R D S

2 0 2 1

C O N N E C T E D

C A M P U S

SUCCESS STORY IN A GLIMPSE

473.56

hectares of campus is green. UUM is a safe home for wildlife, with the presence of tree leaves monkeys, squirrels, kingfisher, egret, snakes, amphibians, and variety of flora. Our Sintok forest also housed the highly-valued agarwood, and named-derived Sintok tree (Entada Spiralis).

55% use of water in campus comes from rain water and river. The Sintok and Badak river flowing in campus, making it accessible for landscape maintenance in campus.

360m³ of the gardens and orchards remains are recycled per year. The byproduct is transformed into wood chip and reused for landscape maintenance around campus.

600m³ of gardening by product from landscaping activities are used as compost, food pallets, and mulches in campus per year.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

PAGE 08

UUM EQUALLY FIGHT COVID-19, HELP THE FRONT LINE OF THE COUNTRY The university has offered vehicles, facilities, and human resources to Kubang Pasu District Health Office to assist with the management of COVID-19 patients

UUM Online: Since the Covid-19 Pandemic started last year in the country, various ways have been done to help the front line face the challenges that have not seen the end.

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) is also no exception when various forms of assistance are given since last year, especially to the forefront of the north. Among them, producing 13,000 meters of personal protective clothing (PPE) and over 2,000 basi-bacterial liquids (Hand Sanitizer), Face Mask and Face Shield (Face Shield) handed over to the frontline at hospitals involved in the north.

In addition, UUM also made collection and distributed assistance to the surrounding residents affected in Napoh during the Sivide Cluster and River Cluster in Kota Setar, as well as distributing 200 assistance packs including food kits to policemen on duty at roadblocks (SJR) and media practitioners.

UUM has also offered Covid-19 Pandemic Research Funding (Resq-Covid-19) grants to academics of more than RM100,000 to promote a pandemic impact on society and the country.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

To ensure a safe learning and teaching environment (PDP) to the main stakeholder of the university, the virtual method or remote learning has been successfully implemented since last year.

For that purpose, UUM has partnered with Telekom Malaysia (TM) Berhad by offering UniFi Mobile special packages at low prices to enable students to continue learning sessions smoothly.

This year, concerned with the constraints faced by front-line fighters in the Kubang Pasu District in the face of the Covid-19 outbreak, UUM has lent a university vehicle to the Kubang Pasu District Health Office to bring COVID-19 Health Patients in the district to the Quarantine Center and Covid Treatment -19 low risk (PKRC).

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato 'Dr. Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani when commenting on this informing a bus and two van was loaned to this three-month district health office from May 25 to August to bring patients to PKRC in Kulim, Sungai Petani, Kuala Nerang and who would be gazetted of the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).

PAGE 09

University also partnered with Telekom Malaysia (TM) Berhad by offering UniFi Mobile special packages at low prices to enable students continue their learning sessions smoothly

In addition, according to him, the District Health Office has also applied to use the Hall in the Student Park, Jitra for the 'Buffer Zone' Vaccination Program next to the PKPD Park Mahsuri area held yesterday.

"At the same time, I always remind all campus citizens to restrictions on self-motion or 'selflockdown' to curb the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak. Do not make ourselves as the cause of this virus, "he said.

He said UUM would also provide volunteers to help smooth the vaccine injection process around Kubang Pasu area.

In addition, it is not forgotten of 10,000 face masks to the Malaysian High School Certificate (STPM) candidate (STPM) and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2020 for the Kubang Pasu district of Changlun National Secondary School in February.

"The University is honored to help facilitate the frontline of the frontline (Frontliner) during the case of the case.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

All campus citizens is always reminded to adhere to the SOP in effort to curb the spread of the Covid19 outbreak.

PAGE 10

KEY STATISTICS

WIRELESS BROADBAND BANDWIDTH In UUM, the infrastructure for internet connectivity is primed for effective teaching and learning activities.

50% of paid wireless broadband bandwidth has been used in UUM campus for 2020 (10Gps from 20Gsp speed/bandwidth)

Usage 10Gps

Traffic Usage The chart shows 90% capacity of internet traffic that can be utilized, with only 10% traffic is recorded for wireless broadband bandwidth usage in UUM Campus for year 2020 (2Gps/20Gps)

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

2Gps

Available

18Gps

PAGE 12

ONLINE LEARNING In UUM, remote learning is conducted through Cisco Webex meetings as the main medium for video conferencing, with comprehensive UUM Online Learning platform for teaching and learning resources.

Usage 0.51%

Only 100.68K are utilized from available 20Gps available in a subscribed Webex platform as teaching and learning platform from Mei to December 2020.

Available 99.49%

500,000

400,000

There is a huge gap between users that only view page versus active user in UUM Online Learning platform. Out of 417K page view, only 5.04% are active user (21K)

417000

300,000

200,000

100,000 21000

0

Active User

Page View

ONLINE LEARNING USAGE

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

PAGE 13

TRANSPORTATION There are various type of transportations are available in campus for efficient mobility. The chart shows total number of transportation in campus for 2020

250 240

72%

200

TOTAL NUMBER OF TRANSPORTATION IN UUM of the transportation are bicycles in 2020

150

100

Bicycles are the most common mode of transportation at UUM, accounting for 240 unit, shuttles (32) and buses (11).

50

50 11

0

Busses

32

Shuttle

Bicycles

Others

TRANSPORTATION IN CAMPUS

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

PAGE 14

TEACHING & LEARNING:

UUM consists of 4 academic colleges which housed 16 schools of various disciplines. These colleges include College of Business (COB), College of Arts and Science (CAS) and College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS).

COB

CAS

10,908 | 490 | 22.26

4,431 | 499 | 8.88

STUDENT | STAFF | RATIO

STUDENT | STAFF | RATIO

COLGIS

OVERALL STUDENT = STAFF = RATIO =

4,008 | 221 | 18.14 STUDENT | STAFF | RATIO

19,347 1,210 15.99

20,000 19347

TOTAL STAFF RATIO

15,000

10,000

TOTAL STUDENT

10908

5,000 4431

0

490

22.26

COB

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

4008

499

CAS

1210 8.88

221

18.14

COLGIS

15.99

OVERALL PAGE 15

SMART ATTENDANCE & SMART BUILDING UUM is committed towards advancing technology and green campus through Smart Attendance and Smart Building.

40

SMART ATTENDENCE

47% TOTAL NUMBER OF

36

30

TRANSPORTATION department use total smart IN UUM attendance

20 17

In 2020, out of 36 total departments there is only 17 departments that use smart attendance in UUM Campus.

10 0

Total

5 features to classify as smart building (building automation, fire alarm system, smart card reader, automatic light sensor system, SCADA system and internet wireless)

Partial

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000

Academic Building has the largest floor area (162,712 m²), Admin Building (105,901 m²) and Lecture Hall (19,674 m²).

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

0

105,901

162,712

19,674

Admin Building

Academic Building

Lecture Hall

FLOOR AREA (M²)

PAGE 16

ENERGY & WATER

In UUM, we have sufficient energy and water allocation for entire campus. The charts below show the energy and water allocation in 2020.

1,250,000

ENERGY The chart shows the average of electric usage in UUM for the year 2020.

The average monthly electricity usage is RM1,132,316 with RM37,535 daily usage.

1,000,000 750,000 500,000 250,000 0

1,132,316

37,535

Per Month

Per Day

TOTAL ENERGY USAGE IN 2020

4,000,000

WATER The chart shows the amount of water usage in UUM for the year 2020 in unit RM and m³. The total amount is RM3,161,769.40 and 2,809.322 cubic metre

3,000,000

2,000,000

1,000,000

0

1.57 2,809,322

m3

3,161,769.40

Ratio of water used in 2019 and 2020

3.64% Percentage of water saving in 2020

RM

TOTAL WATER USAGE IN 2020

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

PAGE 17

RESOURCES CONSUMPTIONS The consumptions of water and energy in campus show decreasing trend in March onwards due to the start of travel restrictions in Malaysia

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

0

Jan

Feb

March

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

WATER CONSUMPTION (M³)

2,000,000

1,500,000

1,000,000

500,000

0

Jan

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

PAGE 18

GARDEN MAINTENANCE Rigorous efforts are being made to make recycle activities a norm in campus. The Living Campus initiatives in campus is dedicated to ensure green and sustainability agenda in campus can be materialized.

600

600

600m³ Total compost produced from Dusun

360m³

400

Total compost produced from Taman-taman and Dusun

360

200

0

Taman-Taman dan Dusun

Dusun

GARDEN MAINTENANCE (M³)

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

PAGE 19

UNIVERSITI IN A GREEN FOREST: A TRULY ECOFRIENDLY CAMPUS

UUM

Forest

over

473.56

(229.40 forest

Reserve hectares

hectares

and

244.16

are

spans wide virgin

hectares

are secondary forest)

RESPONSE TO UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL PANDEMIC UUM create a special taskforce to evaluate and monitor Covid19 threats to its functional operation

In December 2019, the world experienced a rude awakening with the outbreak of a new Coronavirus in Wuhan, China. From China, the virus has spread rapidly to other parts of the world and became a pandemic. This new Coronavirus or now known as Covid19 has been a major threat globally and Malaysia was not spared from its wrath.

Malaysia reported its first case in late February 2020 and since then has been fighting, as it seems as, a never-ending battle to suppress its spread until today. To date, Malaysia has recorded 404,925 positive cases and 1,492 deaths. Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) has also its fair share of encounters.

UUM has been monitoring the Covid19 situation when it first cropped out in China since December 2019. This was because some of international students originated from China and there was a concern that this would affect the student enrolment in future. At that time, nobody and even World Health Organisation (WHO) has no information on this new coronavirus and it was a race with time to identify the virus and to come up with an emergency response to control the spread of Covid19.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

The rapid spread of Covid19 was unprecedented mainly due to the ease of connectivity of people around the globe.

Therefore, Covid19 spread rapidly due to the ease of people movement and in record time has spread to all parts of the world in matter of days.

In February 2020, UUM has put a special taskforce to evaluate and monitor the threat of Covid19 to its operation. Due to cases starting to crop out, Malaysia has announced the Movement Control Order (MCO) starting 18 March 2020.

Although the safety and health of staffs and students are the main concern of UUM but Covid19 also post other risk issues due to restriction of movement.

This means that traditional teaching and learning is terribly restricted and UUM’s income stream is also affected as normal student services and rental activities are kept at minimum.

PAGE 21

Its business and operating models are transformed to ensure overall operations in campus remain resilient and sustainable for years to come.

UUM has started its Smart Campus Initiative and Online Learning long before Covid19. Due to the pandemic, the initiative has received a tremendous boost where a huge investment has been committed in terms of monetary and manpower to enhance UUM’s technology capabilities. This was done to ensure students connectivity are not impaired and teaching and learning activities continued as it was intended.

This was planned and executed carefully to make sure that teaching and learning disruptions are kept at minimum.

UUM has transformed its business and operating model, which was carefully developed and planned by its management, in making sure that UUM’s business and operations remain resilient and sustainable for years to come.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

Even before the pandemic, the Smart Campus Initiative and Online Learning has been in placed. During the pandemic, these initiative are fully adopted.

PAGE 22

water is life Corner: treating resources with care Water is a crucial component in every life, it covers more than 70% of earth surface. All living things on our blue planet need water to survive. Water is a home to millions of species, ranging from smallest organisms up to big ocean’s Mammalia, blue whale. In facts, scientist discovered new species in the depth of the oceans every year.

Additionally, oceans perform a key role in the global environment, which is largest carbon sink and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Oceans also play a role in hydrosphere or water cycle; it helps warm and cool various regions.

Evaporation from warm seas fall as rain or snow across the globe and sustaining life on land.

Besides, Hydrosphere often called ‘water sphere’. It is including all the earth's water found in streams, lakes, the soil, groundwater, and in the air.

This water cycle refers to the transfer of water from one state or reservoir to another.

Reservoirs include atmospheric moisture (snow, rain clouds), streams, oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, polar ice caps and saturated soil. The hydrologic cycle traces the movement of water and energy between these various stores and spheres. It has been estimated that there are 1386 million cubic kilometres of water on earth. This includes water in liquid and frozen forms in groundwater, ocean, lakes, and streams. Saltwater accounts for 97.5% of this amount and freshwater accounts only 2.5% (Chiras 2001).

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

PAGE 23

WATER AS EXPENSIVE RESOURCES Water becomes transport system across the world, connecting not only coastal cities but also inland cities along navigable waterways Moreover, water is a vital need for human as a domestic use at home such as drinking, cooking, cleaning, showering, and flushing.

Food, clothes, cars, books, and mobile phone use water in their production. In addition to this, human need water for a local and global resource.

Water also plays a role as transport corridor and climate regulator; it connects and transfer communities and commodities.

Water offers a real transport system across the world, connecting not only coastal cities but also inland cities along navigable waterways. It is show that how important of water in every single necessity and represent every aspect of human lives.

However, since recent decades many pollutants have released to the nature include river and sea and caused a huge negative impact to the living creatures.

Therefore, human need to fundamentally transform the way of consuming and treat water if they want to remain experiencing the advantages of clean water and fresh oceans and river.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

Water is a vital need for human as domestic use i.e., drinking, cooking, cleaning, and showering.

PAGE 24

CURRENT WATER POLLUTION ISSUE Recent events in Malaysia include the Selangor River Pollution in 2020 and Sungai Kim Kim Pollution in 2019.

Over the last two centuries, the growth of human population in line with rising of development, urbanization, industrialization, and transportation has resulted water pollution tremendously. Water in the oceans, rivers and water cycle have been contaminated by chemical substances, solid waste, hazardous material, pesticides, and fertilizers etc.

Some of these pollutants and contaminations can persist in the water even though after having undergone advanced wastewater treatment method. In addition, airborne pollutants release by manufacturing and vehicle activity can be accumulated in oceans, rivers and lakes and give impact on water quality. Hence, human activities include over-exploitation to the nature, physical modifications to water habitats which triggered of pollution and climate change continue to destabilize the quality and accessibility of water in this earth.

Malaysia is not the exception to this catastrophe; water pollution keeps on increase

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

year by year. The latest example of Malaysia’s water pollution issues are Selangor River Pollution in 2020 and Sungai Kim Kim Pollution in 2019. Worse to happened, over one million consumers in the Klang Valley facing a bad experience because of water supply interruption every time which can be attributed to the water pollution of Selangor rivers that happened at least four time throughout 2020 (Astro Awani 2020).

Industrialization was the main agent which resulted Selangor river pollution.

This is due to the irresponsible factory owner which simply discharging effluents near Sungai Gong in Rawang and disrupting piped water supply to 1.2 milllion Selangor citizens, however he and his son has been sentenced by Sessions Courts. However, it happened again after a month when local authority has detected odour pollution emanating from Sungai Selangor until it causes closing of four water treatment plants operations in Selangor.

PAGE 25

Water and odour pollution has raised almost one thousand victims and cause closure of 111 schools around Pasir Gudang.

In addition, Johor Department of Environment has identified around 20 to 40 tonnes of the waste oils was illegally dumped into parts of Sungai Kim Kim river in March 2019.

It derives from the irresponsible persons including three men and two factory owner which has been suspected doing an illegal disposal of chemical waste into that river.

The disposal purposes of all the chemical waste reported as part of the clean-up operation in the factory. However, the chemical waste was move to the downstream of the river and affecting more schools and residents further away from the dumping site.

Besides, water and odour pollution has raised almost one thousand victims and cause closure of 111 schools around Pasir Gudang. The culprits of the illegal dumping are being investigated under Section 34(B) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 which carries a maximum fine of up to MYR500,000 and/up to five years in jail (Star Online 2019, Malaysiakini 2019)

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

In conclusion, the above cases clearly showed that Malaysia confronting the Industrial Revolution 4.0 dramatically.

Although the management of the activity of industrialization able to handle in well mannered, with law and order but more thoughtless people simply put this matter lightly without thinking the importance of preservation and conservation of the environment.

Now, more than ever, to manage and maintain water resources, big or small manufacturer company strictly must follow environmental rules and regulation.

Malaysia has gazetted Environmental Quality Act 1974, this act relating to the prevention, abatement, control of pollution and enhancement of the environment, and for purposes connected therewith (Environmental Quality Act, 1974).

PAGE 26

To maintain quality and quantity of water resources, Malaysia has gazetted Environmental Quality Act 1974.

Over the recent year, with changes of decades and technology, mentality and attitude of citizen should also change in line with time and Malaysian ought not to be left behind. In this case, Malaysians must remember that there is an urgent need to take bigger responsibility in the way of managing water supplies. In various ways, water is a very important local resource to all community, they cannot survive without clean water.

Moreover, water moving across nations and unite regions both cultural and physical. Due to the fact that large water bodies are united and connected, something that started as a local challenge has the potential to become one of many contributors to a greater challenge. Therefore, to maintain quality and quantity of water resources, Malaysia has gazetted Environmental Quality Act 1974. In this Act, companies are required to keep record of quantity and type of waste generated and must inform to authorities accordingly (Environmental Quality Act, 1974). Besides, The

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

Environment Institute of Malaysia (EiMAS) offer courses in scheduled waste management, biological and physico-chemical wastewater treatment to the capable person in order to handle Malaysia water pollution to the better position.

Likewise, Malaysia also performs various method in a way to control water pollution involving Government (Department of Environment, Department of Irrigation and Drainage), private sector, non-governmental organization etc.

In conclusion, the value of water extends beyond humans as it is essential to sustaining ecosystem and environment, stabilize weather system, reduce global warming, and regulate desertification etc. Water is also essential to the flora and fauna and aquatic habitat life. Hence, the value of water is depending on the context and most importantly how individual and community able to value it wholeheartedly.

PAGE 27

SOCIO-ECONOMY CORNER Developing Society through Zakat Fund UUM Zakat Research and Innovation Institute (IPIZ) has made significant initiatives to transform the science of zakat to evolve according to the passage of time. Among these initiatives include rampaging collaboration amd networking with external parties, organizing community

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

programs, and publicizing IPIZ not only through conventional channels, but also through social media. IPIZ has successfully secured several collaboration, in particular for research and financing purposes with external parties i.e., State Zakat Board of Kedah (LNZK), and Etiqa Takaful.

PAGE 28

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP IPIZ partnered with LZNK and Etiqa to provide education funding to asnaf students seeking to further their higher education.

In light of this collaboration, substantial research and consultation grants have been offered to researchers in campus on the asnaf fi-sabilillah category. The research is highly scrutinized by IPIZ to ensure that the grants provided should deliver high impact output on community and industry. This is crucial sicne the funds used are from the zakat duties and need to be returned to asnaf. As a result, IPIZ has successfully published 3 books under the publication of UUM Press. In addition, the IPIZ also holds a 'matching grant' between the UUM and universities both domestically and abroad as to promote internationalization effort and available expertise is recognized globally.

IPIZ also partnered with LZNK and Etiqa to provide education funding to asnaf students seeking to further their education. An interview session was held to select students who were eligible for the funding.

Once they are eligible for the funding, their studies will continue to be monitored by the IPIZ to ensure that they are successful in graduating within the proper period.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

Further, IPIZ runs a program of research and study funding, the IPIZ also organized community-based programs for the Asnaf community and the B40 to help communities around the UUM feel the presence of IPIZ among their groups such as holding the Setar Administration PKPD Post-Assistance Community Program, Rural Community Economic Development Program (Throw) Knowledge Transfer and Aquaponic Technology Community Program, and the Laptop Help Community Program for selected Asnaf and B40 Students.

To promote IPIZ to UUM citizens and external communities, a scientific program was created through social media called the weekly IPIZ Talk.

Through this program, researchers who have conducted research under the IPIZ will be given the opportunity to present their research briefly, so that it can be shared with the public in the future.

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sulam corner: empowering community through t&l

AEDU DRIVES SULAM INITIATIVES IN RESPONSE TO THE NEED OF SOCIETY Service-based learning or service learning for society (Sulam/e-Sulam) is a teaching and learning activity that integrates community services to empower learning experience, applying civic responsibilities and strengthening local communities.

This should be further strengthened in line with the requirements of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (KPT) who wants the University to play 0 1

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

a role in bringing change to the community, especially the surrounding communities. In UUM context, would be the entire state of Kedah. The implementation of the Sulam/e-Sulam program will have a positive impact on student's academic experience by improving their interpersonal skills, especially the ability to work effectively with people outside campus, build leadership skills and improve communication skills.

Effective implementation of Sulam/e-Sulam program should also impact nearby community.

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Nineteen Coordinators from UUM Academic School are involved in SULAM/e-SULAM program in the year 2020

In recent development, The E-Sulam Innovate competition has been organized by Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, that signal the importace of this initiatives. There are two categories involve, Category 1: ESulam Project and Category 2: E-Sulam Concept Project. UUM has successfully transmitted 40 entire entries with a total of 20 entries for each category contested.

In campus, the UUM Academic Development Unit (AEDU) is responsible for encompassing activities to strengthen Sulam-based learning. Coordination of Sulam Courses in each School is a pillar to achieve the objective of implementing the Sulam/e-Sulam program. Therefore, a total of 19 Sulam Coordinators represent each academic school have been appointed and responsible for conducting and reporting Sulam's activities at their respective Schools to AEDU. Additionally, a task force has been established to streamline the GUIDE (GP) of the Sulam and provide e-Sulam guidelines (GPs) to meet the needs of Sulam's implementation online.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

The University has also approved an allocation of RM100,000 from 2019 to carry out Sulam's activities with an allocation of RM1,000 per course. AEDU also devised subsequent activities together with each school of study.

Identify Sulam courses from academic programs Training Workshop to select the title of the Sulam Project Experience Sharing Experience Sulam (Lecturer and Student Association) Sulam Quality Workshop, and Monitoring of Sulam project continuity.

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The

forest

and

fresh

remains air

to

students and staff.

as

a

source

nearly

of

clean

20,000

UUM

no motorized vehicle policy LONG TERM COMMITMENT FOR A LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT IN CAMPUS UUM campus lies as part of the gazetted forest reserve, 473.56 hectares wide in which 244.16 hectares is a secondary forest and 229.40 hectares still remain as virgin forest.

Its beautiful landscape with twin river systems and lush vegetation housed diverse species of flora and fauna.

This beautiful natural heritage needs to be preserved and conserved by the denizen in campus.

This is a shared commitment among those working and studying in UUM. We believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that these natural resources are carefully managed.

In the meantime, we are committed to only release carbon to environment when deem necessary. We understand that even smaller actions such walking to buy lunch instead of driving will significantly reduce the carbon emission globally.

As such, many ongoing initiatives and programs are implemented in campus to maintain the luxury of having inherited these resources.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

Among initiatives to achieve this goal is to ban the use of Styrofoam containers in cafeteria and restaurants inside campus.

Denizen in campus is encouraged to bring their own food container.

In fact, the university has provided a set of food and beverage containers to new registered students starting in 2019 as an initiative to reduce the use of plastic bags on campus.

Also, University has provided many water dispensers strategically located around campus, i.e., in the academic buildings, student residential areas, and sport centre, to ensure that students and staff stay hydrated and able to reduce their dependencies towards single used plastic bottle water. There are also recycle collection centres located in campus.

As most of the contributing carbon release in the environment is generated from the landfills, UUM is passionate in improving the disposal system from the grassroot.

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ZERO WASTE SOLUTION UUM has signed understanding with one of key player in waste solutions, the E-Idaman Sdn. Bhd. in its ongoing commitment towards sustainabity.

To materialize this commitment, University has signing the understanding with E-Idaman Sdn. Bhd., the main player for waste solutions in Kedah, as catalyst to improve the waste management initiative in campus moving towards zero waste campus in near future.

UUM has also replacing the personal computers with notebook for its academia. This initiative is able to significantly reduce the energy consumption as total number of academia contribute to the large portion of staff recruitment in campus. Being part of the forest system, there are many scenic pathways around campus that are utilized as pedestrian pathways to walk through the buildings

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

in shaded area. UUM is also invested in providing a scenic route dedicated for bicycles. For off-road use, the route is about 12km long surrounded by nature while 16km is for on road use.

These efforts are done to encourage more people to reduce the use of engine-based vehicle, rather to choose alternatives such as walking and cycling as their way of life.

As we are committed to reducing carbon footprint, UUM will begin initiating the dedicated team to construct guidelines, policy and strategic plan to ensure carbon footprint index in UUM is exemplary.

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SDG COMMITMENT

Our Commitments We move to be greener than before. Our aims are to control the number of motorized vehicles on campus and encourage a healthier environment. We also committed towards conducting programs that are sustainably driven.

UUM has provided safe bicycle track and pedestrian way for the use of UUM community to commute. The bicycle track and pedestrian way route distance for the whole of UUM is 16 kilometers. These routes are unconnected to the main road and are separated by sewers.

UUM students are not allowed to bring vehicles without permission. The university has provided 32 shuttles to connect the student accommodations with academic and administrative buildings

UUM has provided safe bicycle track and pedestrian way for the use of UUM community to commute. The bicycle track and pedestrian way route distance for the whole of UUM is 16 kilometers. These routes are unconnected to the main road and are separated by sewers.

Department or Agency: SDG Progress Report 2020

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

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Reduced Vehicles issue official university vehicle sticker to limit the number of vehicles allowed in campus, limited parking facilities reserved for staff and students, providing public parking located in strategic areas near administrative and academic buildings, providing covered and non-covered pedestrian walkways in campus, enforced tire clamps on campus, installing auto barrier gates at reserved parking areas for staff and visitors with access cards.

UUM encourages denizen involvement in green and sustainability activities to foster awareness on the importance of guarding the environment.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

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Sustainability in mind 20K

Decorative trees

30%

are planted for shades and oxygen release

32

Shuttles as main vehicles for mobility

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

Natural ventilation in building spaces

5

Research Grants allocated specifically for campus development

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GEARING TOWARDS 2021

TOWARDS CONNECTED CAMPUS As the country is gearing towards its fourth industrial revolution with the ramping effort to improve digital infrastructure in the whole of Malaysia, UUM will also leveraging its internet connectivity's capability.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

As most of digital infrastructure in campus has already in place, the year 2021 onwards will be geared towards improving the readiness and upgrading human's digital skills and capability in campus to reap the benefit of opensource, connectivity, and the era of big data.

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OUR GOALS FOR 2021 Focus more improvement on digital info and infrastructure for seamless digital experience in teaching and learning activities.

In response to the era of digitalization, together with the coming of this unprecedented global pandemic in 2020, University is proactively looking for ways to minimize the impact from these difficulties. The first phase in 2020 when pandemic first strike is to focus on the improvement of digital infrastructure and supports for teaching and learning activities, followed by the standard operations for business and services, and later on the streamline of research and publication activities. We are at advantage since the infrastructure for connectivity in campus is already at its optimum level, thus the use of technological means can be utilized more effectively. At current, UUM offers high speed wireless broadband service throughout campus for denizen on campus and also university guests.

At current, UUM offers high speed wireless broadband service for denizen in campus and university guests.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

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OUR GOALS FOR 2021 Enable management team to assess all relevant and important information through analytic solutions.

We also provide access to free WiFi connectivity to our nearest town, Changloon, as way to develop the surrounding community through this corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. As this University housed more than 20,000 residents at normal active time, we are rich with various type of data from different departments. At current, we are capturing readily vast data in campus through analytical solutions that are based on some dedicated database and software. These analytic solutions enable management team to assess all relevant and important information, mostly centered upon the denizen in campus, either staff, students or resources. This solution-based platform is capitalizing on real-time data to capture output that is current, thus reflects more accurately the real scenario and conditions under monitoring.

UUM provides access to free WiFi connectivity to its nearest town, Changloon, as way to develop the surrounding community through CSR initiative.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

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OUR GOALS FOR 2021 Expand analytics solution and intelligence to the whole campus in near future.

Due to University’s limitation in resources in particular number of recruited talents and finances, this year, this analytics solution is currently being adopted in selected critical departments in campus.

Among them are the dashboard analytics for student development, and the dashboard for UI Green Metric monitoring. It is our intention to expand these solutions to the whole campus in the future, one step at a time. With this in mind, the University is currently improving its database and data infrastructure to be readily accessible inter departments. The effort to make data on campus transparent is among the main agenda, in the spirit to foster more active participation from denizen in campus to analyses and develop R&D from these otherwise idle data.

University is currently improving its database and data infrastructure to be readily accessible inter departments.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

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OUR GOALS FOR 2021 Encourage more innovation among the researchers inside campus once the data is freely accessible.

As this campus housed more than 2,000 researchers, it is expected that more innovation can be inculcated among the team inside campus once the data is freely accessible. A pool of citizen researchers can be ignited, and talents from the whole campus can be empowered. We should also expect to see an agile response and robust team collaborations inter departments; thus, the blending of expertise can be coordinated easier. Although the year 2020 can be seen as less-than-ideal working space for everyone, we can see its silver lighting through the pushing force towards digitalization.

The transformation to digital initiatives can be done quicker with less resistance from the grass root. And we in UUM are ready to ride this wave.

The transformation to digital initiatives can be done quicker with less resistance from the grass root.

And we in UUM are ready to ride this wave.

UUM SUSTAINABILITY 2020

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UN SDG Goals

We thank you for your continued support in our efforts to contribute to the SDGs.

Contact Centre for Testing, Measurement & Appraisal Universiti Utara Malaysia 06010 UUM Sintok Kedah Malaysia

cetma@uum.edu.my +604 928 4981 http://www.rimbahijau.uum.edu.my