Free Educational Opportunities for Local Communities on Good Water Management
Universiti Sains Malaysia provides free educational opportunities for local communities to learn about good water management, empowering people to understand, apply, and advocate sustainable water practices. Through community engagement, field-based learning, and science-driven activities, USM contributes directly to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation by promoting responsible water stewardship.
In 2024, under the Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM) initiative, students from the School of Civil Engineering conducted a community engagement project at Pulau Aman, Penang, to educate residents on sustainable water use. The initiative enabled participants to identify local water challenges and learn good water management techniques, particularly rainwater harvesting for domestic use. Through practical demonstrations, the project strengthened the community’s knowledge of water conservation and reduced dependency on external treated water supply.
The Students Explore Aquatic Sciences (SEAS) Camp 2024, organised by the Centre for Global Sustainability Studies (CGSS) in collaboration with Water Watch Penang and the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), offered local school students and teachers an immersive experience to learn about good water management. Participants carried out water quality testing, explored microplastic pollution, and engaged in educational games highlighting water conservation and sustainable use. The camp fostered awareness of pollution prevention and the importance of clean water access.
The Leveraging Water for Sustainability programme, held on 14 September 2024 by the River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC), further provided a platform for free community-based water education. The programme brought together postgraduate students, international participants from Miyazaki University (Japan), ADTEC Taiping, and local schools to learn the importance of responsible water management through both theoretical sessions and hands-on demonstrations. Participants gained practical understanding of sustainable water practices within engineering and community contexts.
Additionally, the Bio-Ecological Drainage System (BIOECODS) at USM serves as a living laboratory offering free educational visits for schools, universities, and local agencies. Visitors learn about good water management practices through nature-based stormwater management solutions, including wetlands, detention ponds, and ecological swales that naturally filter runoff, prevent flooding, and improve water quality.
Through these free educational initiatives, USM demonstrates its strong commitment to providing local communities with meaningful opportunities to learn about good water management. These initiatives build environmental awareness, encourage behavioural change, and promote a sustainable and water-conscious society.
