Green initiatives on campus
ORGANISED by the KDU Student & Alumni Centre (SAC) as part of its sustainability initiative, the KDU Environment Day was held at its main campus in Utropolis Glenmarie.
It was aimed at creating awareness among students about the importance and need for sustainability efforts.
Selangor Princess Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah launched the event.
Also present were KDU vice-chancellor Prof Dr Hiew Pang Leang, deputy vice-chacellor-Academic Assoc Prof Dr Hon Wei Min, deputy vice-chancellor– Administration Shanker Sathivellu, chief marketing officer Sheikh Fahmy Sheikh Mohamed and Selangor Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong.
In her keynote address, Tengku Zatashah inspired KDU students and staff alike, to volunteer for any opportunity advocating environmental sustainability, by sharing her own testimony in going green.
“Don’t hold back, you have the power right in your hand! If there is something for the environment, you must jump and seize the opportunity,” she said. As an environmental advocate herself, she shared stories about how she voluntarily took up a global project of generating a set of sustainable development communication policies while working for L’Oreal in Paris, her green efforts in reducing plastic waste by bringing her own tiffin and food containers when buying food, and on creating a viral movement in social media with #saynotoplastic.
Wong elaborated on Selangor’s efforts on going green, which included being the first state government to launch the “No Plastic Saturday” campaign in 2010.
The event also incorporated various activities such as the Eco Engagement Talk and Exhibition focusing on sustainability efforts by both EcoKnight and WWF Malaysia; Go Green Marketplace with eco-friendly food and products; as well as an Eco Mini Concert performance by KDU’s young talents and local artists as the finale.
The SAC developed KDU Sustainability 2017, an initiative under the umbrella of the KDU Youth Empowerment Plan 2017.
The other initiatives under the KDU Youth Empowerment Plan include KDU Career Exploration, KDU Fitspiration, KDU Culturation and KDU Hatch Up.
KDU Sustainability 2017 also outlines a variety of green initiatives, as well as personalised actions that students can take to make a difference.
These actions consist of a ban on plastic bags and polystyrene throughout the campus, encouraging students and staff to bring their own recycle bags and plastic containers for takeaways.
Every first Wednesday of the month, staff and students are encouraged to use the stairs as the elevators will be switched off.
To continue spreading the awareness of a greener eco system, KDU will be conducting events every Wednesday throughout the month of June.