Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM) of SoCE 2024/2025

In Semester 1 of the 2024/2025 academic session, the School of Civil Engineering at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) proudly launched a unique and impactful learning experience under the EAA112 course, Introduction to Civil Engineering. This course is designed to go beyond theoretical knowledge by embedding professional ethics, sustainability, and community engagement into the heart of engineering education. Students are not only introduced to the historical and technical foundations of civil engineering, but also to the societal responsibilities that define the role of an engineer in today’s world.

A key highlight of this course is its integration with Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM), a national initiative that encourages higher education institutions to align their academic delivery with real-life societal needs. In this initiative, nearly a hundred of first-year students were grouped into 20 project teams and mentored by 17 dedicated supervisors. These groups worked collaboratively with various communities, government agencies, and industry players to address pressing environmental and infrastructure-related issues through hands-on projects rooted in civil engineering principles.

Through this immersive learning experience, students applied their classroom knowledge to solve real-world problems, while simultaneously developing essential soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and critical thinking. Their projects were not merely academic exercises; they were carefully designed to generate meaningful outcomes for the communities involved, ranging from flood risk mitigation to sustainable tourism and environmental awareness campaigns.

The outcomes of these student-led projects are both impressive and inspiring. In addition to producing educational materials, engineering reports, advocacy campaigns, and physical prototypes, students directly contributed to improving community infrastructure and public awareness. For example, some teams designed water catchment systems to tackle water scarcity, while others introduced tools for sustainable engineering education or developed flood resilience strategies through improved drainage and waste management practices.

These initiatives also reflect USM’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through their projects, students actively supported SDG 4 (Quality Education) by conducting knowledge-sharing sessions in schools and villages, and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) through better water management systems. Projects related to infrastructure improvement, flood mitigation, and transportation safety aligned closely with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Meanwhile, waste management, recycling, and climate-related advocacy strongly contributed to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). In additional, some preservation efforts directly supported SDG 15 (Life on Land) by promoting awareness of its status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

By combining academic content with community-based learning, EAA112 has demonstrated how civil engineering education can nurture not just competent engineers, but also responsible citizens and changemakers. This integrated approach has inspired students to see themselves not only as future professionals, but as contributors to sustainable and inclusive development for all.