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First class and there was a huge ice to break! 

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First class and there was a huge ice to break! 

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Prof Suhaimi asked all of the students—over 35 people in total—to introduce themselves. There are a lot of new faces that I have never encountered before. They all come from various kulliyyah and major in a lot of interesting courses.

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Our instructor, Professor Suhami, is one of the lecturers in Kulliyyah of Economics. He started the class by explaining the dire state of our earth, how its welfare is no longer taken care of, and how humans have severely abused its resources. This greediness of a man will only harm other beings. He explained the tragic pollution of Sungai Kimkim and even the controversial case of the IIUM river.

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He later initiated a brand new discussion; the solution in which SDG comes into significance. SDG provides a guideline that accommodates the utilization of current resources while considering future generations. To help us comprehend the strategy better, Prof. Suhaimi showed us a set of definitions before continuing with its pillars and principles. All in all, the lecture was a slap on the face about how ignorant I have been towards my environment. Hopefully, I can learn in-depth what I can do to fix the global crisis.

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asked Prof. Suhaimi, and in a matter of seconds, the entire class is filled with mumbling noise. I took my sweet time to open my mind dictionary and select a word that I think encapsulates SDG the best.

“Progressive,” I answered. “Holistic.” someone else said. “Achievable”, the other continues.

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This week, we were exposed to the intersection between SDG and Islamic fundamentals. Prof Suhaimi elaborates on how SDG goals are connected to the demands in the Quran. These demands entail the preservation of the forest, avoiding water and food waste, and relying on a just economic system. It is important to realize that humans are the only beings with the cognitive, physical, and lawful capacity to change the earth. In Islam, this concept is known as Khalifah. Each one of us abides with the responsibility to take care of the world, as we are not the ultimate proprietor.

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To put things simply, this particular lesson emphasizes the vitality of preserving the environment, for the sake of Allah. It is not just a rhetoric theory founded by a fellow human, rather, it is a wake-up call for us to do something after years of negligence.

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stating that it will be a self-observation learning session for today. He asked us to go to the IIUM gallery located at the official building which is known as Muhammad Abdul Rauf building.

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Upon the visit, I learned a lot of interesting facts about IIUM. One of them was the commencement of a sustainable idea that is manifested as the Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity. It suggests that a university should be able to provide a sustainable campus, education that enables the students to experience ongoing interpersonal development, instill a strong sense of community with the neighboring area, and active involvement in communal activities. Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity also aims to be the UNESCO chair for future studies.

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I believe the implementation of Insan Sejahtera is an effective way to shape a holistic individual. Students are the next generation of adults who will carry the responsibility of steering the nation's success. With that being said, the Insan Sejahtera framework helps students understand what healthy well-being means. It’s the integration of worldly and afterlife success while championing both intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. As a student, I could understand the goals outlined by this framework and am more than willing to discover and internalize its principles, as it guides me to achieve excellence in my existence.

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Prof Suhaimi enlightened us on the development of the SDG framework. Apparently, the SDG framework is not entirely a new project. There were some previous similar efforts to rectify the state of our earth.

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It all started in 1972 when global leaders decided they had to get to the round table and discuss the emerging environmental issue that if it were not mitigated as soon as possible– would cause collective consequences to all beings on earth. The conference took place in Stockholm and was attended by 113 country representatives. This conference laid out the basic structure of our current SDG framework before it was further refined by a number more conferences such as the Rio Earth Summit, Johannesburg Summit, and Bali Climate Change Conference.

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In the same week, we covered the Insan Sejahtera framework that has been actively implemented in IIUM. Think of Insan Sejahtera this way; it is a framework that navigates how to achieve SDG goals but through the perspective of a Muslim and a student! When Prof Suhaimi explained how Insan Sejahtera's theoretical mechanism works, I found myself nodding over its feasibility, and necessity for execution. Learning the principles is one thing but to internalize it is a whole new journey, and may the journey be consistent and fulfilling!

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This week, Prof Suhaimi instructed us to go to any places within our University’s compound that resonate with the spirit of Sustainable Development Goals. My group chose the IIUM library, known as Dar al-Hikmah.

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The reason why we chose the library was due to its connection with SDG goal number 4, which is quality for education. This particular goal aims to secure an inclusive education for every learner. It concerns the elimination of discrimination,  increasing literacy rates, and other targets that pertain to the education sphere. There are a lot of people globally who are fighting for their right to receive education and with SDG number 4, it is hoped that it would stop the situation from persisting.

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This visit truly opened my eyes to how lucky I am to be at IIUM which accommodates all of my needs as a student. I was given access to all these expensive books, lodging, and healthy food available, was taught by highly qualified lecturers, and many more! With all of the facilities given, it posed a responsibility for me to take my studies seriously and eventually contribute back what I have learned to society

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“Don’t we have a disability Services Unit in IIUM?” 

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“Don’t we have a disability Services Unit in IIUM?” 

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asked one of my group members when we were thinking about where to visit a place that implicitly touches SDG elements in IIUM. We later decided to pay a visit to IIUM’s DSU office located near Main Audi.

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In light of SDG number 4, quality of education reduces the gap that exists due to social seclusion. Students with disabilities have to face numerous barriers that impede them from having full access to their education. This effort is crucial in ensuring the diverse needs of students with disabilities are fully catered to, allowing them to strive in academics just like a normal student would.

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The front look of the Disability Services Unit is self-explanatory– there are piles of sensory toys, comfortable couches, and laid-back decorations, and they even got the rough tactile to accommodate students with sight impairment.  We found this unit to be extremely proactive in making the place comfortable for the targeted student which made us wonder how tough things might be for some students before the existence of this unit.

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That means there are a few weeks left before our SDG projects come to an end. With that in mind, Prof Suhaimi did ask pertaining to our project progress to see if there's anything he could help with.

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Apart from that, we learned about the impediments of SDGs implementation. They can manifest in 3 aspects which are social, economics, and environmental. Most of the time, especially for a developing country like Malaysia, the main obstacle to a smooth implementation is financial stability. Realistically speaking, it is a lot easier for a nation to make impactful changes if all of its necessities have been catered to. But for a small country like Malaysia, which is economically dependent on other countries and has a high rate of poverty, it takes a lot to accomplish even one SDG goal.

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During the discussion, the only conclusion that can be drawn is– to continue to make small changes from your end, even if it seems insignificant. This persistence will be fruitful for us and our future generations, despite our material and power disadvantages.

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we are exposed to a topic pertaining to the Roles of Institutions For Sustainable Development.

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In implementing SDG, what truly is going to make a difference is its player. With this, comes an institutional role to propel these global goals together with its members. This includes the students. Malaysia particularly, has established 5 components that will come in handy to measure the implementation efficacy which are inclusivity, well-being, human capital, environment and natural resources, and economic growth.

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Other than that, Prof. Suhaimi conducted a consultation session with all groups. We were asked to give detailed updates about our ongoing project progress and in what stage we are currently at. Luckily, my group has made quite a step on it, what remains is just some official confirmation and that is all.

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This week on ‘What I learned in my SDG class!’

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This week on ‘What I learned in my SDG class!’

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my group went for an on-site visit to an interesting place, nestled in between HS kulliyyah and the CELPAD building, it is IIUM Food Waste Composting Project!

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In line with my group’s hands-on project known as ‘From the Sink to the Ground’, aims to instill the habit of segregating food waste from the sink before they are being initiated to be properly decomposed in an appropriate place. It pertains to SDG goal 12, which is responsible consumption and production. This goal aims to promulgate sustainable consumption habits in which, consumption waste like food waste– can be mindfully decomposed without flooding our landfills.

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Despite the place being closed, this visit has given me a new perspective on a collective effort to reduce food waste– it’s not just the university that has to work through this matter, but it’s the first-hand food waste producer–which is us. We might have a place that facilitates the efforts, but it may be futile if we are not practicing mindful consumption ourselves. It’s the root that makes the trees grow!

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	Kring Kring, it’s test time everyone! 	

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	Kring Kring, it’s test time everyone! 	

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We are very much aware of this day coming, and Prof Suhaimi announced that the mode of the test will be online. Though it's just a true-or-false question set, it was undoubtedly sneaky and tricky!

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The questions were based on SDG fundamentals and some of its development facts. One of the questions that caught my attention the most is where it highlights the difference between a precedent global solutions model, known as MDG (Millennium Development Goals), and current model, known as SDG (Sustainable Development Goals). SDG, by its framework, shows more competence and equality compared to MDG. It covers more of our earth's needs and imposes some indirect law consequences on participating countries if they are subjected to non-compliance. It makes a huge difference compared to MDG as there is more diplomatic pressure from not proactively pushing the agendas.