During the talk, we all have been set to a like of parliamentary-meeting-setting. It was my first time being in the hall, and it intrigued me to see a parliamentary discussion look-alike with my own eyes. After each session, they provided a Kahoot Quiz for everyone to answer based on the topics discussed for example the importance of taking Takaful, savings for post-retirement life and how Takaful protects us. Winners will get prizes in the form of e-wallets but sadly I did not win :( However, before leaving, we have been given door gifts and breakfast sponsored by EPF.

As the preservation of life is an explicit goal of Islamic law, this means that Islamic growth is endogenously sustainable and that only those development initiatives are permitted that maintain the capacity of future generations to meet their own requirements. Thus, Islam, like the SDG, emphasizes the need for an improved and harmonious society to be established with constructive and productive economic activities without endangering the environment.

In the IIUM gallery, with the help and guidance from Prof Suhaimi, we gained so much knowledge, history and facts about IIUM as all of the information, valuable and historical things are securely kept in there and were written on the hall of fame; from how IIUM was thought of, built and developed, and IIUM’s mottos, objectives and biggest achievements, to IIUM playing important role in completing the aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals agreed upon globally to address global environmental issues.

From the class, I learned that Sejahtera means peace, harmony and prosperity. Early in 2000, the concept of Sejahtera initially became apparent and had been sparked by mentality shifts toward Sejahtera and sustainable development. In order to help us create balanced, holistic people or communities in our lives, the notion of Sejahtera in education has grown in importance.

IIUM has set out on a mission to illustrate a university model that uses the Sejahtera philosophy as its foundation to address concerns of sustainable development. As a result, IIUM developed and launched the Insan Sejahtera, which is based on four components: IIICE, FPK, MAS, and SDG. By integrating qualities of faith (iman), knowledge ('ilm), and good character (akhlaq), it aims to humanize education and develop intellectuals, professionals, and scholars of distinction who will serve as agents of comprehensive and balanced progress for the sustainable development of Malaysia, the Muslim Ummah, and the global populace.

What I obtained from the lesson is that universities provide cutting-edge research, high-quality education, and ground-breaking innovation, making universities key contributors to achieving the goals of Sustainable Development which are to ensure social cohesion, economic prosperity and protection of the environment. 

A number of universities have incorporated the SDGs into their institutional strategies including IIUM, both in management and in teaching and research. Sustainable campus management has become important to many universities and is often considered part of the institution’s societal responsibility. Sustainable management can include energy-saving measures, resource efficiency and waste reduction, as well as the sharing of services, infrastructure and facilities with other universities or external partners. A key element in all sustainability strategies is the “whole-institution approach”, meaning all parts of the university community.

At the end of the class, Prof Suhaimi asked us about our progress on the Group Project. My group had chosen Mahallah Ali’s compound and cafe cleaning.

Institutions play a crucial role in promoting sustainable development by setting policies, laws, and regulations that support the transition to a more sustainable society. They can also provide financial resources and support for sustainable initiatives, as well as facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge about sustainable practices.

Some examples of institutions that play a role in sustainable development include:

Overall, the role of institutions in promoting sustainable development is to create the conditions and provide the resources necessary for individuals and communities to adopt sustainable practices and make the transition to a more sustainable society.

IIUM's research agenda is to engage in research and innovation that are relevant to the Maqasid al-Shariah and in meeting the global goals‎ of sustainable development (SDGs) aimed at mercy for all (Rahmatan Lil Alamin).

In translating this agenda into a concrete action plan, IIUM has introduced new sustainable development courses, and embedded sustainable development in the existing courses as part of the reorientation of the curriculum towards Education for Sustainable Development. IIUM has introduced three new courses as part of university-required courses which are:

1) SCSH 1201: Sustainable Development: Issues, Policies and Practices

2) Usrah in Action I 

3) Usrah in Action II

The first course is an introductory level course to set a foundation for students to understand the concept and principles of sustainable development, while the two subsequent courses are designed to implement the concept and principles into actions on the ground. In Usrah in Action I, students are expected to do a community profiling and issue mapping of the community of choice. At the end of the Usrah in Action I, the students will propose a solution project i.e. sustainable community development project to be carried out in Usrah in Action II based on the issues found during the profiling and issue mapping.

Along with that, students can play a key role in promoting sustainability on the IIUM campus by participating in these initiatives and advocating for sustainable practices within the university community. They can also take personal actions to reduce their own environmental impact, such as reducing their energy and water usage, and choosing sustainable transportation options for example biking or walking to kulliyyah or using the shuttle bus provided by IIUM. Students can also take notes electronically rather than using paper notebooks, purchase reusable bags or water bottles and use real dishes and towels; avoid plastic or paper cutlery and plates.

Update: Due to the quiz, Dr Suhaimi has provided us a YouTube link to a recorded lecture for week 10 so we are not falling back from the syllabus. The topic was “Measurement, Indices and Indicators for Sustainable Development and SDG”. A sustainable development indicator (SDI) can generally be understood as a quantitative tool that analyses changes while measuring and communicating progress toward the sustainable use and management of economic, social, institutional and environmental resources. There are four types of indicators; context indicators, input indicators, process indicators and impact indicators. Each of SDG’s goals has its own target and indicator and all of them aimed to develop people, the economy and society and to sustain nature, life support and community.

Sustainable development is a concept that refers to the development of human societies and the natural environment in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Disciplinary contributions to sustainable development involve the application of various fields of study and expertise in order to address the challenges and opportunities related to sustainable development.

1. Some examples of disciplinary contributions to sustainable development include:

2. Economics: Economists can help to design and evaluate policies and programs that support sustainable development by examining the costs and benefits of different options.

3. Engineering: Engineers can develop and design technologies and infrastructure that are more efficient and sustainable, such as renewable energy systems or low-emission transportation systems.

4. Environmental science: Environmental scientists can study the impacts of human activities on the natural environment and provide recommendations for minimizing negative impacts and conserving natural resources.

5. Public policy: Policymakers can design and implement policies that support sustainable development, such as regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or incentives to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices.

6. Social science: Sociologists, anthropologists, and other social scientists can help to understand the social and cultural factors that influence sustainable development, and develop strategies for promoting sustainable behaviors and practices.

Overall, sustainable development requires the integration of knowledge and expertise from a wide range of disciplines in order to address the complex and interconnected challenges and opportunities that it presents.