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WEEK 10: Measurement, Indices and Indicators for Sustainable Development and SDG

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 For the final week, week 10, we learned regarding the method used for measuring all aspects of life and sectors. It's an important step in determining how the SDGs are applied in real life situations. The method uses a measurement unit known as index. Some indexes used to collect information are Happy Planet Index and Sustainable Society Index. There is also something known as Malaysia Shariah Index, used to determine the actions carried out by the nation is either aligned with the principles of Maqasid Shariah or not. Indexes are influenced by human factor or economic factor. Example of factors in human factor are life expectancy, poverty, literacy rate and gender equality. While some example for economic factor are Gross Domestic Product (GDP), economic growth and unemployment. Sustainable Development Indicators (SDI) is a quantitive tool that analyze changes, measure and communicate progress towards sustainable use. Indicators can be further classified into four separate catego...
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WEEK 9: Fieldwork – On Campus Observation: IIUM as a Sustainable Campus

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 For week 9, we've been tasked to do a campus observation to determine whether IIUM is indeed a sustainable campus or not. The location we chose id the HS Cafeteria. These are some of the observations made during our trip the other day:  1. We found that when not in use, the lights and fans are properly turned off. Even if there was some that was perhaps unintentionally left on, we helped switch it off as we left the place. 2. Water taps are always properly closed after usage and leaking rarely happens. In IIUM, most areas light and fan switches are turned off properly when nobody is occupying the space. It shows that this university's culture place importance in implementing SDG Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. The usage of electricity is responsibly kept at a minimal. This goal also applies to the proper water consumption in the university, allowing little to none wasted due to irresponsibility.  This action should definitely be continued by everyone in ...
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WEEK 8: Roles of Institutions for Sustainable Development

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 For week 8, we're back to physical class. Today's focus is on SDG Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and 17: Partnership for the Goals. SDG 17 refers to the need for cross sector and cross country collaboration in pursuit of all the goals by the year 2030. It calls for all countries to align policies and strengthening and streamlining cooperation between nation-state, both developed and developing. Global initiatives such as UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) is an example of institution that act to serve high-level forum for joint policy formation and decision-making. Some UN entities are International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Nation Federal Credit Union (UNFC) and United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP). Roles of institutions in further advancing Sustainable Development is important to ensure the main pillars for sustainable development and crosscutting issues like gender, health and climate change are mainstreamed into national ...
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WEEK 7: Challenges to Sustainable Development

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 For this week, our class is conducted online. We entered a new topic which is as stated in the title. Challenges to sustainable development can be either in social, economic or environmental aspect. Some challenges faced are:     - inequalities of access to educational resources This issue refers to how certain communities lack equal access to quality education, thus limiting their ability to grow in personal and professional manner. This issue may rise due to disparities in funding, infrastructure and teacher availability.     - inequalities of access to food Some communities struggle from hunger due to lack of access to nutritious food. It's often linked to poverty, economic instability and inefficient food distribution system. The concept of Unsustainability and Inequity emphasize the link between unfair systems and their disability to sustain long-term social, economic and environmental needs. Some type of Inequities are in aspect of socio-economic, cultura...
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WEEK 6: Roles of University and Sustainable Development

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 This time around, we're assigned to explore IIUM and write any observations of the roles IIUM plays in Sustainable Development. Our group decided to go to Kulliyyah of Economics and Science Management (KENMS). 1. KENMS if filled with gardens all around the faculty. This helps raise the awareness of students about the importance of one of the goals of SDG which is Goal 13: Climate Change. This is because the garden that's full of trees releases oxygen in exchange of carbon dioxide. Slowly but surely it will help reduce the carbon footprint of the university and simultaneously helps prevent extreme climate changes. 2. IIUM also helps with encouraging the students to help sustain SDG Goal 15: Life on Land through this garden. How so? Well, students often walk by these gardens as they make their way to class. If we pay attention, many cats and also other individuals enjoy resting around the floras. It'll promote students to ensure that the plants stay alive and healthy as it...
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WEEK 5: Sejahtera as Local Concept of Sustainable Development

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 This week we are back with our padlet assignment. This time we're tasked to go and explore the Dar al-Hikmah Library IIUM for information of Sejahtera as Local Concept of Sustainable Development. As last time we focused on international framework, now we are exposed to the local concept. This chapter introduces us to localizing sustainability, which is to take a regional approach to creating and implementing sustainable initiatives that meets the needs and expectations of customers in a particular region, country, language or culture. Through today's task, we discovered some books as reference such as "Managing Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation in the Islamic World" and "An Introduction to Sustainable Development, 2nd and 4th edition". Some lesson we acquired are: 1. Emphasizes on the importance of balance and harmony in our relationship with nature for a sustainable life. Sustainable Development and Sejahtera aligns in term of transforming in...
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WEEK 4: International Framework of Sustainable Development

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 For week 4, we had a physical class. Today's topic was all about the International Framework of Sustainability. The process of refining the framework took several stages dating way back to 1972 in Stockholm. Since then, many international conferences are held for development of global strategies for Sustainable Development. 1992, Rio de Janeiro     - Focuses on broader issues such as the relationship between environmental trends and development of both national and international levels.     - Produced the Rio Earth Summit and Agenda 21. 1997, Kyoto Protocol     - Focus on emission-reduction targets of greenhouse gasses.     - Came into effect on February 16, 2005. 2002, Johannesburg     - The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held from August 26 to September.     - Focuses on conserving natural resources such as coasts, oceans and islands. 2007, Bali United Nations Climate Change Conference     - Ga...
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