A Transformative Educational Framework
IIIUM integrates sustainability into its core identity through a series of UniCORE courses that transition students from theory to real-world impact. This journey is rooted in the concepts of Khalifah (vicegerent) and Amanah (responsible stewardship), aiming to produce balanced graduates who contribute to the global goal of Rahmatan lil ‘alamin (mercy to all worlds).
Phase 1: Foundation (SCSH 1201)
The journey begins with Sustainable Development: issues, Principles, and Practices, which provides the conceptual bedrock for students.
1. Global Awareness: Students explore the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the “5Ps” (People, Planet, prosperity, Peace, and Partnership).
2. Integrated Perspective: the course balances economic, social, and environmental perspectives with Islamic dimensions, such as Maqasid Al-Shariah.
3. Campus Impact: Students develop creative solutions for sustainability issues specifically within the campus community.
Phase 2: Discovery and Profiling (SCSH 2163)
In Usrah in Action 1, students move into the field to apply the concept of Fard Kifayah (collective obligation).
1. Community Mapping: Students engage in experiential learning by identifying socioeconomic demographics and mapping local issues.
2. Problem Identification: Through field work, groups identify unsustainable development issues and propose viable solutions to be implemented in the following semester.
Phase 3: Action and Execution (SCSH 3164)
Usrah in Action 2 focuses on the physical execution of the projects designed in the previous phase.
1. Leadership in Action: Students are trained in project management, fundraising, and resource distribution.
2. Collaborative Success: Success is measured by direct evaluation from the community, ensuring that projects are responsive to local contexts and aimed at sustainable living outcomes.
3. Financial Integrity: Projects emphasise Amanah through transparent financial records and the ethical utilisation of resources.
Phase 4: The University in Action (UIA) Symposium
The final showcase of this journey is the UIA Symposium, a high-profile academic platform for students to share their findings with the public.
1. Bunting and Multimedia: Students present their impacts through professional displays and multimedia submissions.
2. Excellence Awards: A special jury recognises outstanding efforts through categories such as Most Impactful Project, Most Collaborative Project, and Most Sustainable Project.
Evaluation Standards & Rubrics
To maintain academic excellence and professional standards, all projects are evaluated based on comprehensive rubrics that assess both the Presentation quality (including voice, body language, and audio/visual aids) and the Strategic Content.
Rubric – Usrah in Action (SCSH 2163)
Focus: Evaluation of Community Profiling, social and economic demographic analysis, and the logic of the proposed sustainable solutions.
Rubric – Usrah in Action 2 (SCSH 3164)
Focus: Evaluation of Project Execution, collaborative engagement with stakeholders, and Financial Management (Amanah). This rubric specifically looks for the “Way Forward” and long-term sustainability of the intervention.
Our Commitment to Sejahtera
Managed by the Education for Sustainable Development Unit at the Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity, this framework ensures that knowledge at IIUM is a living practice that advances society and fosters long-term sustainability.
