Approach to Campus Sustainability at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM): A Review

¹ Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia
² College of Civil & Structure Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia

Abstract

Triple Bottom Line of the Green Agenda 21 is essential in meeting the sustainability needs of the present and future generations in any University system. The paper reviewed existing campus sustainability issues along the Triple Bottom Line factors of People, Planet and Profit which largely overlooked the brown agenda 21 of Equitable, Viable and Bearable factors. In order that a sustainable teaching and learning process take place, the paper argued that the pursuit of Environmental, Social and Economic concerns are to be integrated with human welfare issues of Equity, Viability and Bear ability. To achieve the above objective, the researcher’s employed visual observations on the interactions between human and the biophysical environment as well as the use of relevant literature. The findings of the study showed that a sustainably holistic campus can be achieved if the University improved on the integration of its environmental concern and human welfare issues. This study underscores the importance of care of human resources for being what they are and not a commodity. The implication of the later negates the principles of fairness, equity and justice. The paper concluded that in order to have a holistic approach to campus sustainability, the welfare of the University community should be of paramount importance.