Week 10 : Measurement, Indicies and Indicators for Sustainable Development & SDG

 

Assalamualaikum wbt,

Good morning, Good afternoon, and Good Evening. Hope the readers are in Allah's mercy always.

This week, Prof. Dr. Suhaimi conducted our quiz, which we had to complete through the Google Form. This week, we learn about measurement, indices, and indicators for sustainable development and SDG.

1. In the world of research, the mechanism used to measure any achievement is called an index. The Malaysian Shariah Index is a scientific method of measurement in determining the government's status in carrying out national administration, policies, and programmes so that it adheres to Islamic standards.

There are a few themes in CSD Indicator Themes: 1. Poverty 2. Health 3. Education 4. Demographics 5. Atmosphere 6. Land 7. Economic Development

2. Four categories of indicators based on their characteristics.

-The first category is environmental indicators, which examine the condition of the environment and natural resources

-The second category is economic indicators, which evaluate the sustainability of economic operations and resource utilisation

-The third category is social indicators, which emphasise social well-being, inclusion, and equity

-The fourth category is institutional indicators, which review the impact of governance and policy frameworks on the advancement of sustainability.

3. Sustainability Indicators - as a quantitative tool that analyses change, while measuring and communicating progress towards the sustainable use and management of economic, social, institutional, and environmental resources. The First set of CSD Indicators was developed in 1995 by the Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) and the Statistics Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

4 types of indicators, based on their nature:

1. Context Indicator: Describe the context in which a local administration works. Such as poverty figures.

2. Input Indicator: provide information about the people and resources that are used to achieve a certain goal or action.

3. Process Indicator: provide information about the organisation or the approach of an action or measure. For instance, wait times at the reception or the involvement of citizens in an action.

4. Impact Indicator: measure the impact of a strategic goal, the result of an operational goal, or the output of an action.

Week 9 : Field Works - On Campus Observation

 

Assalamualaikum wbt,

hope you guys are in the pink of health. In this class topic is field work on campus observation. IIUM as Sustainable Campus: Students as Agents of Change

1. Prof. Dr. Suhaimi asks us what is green campus ? What is a sustainable campus? How can our project contribute to a sustainable green campus?

 A green campus refers to a university or educational institution that focuses on reducing its environmental impact. It emphasizes environmentally friendly practices such as energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and maintaining green spaces. The main goal is to protect the environment and minimize pollution within the campus.

A sustainable campus is a broader concept. It not only includes environmental protection but also integrates economic and social sustainability. A sustainable campus promotes long-term responsible use of resources, supports social well-being and inclusivity, encourages sustainable teaching and research, ensures financial viability, and balances environmental, social, and economic needs for present and future generations.

We can conclude how our project can support environmental contribution and eco-friendly practices. For me and my group project are focusing on water waste reduction during performing wudhuk. The target area of this project is in the SHAS Mosque.

Then Prof talks about what our IIUM has done to apply a green campus concept.

1. recycle bin at the library, Mahallah Cafe, and the surrounding areas of each faculty building.

2. poster about save our earth, preserve our university, dont waste and save energy

3. Encourage societies in IIUM to execute a green day campus among the IIUM communities.

4. IIUM Mahabbah Food, CFS Sejahtera Room, Cat Shelter, Recycling station, and Food waste composting area.

5. Go-green programmes -IIUM World Clean-up, Kuantan Campus River Campaign 2018.

IIUM action not only focuses on the environmental aspect but social, mental, and educational.

Week 8 : Roles of Institution for Sustainable Development

 

Assalamualaikum wbt,

alhamdulillah, we're back after mid-semester break. In this session, Prof. Dr. Suhaimi explains to us about the roles of institutions for sustainable development. The roles that we discussed are the roles of global and national institutions, the roles of local institutions, and the roles of individuals in achieving SDGs.

1. The roles of global and national institutions

-achieving SDG 17, SDG 17 refers to Partnership and Goals to the need for cross-sector and cross-country collaboration in pursuit of all the goals by the year 2030. The need to call for countries to align policies and determine visions to improve more equitable trade, such as coordinated investment initiatives. To sum up, it is about streamlining and strengthening cooperation between nation-states using SDGs as a shared framework and shared vision.

-Global Initiatives

UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) serves as a high-level forum for decision-making and joint policy formation.

2. After that, the Lecturer shows us the logo or symbols of UN entities and asks us if we acknowledge or recognise some of it. For me, I just recognise (UNESCO) because the agency is active in promoting education, culture, and heritage preservation worldwide.

Roles according to a descending hierarchy

International level-cooperation between countries, international institutions must generate multilateral agreements as well as create frameworks

National level- direct regulation focused on SD, laws concerning specific ecological aspects, and prepare a national-level plan

Regional level- preparing a regional level plan, implementing a regional development strategy, and implementing laws regarding SD

Local level- local level cooperation, sustainable spatial planning, addressing SD based on local specificities and problems, as well as attracting funding.

3. Key points  of implementing the SDGs

-institutional framework- national SDG council, chaired by Prime Minister, set the national agenda & prepare reporting to UNHLPF

-policy framework - clear direction for the implementation of the SDGs, crafting a project in support of both the national and SDG agenda

-monitoring and evaluation- SDG Progress monitoring system, SDG portal

-financing mechanisms- sufficient funds to implement the SDG

-training and advocacy- good understanding by stakeholders, communication, education, and public awareness

-report

Roles of Local Institutions

-taking into account subnational contexts in the achievement of the 2030 agenda

-provide a framework for local development policy based on SDGs.

Week 7 : Challenges to Sustainable Development

 

Assalamualaikum wbt,

In the seventh week of class, Prof. Dr. Suhaimi brought up to us about challenges to sustainable development from the social, economic, and environmental aspects.

What are the general challenges to sustainable development? these consist of inequalities of access to clean water, healthy food, education resources, and health facilities. General challenge highlights four critical areas of inequality that societies face globally. Each of them represents fundamental needs that are not equally accessible to all individuals. Furthermore, we can see the broader implications that these challenges are interconnected and often exacerbate one another.

We talk about the concept of "unsustainability" and Inequity, emphasizing the link between unfair systems and their inability to sustain long-term social, economic, and environmental balance. Types of Inequities, as an example,

1. Socio-economic inequity: Disparities in wealth, income, or access to economic opportunities.

2. Cultural Inequity: Marginalization or devaluation of certain cultures

3. Societal inequity: broader systemic issues that create divisions within society.

The lecturer brought up that the average African lives on $2.30 a day, while a cattle in Europe draws an average subsidy of $2.20 a day. This comparison underscores the significant inequality in how resources are distributed globally. While people in developing regions struggle to meet basic needs, animals in wealthier nations benefit from substantial government subsidies, reflecting an imbalance in priorities and economic justice.

Besides that, key ideas for a sustainable economy include promoting efficiency and recycling, using mainly recycled materials as resource inputs, and reducing waste throughout production, packaging, and distribution. A sustainable economy functions like an ecosystem, where resources circulate responsibly, and emphasises the dematerialisation of economic activities to minimise environmental impact.

For environmental challenges, the key topics are unsustainable resource exploitation. For instance, loss of biological diversity has resulted from human activities such as deforestation and pollution; water and soil have been strained by high pollution levels. 

Week 6: Roles of Universities & Sustainable Development

 

Assalamualaikum wbt ahlan bikum,

Alhamdulillah, we reached week 6, in this week we discussed about the roles of universities and sustainable development. Here is what I can reflect on.

1. Prof. Dr. Suhaimi asks us, "Is there anything wrong with our university's education system now?", "Do you think you are being educated to be a balanced person or being prepared for job employability?"

some of us brought that our systems are difficult when it comes to pre-reg. The main problem with the class and subject registration system is that it often becomes jammed or very slow when many students try to access it at the same time. In addition, the number of classes offered is usually too limited and insufficient to meet student demand. This causes students to rush during registration, classes fill up quickly, and it becomes difficult for them to secure a suitable timetable. Overall, the system's weaknesses and the lack of available classes create stress and disrupt the registration process every semester.

Next, some of us shared the view that our education is meant to shape us into well-balanced individuals — we study to enrich our lives and to prepare ourselves for future employability.

2. Institutional Sustainability are consist of 1. Campus Operation  2. Curriculum  3. Research

-Teaching and Learning (Nurturing the Soul)

-Community Engagement

-Research and Innovation

3. There is also a point that I would like to highlight

-learning to know

-learning to do

-learning to live together

-learning to be

-learning to become

-Advice from a Nobel Laureate, “If we work on research topics that the West is not interested in, we will always be 20 years ahead” (Ahmad Zewail). This means we need to go beyond conventional areas of research, especially in academia and industry, by exploring new ideas, developing niche expertise, and contributing original solutions that others have yet to focus on.

Week 5: Sejahtera as Local Concept of Sustainable Development

 

Assalamualaikum wbt,

In week 5, or I can say in the fifth class with Prof. Dr. Suhaimi. This time Prof discusses Sejahtera from different perspectives which is Sejahtera as local concept of our sustainable development.

1. Localising, the process of adapting a product or service to meet the needs and expectations of customers in a particular region, country, language, or culture. The goal is to create an experience that resonates with local consumers while still maintaining the core brand identity across all markets. Furthermore, localising can help a business to break into a new market, take advantage of local trends and preferences.

2. Localising the sustainability agenda means adopting a regional focus when designing and carrying out sustainable initiatives. It includes involving local stakeholders in planning projects that address community needs while safeguarding the environment. This may involve encouraging public participation in decision-making, promoting green technologies and energy-efficient practices, supporting small enterprises, investing in renewable energy, and conserving natural resources. Additionally, localising sustainability requires collaboration between government agencies, private sector organisations, non-profits, and community members to ensure the successful implementation of sustainable practices at a local level.

3. Localising the SDGs is also important, which means adapting global sustainability goals to the specific needs and priorities of local communities. It involves empowering local governments, organisations, and citizens to plan and implement initiatives that fit their social, economic, and environmental contexts. By integrating the SDGs into local policies and encouraging community participation, localisation makes global goals more practical, inclusive, and achievable. Ultimately, it ensures sustainable development efforts genuinely address real issues at the community level.

Week 4: International Framework of Sustainability Development

 

Assalamualaikum wbt,

How are you guys? Hope you are all in the mercy of Allah always.

As for week 4, we do not have an online class as usual, but the Prof gave us the recording instead. Prof. Dr. Suhaimi teaches about key conventions, declaration agreement, and the framework of sustainable development. Here's what I reflected on this class.

1. The first time governments addressed the issues of global environmental needs was when they gathered in Stockholm in 1972. The focus of the conference was international cooperation regarding the problems the Earth's environment was facing. there have been many global conferences held from 1970 to 2016.

-Rio Janeiro Conferences (1992)

-Kyoto Protocol (1997)

-Johannesburg (2002)

2. Sejahtera definition and its concept

: the word "sejahtera" means well-being, peaceful or free from all disturbance. But actually sejahtera is also an acronym for 

S-safety E-equilibrium J-justice A-amanah H-health T-tranquility E-empathy R-resilience A-affluence

After that, our lecturer elaborated on the definition and concept of Sejahtera. It describes a state of holistic well-being, harmony, and balance across all areas of life physical, mental, social, and environmental. The idea of Sejahtera is often linked to a peaceful and sustainable way of living, where individuals, communities, and nations thrive together with justice, fairness, and respect for the natural world.

Finally, Sejahtera represents the local expression of sustainable development. This can be observed through various initiatives such as community clinics and national policies in Malaysia, including the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 and the Five Wisdoms of the Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan.

Week 3: Maqasid Shariah

 

Assalamualaikum wbt,

This week we learn about maqasid shariah and sustainability. We have been introduced to five wisdom of Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan and also four pillars of education.

1. Maqasid shariah means It refers to the objectives or intended meanings prescribed by the Shariah that must be pursued and achieved. The maqasid al-shariah have existed and been applied since the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions. The five necessities of human existence, or we can say maqasid khamsah, are faith, life, intellect, lineage, and wealth.

2. The concept of 5Ps and maqasid shariah has a commonality. 

Life=Peace

Intellect=People

Wealth=Prosperity

Lineage=Planet

Faith=Partnership

3. Spirituality as a foundation for sustainability. The character of a Muslim is that he performs all good deeds economically, ethically, and environmentally for one mission, which is gaining the pleasure of Allah.

4. we also see other religions and what the focusing concept of sustainability. For example:

-Buddhism and environment. confucianism contains profound ethics through its inclusiveness of heaven, earth, and man. Their thinkers characteristically regard nature as holistic, all things in nature depending on each other and forming an organic whole.

Week 2: Islam and Sustainable Development

 Assalamualaikum wbt,

May the readers be always in Allah's mercy. In the second week of SCSH 1201 class, Prof. Dr. Suhaimi discusses Islam and Sustainable Development. Our lecturer presented 3 main things:, Islam and social sustainability, Islam and environmental sustainability, and Islam and economic sustainability. Here's my reflection for week 2.

1. The concept of sustainable development in Islam can refer to achieving consumer well-being, economic efficiency, social justice, and environmental balance harmoniously and simultaneously. We have also been entrusted as vicegerent (khalifah) on this earth and given the responsibility to protect it from all forms of damage and destruction.

2. In Islam and environmental sustainability, mankind has the right to benefit from the essential environmental elements and resources such as water, minerals, land, forest, soil, and many more. But we only have the right to benefit from it on the condition that the degree of need is met; do not ever waste resources. The Prophet also taught us to be prudent and careful in using resources, for example, by being moderate when performing ablution with water, and by eating and drinking without engaging in wastefulness.

3. In Islam and social sustainability, we talk about the tenets of Islam and tenets of Iman as the basis for social sustainability, at the same time, fardh ain and fardh kifayah as the operational basis for social governance.

4. In Islam and economic sustainability, Islam doesn't hinder development but promotes it socially and economically. Human beings should strive to earn a lawful (halal) livelihood and seek balance within themselves, their families, and society. One should engage in trade as long as it does not violate the laws of Allah. It is dangerous to remain in a state of poverty, as it can weaken us and prevent us from contributing anything to the community.

Week 1 : Introduction to Sustainable Development

 Assalamualaikum wbt,

In the first week of SCSH 1201, we were introduced to the concept of Sustainable Development and its significance. Here's what I reflected on by the end of this session.

1. Prof. Dr. Suhaimi explains clearly what is the meaning of sustainable means, sustainable means being able to maintain, while Sustainable Development is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (The Brundtland Report, 1987). The concept also stresses the integration of environmental consideration into all aspects of environmental, economic, and social.

2. We were also introduced to the 5Ps: Dimensions of the SDGs, which discuss the goals and targets over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet. The dimensions are viewed by 1. People 2. Planet 3. Prosperity 4. Peace 5. Partnership

3. Besides that, the lecturer also talks about Sustainable Development Goals. I just found that the SDGs were created by the United Nations (UN) in 2015, but these goals actually evolved from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that ran from 2000 to 2015. In addition, the SDGs were used universally, which means for all countries, and divided into 17 goals, 169 targets, and 304 indicators.