Eco Campus Malaysia

CHAPTER 1.0 INTRODUCTION

1. General Background of the Study

Nowadays, the awareness of having healthy lifestyle and sustaining the development of environment has been increase. University Malaysia Sabah is the only university in East Malaysia that established the center for Eco Campus Management in 2013. According to research conducted by previous researcher, campus sustainability has received more attention from university management and policy makers in Malaysia in recent year. This research will provide the knowledge of the importance in sustaining eco-campus University.

An eco-campus is a campus that provides a sustainable environment for its societies such as for students, staff and stakeholders by focusing on aspect such as environment activities and providing courses that contributes to sustainability of environment as well. According to (Green Matric, 2015) University Malaysia Sabah has been ranked at 173 in the world as compared to year 2014 which is only ranked at 245 in the world. Meanwhile, in Asia University Malaysia Sabah has been ranked at 66 ranking compare to 2014 whereby University Malaysia Sabah is ranked at 75. On the other hand, University Malaysia Sabah is ranked at 7 ranking for the year 2014 and 2015 in Malaysia for the Excellent Achievement at the U.I Green Matric World University Ranking. Currently, University Malaysia Sabah is in their way to become a fully eco-campus University by 2018. By having an eco-campus system in University Malaysia Sabah, it will help the student to practice healthy life style as the eco campus is sustaining the environment. Lifestyle choices can have a profound impact on students at university and subsequently (Padraig Macneela.et all,2012)

Healthy lifestyle has been recognized as an important element in our life. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that 60% of an individual’s health-related quality of life depends on his/her lifestyle. Health is a complete of physical, mental, and social well-being. Whereby, healthy lifestyle is a steps, actions, and strategies one puts in place to achieve optimum health (Michell, 2016). Healthy lifestyle is important to be implement in their daily life since it is will affect the performance in their work, study and others. This study will focus more to university students in University Malaysia Sabah. The health habits of university students are a special concern, since they represent a major segment of the young population and they are at a stage of their lives during which important lifestyle modifications take place (Madureira, Corseuil, Pelegrini, & Petroski, 2009). Meaning to say, University students should living an healthy lifestyle in their University in order to increase their performance not only in their life but also for their studies. University Malaysia Sabah has implement eco-campus system in University and establish the Eco-campus management center in order to provide a framework that is to be implemented, enforced, monitored, assessed and reviewed based on the key elements of the eco-campus transformation plan. There are five core of the Eco-Campus values which is sustainable development, ecological protection, environmental compability, resource conversation and environmental stewardship (Eco-Campus Management centre, 2015).

1. Research Problem

As one of the eco campus university in Malaysia, in conducting this research the problems that occur are how effectively eco-campus University is affecting the student’s lifestyle and performance. Universities and Colleges have important roles as educator, research institutions, sources of new technologies, methods and skills, role and models, and leaders in change. As the setting for the education of future professionals and leaders, the milieu that universities provide for education must be consistent with the knowledge, skills, ethics and morals they are imparting (Thompson & Van,, 1995). So this study will identify how can eco-campus University educate and affect the student in order to have a healthy lifestyle and good performance in the University.

Besides, the research problem in this study is, are the students in the eco-campus University are actually performing or practicing a healthy lifestyle in the university or not. There are minimal studies on the student’s intention to engage with eco-campus environmental activities and green initiatives in Asian country, including Malaysia, as compared to Western countries (Lee, 2008). It will investigate how far eco-campus University helps the student to implement this system in their lifestyle since some students aren’t concern about their health and the benefits that the University provides for them.

Lastly, what can the students do to maintain the sustainable eco-campus University. This problem occurs because of how the student’s itself aware to the eco-campus system and why it is important to sustain this system in their lifestyle. In an exploratory study on the readiness and the development of green University in Malaysia (Hooi, 2012) found that one of the issues in green university initiatives was the poor awareness about the concept of sustainability among the campus society (this includes the faculty members, staff and students).

1. Research Question

1. Is the eco campus university is affecting the student’s lifestyle and performance in the university?
2. Are the students in the eco campus university are performing or practicing an eco-friendly lifestyle?
3. What can the students do to maintain a sustainable eco campus university?

1. Research Objective

This research involved all the students of University Malaysia Sabah based on the concept of the campus being introduced at the past. The main aim of this research by investigating the students based on the background of the student’s University Malaysia Sabah healthy lifestyle in eco-campus University:

1. To determine if the students aware about the healthy lifestyle in eco-campus university concept. Some of the students just know the concept by its name only, but certain students they did know about eco-campus University

1. To identify whether the students apply the healthy lifestyle in eco-campus University. Students have been introduced about the healthy lifestyle in eco-campus University and need to know if they practicing it or not.

1. To develop the students in healthy lifestyle in eco-campus University in order to maintain a sustainable eco campus university. This is the situation that needs to focus on because of the environment of the campus and also regarding to the eco-campus concept.

1. The Significance of Study

The significance of this study is to influence and to emphasize students with the importance of Eco Campus lifestyle in the university which will make their living environment easier, healthier and to help them achieve the future they wanted as well.