ECO PRODUCT INNOVATION: UiTM WITH COMMUNITY

KLANG, June 16, 2026 – A total of 294 students from the transition class, Form 1 and Form 2, along with 32 teachers from SMK Raja Lumu, Klang, participated in the Eco-Product Innovation and Circular Economy Principles Program organized by students of the Bachelor of Science (Hons.) Applied Chemistry Program, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam. This program, based on the Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM) initiative, also received strong guidance from four advisory lecturers: Dr. Sharil Fadli Mohamad Zamri, Dr. Sabrina M Yahya, Dr. Shadatul Hanom Rashid, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shariff Che Ibrahim.

The program was implemented in an interactive manner in the form of exhibitions, demonstrations, and hands-on activities in each booth. In addition, activities such as quizzes, Q&A sessions, and games were conducted to reinforce the students’ understanding of the highlighted concepts. The goal of this program was to expose students to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) so that they could use the knowledge they learned in their everyday lives. A total of 12 booths included a variety of interesting activities run in a calm and effective manner by the UiTM university students. These included Upcycling Coffee Puck Residues into Eco-Friendly Candles, Odour Shield Spray, Crack to Craft: Upcycled Notebook from Egg Trays, Cycle Fresh Soap, Eco-friendly Plantable Seed Paper, Biodegradable Plastic, Multi-Purpose Cleaner from Citrus Peel Waste, Upcycled Bottle Cap Keychain, Handcrafted Eco-Scented Candles Using Recycled Materials, Aromatic Candle from Used Crayons and Lipstick, Natural Odor Absorber from Charcoal, and Eco-Friendly Bowl.

The success of this program can be measured by the increased awareness among students of SMK Raja Lumu regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was evidenced by the student feedback forms collected after the program. The forms showed a clear shift; prior to the program, students had little exposure to environmental sustainability matters. However, after being exposed and briefed, the students were able to comprehend and recognize the importance of environmental sustainability. Furthermore, students were able to understand global issues. The participants' level of understanding regarding poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation increased. This indirectly opened their eyes to matters they may have been less aware of previously. Furthermore, the effectiveness of this program could also be seen in the development of soft skills.

Students successfully sharpened their leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in real-world situations. In terms of applying academic knowledge, students could transfer and adapt learned theories to daily life problems and solve practical community issues. The school community also received new, sustainable knowledge that can be utilized continuously after the program's end. Strategic collaborative networking was also successful, establishing an ongoing cooperative relationship between UiTM and the management team of SMK Raja Lumu.