By Munirah Mansor, Student Affairs and Alumni Office

Students of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) took centre stage in leading environmental action recently through the Marine Awareness Programme: Waste to Eco Vibe, spearheading efforts to address plastic waste challenges in Pulau Pangkor, Perak.

Driven by their passion for marine conservation, 10 students from the UMT Student Volunteer Club Alliance, Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) UMT, and the Young Conservationist Club (YCC) UMT worked together to organise and implement the programme with the support of the Student and Alumni Affairs Division (HEPA) UMT. Their initiative also engaged 30 pupils from Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Pangkor and members of the local community as part of the Pulau Pangkor MADANI Community Development Programme.

The programme gained further prominence with the presence of Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Higher Education, whose attendance underscored the government’s recognition of student-led initiatives that promote sustainability and community engagement.

The programme introduced the ecobrick concept, which the students championed as a practical and sustainable solution to plastic pollution. Student facilitators guided participants step by step in transforming plastic waste into ecobricks. The process involved collecting, sorting, cleaning, and drying plastic waste before compacting it into bottles to achieve the required density. The completed ecobricks can later be repurposed into environmentally friendly items such as chairs, tables, and decorative plant pots.

By demonstrating this innovative recycling approach, the students not only highlighted the impact of plastic waste on coastal and marine ecosystems but also inspired the community to adopt creative and sustainable waste management practices.

“Programmes like this reflect the leadership, social responsibility, and environmental awareness that we aspire to cultivate among our students,” said UMT Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Professor Dr. Mohd Izani Mohd Zain.

For the student volunteers, the programme provided an opportunity to advocate for greater awareness of the connection between plastic waste and marine ecosystem sustainability. SOA UMT representative Sharanya K. Rajanthiran noted that engaging directly with school pupils and community members allowed the students to share knowledge while inspiring collective action.

The programme also left a strong impression on young participants. Twelve-year-old Muhammad Nur Danish Yusof expressed excitement at learning how everyday plastic waste could have serious consequences for marine life, highlighting the value of the students’ outreach efforts.

The initiative reflects UMT students’ growing role as agents of change, actively contributing to the university’s commitment to sustainability and the Blue Economy agenda.

Marine Awareness Programme: Waste to Eco Vibe demonstrated how the energy, creativity, and leadership of UMT students can drive meaningful environmental action, bringing together the university and the community in safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations.