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H. L. Koh and S. Y. Teh
critically reflecting on successful case studies with out-of-classroom experiences to
widen the students’ perspectives and to enable a deeper analysis of their own life
experiences. For this purpose, it is crucial that university educators be prepared with
the right communication and pedagogical skills for this reorientation of education
towards sustainability. HEIs should no longer be limited to producing talents in the
subject matter. Rather HEIs should inculcate informed and motivated citizens having
the creative problem-solving skills, scientific and social literacy, and commitment
to responsible actions that will help ensure an environmentally sound, socially just
and economically prosperous future (Leal Filho and Pace 2016). This paper has presented an overview on university-community partnership essential for empowering
SLOs at the local, national and international levels. Case studies and examples were
presented to illustrate how SLO and SCC have been an important instrument for
establishing sustainability networks and for empowering transformative experiences
among students and educators through mutual learning and knowledge generation.
Much more needs to be achieved in the future. HEIs should integrate their SLObased research and teaching with community aspirations and government policy
through deep engagement. Deep understandings of the government policy process
and community dynamics are essential for the transformation of society towards
sustainability-led lifestyle. Disciplines within STEM should be integrated holistically with other disciplines in social sciences and humanity to unleash the combined
strength for driving sustainability-based policies and programs.
It is crucial to go beyond the national border to engage with ASEAN nations in the
process of conserving natural resources and protecting the environment by developing coherent cross border sustainability policy. The contiguous terrestrial and marine
resources within ASEAN are interlinked and therefore, a decision, or lack of one,
that an ASEAN member makes could affect the other ASEAN members. Working
within and through ASEAN would provide an opportunity to know and understand
each other ASEAN member policy processes and build consensus. Deep understanding of the diversity of policy processes in ASEAN is critical in reaching long lasting
consensus. Integrating SLO-based university research and teaching with government
sustainability policy and sustainability-focused community outreach across ASEAN
nations will enrich students and educators’ learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom learning framework. The networks and collaborative partnerships
established across ASEAN will provide a framework for effective transborder transformation to sustainability. It is hoped that the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable
Development in the Sunway University and the Center for Global Sustainability
Studies in USM could provide effective leadership towards the attainment of this
goals, working in collaboration with ESSSR and AASHE.
Acknowledgements Financial support provided by Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia FRGS grant
FRGS/1/2019/STG06/USM/02/3 is gratefully acknowledged. TSY was supported in part by the
L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Fellowship 2017. KHL would like to acknowledge JSC and
JCI in Sunway University for the conducive environment provided for conducting this research.
H. L. Koh and S. Y. Teh
critically reflecting on successful case studies with out-of-classroom experiences to
widen the students’ perspectives and to enable a deeper analysis of their own life
experiences. For this purpose, it is crucial that university educators be prepared with
the right communication and pedagogical skills for this reorientation of education
towards sustainability. HEIs should no longer be limited to producing talents in the
subject matter. Rather HEIs should inculcate informed and motivated citizens having
the creative problem-solving skills, scientific and social literacy, and commitment
to responsible actions that will help ensure an environmentally sound, socially just
and economically prosperous future (Leal Filho and Pace 2016). This paper has presented an overview on university-community partnership essential for empowering
SLOs at the local, national and international levels. Case studies and examples were
presented to illustrate how SLO and SCC have been an important instrument for
establishing sustainability networks and for empowering transformative experiences
among students and educators through mutual learning and knowledge generation.
Much more needs to be achieved in the future. HEIs should integrate their SLObased research and teaching with community aspirations and government policy
through deep engagement. Deep understandings of the government policy process
and community dynamics are essential for the transformation of society towards
sustainability-led lifestyle. Disciplines within STEM should be integrated holistically with other disciplines in social sciences and humanity to unleash the combined
strength for driving sustainability-based policies and programs.
It is crucial to go beyond the national border to engage with ASEAN nations in the
process of conserving natural resources and protecting the environment by developing coherent cross border sustainability policy. The contiguous terrestrial and marine
resources within ASEAN are interlinked and therefore, a decision, or lack of one,
that an ASEAN member makes could affect the other ASEAN members. Working
within and through ASEAN would provide an opportunity to know and understand
each other ASEAN member policy processes and build consensus. Deep understanding of the diversity of policy processes in ASEAN is critical in reaching long lasting
consensus. Integrating SLO-based university research and teaching with government
sustainability policy and sustainability-focused community outreach across ASEAN
nations will enrich students and educators’ learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom learning framework. The networks and collaborative partnerships
established across ASEAN will provide a framework for effective transborder transformation to sustainability. It is hoped that the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable
Development in the Sunway University and the Center for Global Sustainability
Studies in USM could provide effective leadership towards the attainment of this
goals, working in collaboration with ESSSR and AASHE.
Acknowledgements Financial support provided by Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia FRGS grant
FRGS/1/2019/STG06/USM/02/3 is gratefully acknowledged. TSY was supported in part by the
L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Fellowship 2017. KHL would like to acknowledge JSC and
JCI in Sunway University for the conducive environment provided for conducting this research.