USK Attends the 5th IMT-GT Working Group on Environment Meeting in Thailand

Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), represented by Dr. Muzailin Affan from the University Network (UNINET) Secretariat, participated in the 5th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Working Group on Environment Meeting held on June 24–25, 2025, in Hat Yai, Thailand.

During this prestigious forum, Dr. Muzailin emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration between IMT-GT Green Cities, the Joint Business Council (JBC), and the University Network (UNINET) in advancing sustainable education across Southeast Asia.

One of the main agenda items discussed was the Eco-Schools Program, a global environmental education movement adopted by more than 95 countries. This program promotes an action-based learning approach that instills environmental responsibility in the younger generation. By integrating sustainability into school and university curricula, Eco-Schools empower students with environmental knowledge, enhance community engagement, and foster leadership through practical projects such as compost management and the development of school or campus gardens.

Dr. Muzailin also highlighted the local and regional impacts of this program, spanning schools, universities, households, and wider communities. For instance, Malaysia has shown significant progress through the launch of the “The Race Towards 1000 Eco-Schools by 2025” initiative and the Greening Education Partnership Malaysia in November 2023. Meanwhile, Indonesia has initiated the Eco Campus Sustainability Action Nexus (ESCAN) 2024 at Universitas Syiah Kuala as a crucial step in mainstreaming sustainability within higher education.

Furthermore, Dr. Muzailin announced that the Eco-Schools Indonesia Program is scheduled to launch in September 2025, involving an initial cohort of 100 schools. This initiative is expected to be a milestone in expanding the sustainable education movement within the IMT-GT region.

At the higher education level, the Eco-Campus Program will host an International Conference on September 18–20, 2025, in Malaysia. The event will bring together key stakeholders from the Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF), UNINET IMT-GT, and the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

Carrying the theme “Transforming Higher Education for Climate Action: A Whole-system Approach”, the conference aims to strengthen the strategic role of universities in bridging academic knowledge with practical solutions. It will also serve as a platform to enhance multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder collaboration, build educational strategies, initiate research programs, and align operational policies to address the climate crisis and promote sustainable innovation across the education sector.

USK’s presence in this forum reaffirms the university’s commitment to being part of the regional sustainable education movement and highlights its tangible contribution to building a greener and more inclusive future for the next generation.