TANJONG KARANG, December 13, 2025 — The Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) continues to strengthen its role as a catalyst for rural community development thru the organization of the Eco Tani @ Kampung Angkat Madani 2.0 Program, an integrated initiative that combines elements of education, environmental sustainability, and local community empowerment.
This two-day program, held on December 13th and 14th, 2025, in Kampung Sawah Sempadan, Tanjong Karang, brings together university staff and the local community thru various high-impact activities planned collaboratively, aligning with the aspirations of Kampung Madani and the country's sustainable development agenda.
Among the main activities was a gotong-royong (community work) event to clean the Darus Solihin Mosque area in Block D, Kampung Sawah Sempadan, which involved cleaning the mosque grounds, public facilities, and surrounding landscape. This activity not only creates a cleaner, more comfortable, and conducive environment but also instills values of togetherness, social concern, and community responsibility among the participants.
The program also featured the Eco Tani Short Video Competition in collaboration with the Faculty of Education Student Representative Council (FEDSSCO), which provided students with an opportunity to showcase the beauty of the rice fields, rural life, and interesting locations in Kampung Sawah Sempadan. This initiative simultaneously helps promote the tourism potential and rural community identity to the wider public thru creative digital media.
The highlight of the program was the Putra@Sawah Sempadan Carnival held at the Kunci Air Buang Community Service Center, which was officiated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Network) UPM, Professor Ir. Dr. B.T. Hang Tuah Baharudin. This carnival involves the participation of over 150 UPM students who play an active role in implementing community activities, in line with the education, social service, and Kampung Madani empowerment initiatives alongside local residents.

 

 

 

The carnival was also enlivened by Langkah Sihat@Sawah, a leisurely walk across rice paddy fields participated in by villagers of all ages alongside UPM staff. Activities led by Dr. Nur Raihan Che Nawi not only promotes healthy lifestyle practices but also serves as a relaxed platform to strengthen university-community relations in a harmonious rural setting.
Additionally, visitors also had the opportunity to witness the Kokedama exhibition, a Japanese-based ornamental plant art form that uses moss balls as a planting medium. This exhibition highlights creative and environmentally friendly small-scale sustainable farming approaches, while also exposing the community to the potential of kokedama as an educational medium, green hobby, and community entrepreneurial opportunity.
Project Leader of Eco Tani @ Kampung Angkat Madani 2.0, Dr. Mohd Faiq bin Abd Aziz, Deputy Dean (Research, Innovation and Funding), expressed appreciation for the local community's high level of commitment and the active involvement of students throughout the program. This program is not just community service, but a field for real-world experiential learning. "Students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge, build soft skills, and directly understand the needs of the community," he said.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Education Studies, Associate Professor Dr. Wan Marzuki Jaafar stated that the organization of this program reflects the faculty's ongoing efforts to support a holistic and impactful community development agenda. The involvement of students and lecturers in such programs demonstrates the faculty's commitment to producing graduates who are balanced in terms of academics and social concern. "Initiatives like Eco Tani and Karnival Putra@Sawah Sempadan demonstrate how knowledge can be translated into real impact for the community," he explained.
Overall, the Eco Tani @ Kampung Angkat Madani 2.0 Program demonstrates a strong synergy between the university and the local community, thereby elevating UPM's role as an institution of knowledge committed to driving social change based on sustainability, well-being, and rural community development.