Water is essential to the vitality of communities, economies, and ecosystems, yet access to clean and reliable water remains a formidable challenge in many regions. At the University of Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), our commitment to tackling this issue head-on has transformed our approach to water management and exemplified innovative practices in higher education. By embedding entrepreneurial principles into our sustainability efforts, we have created a dynamic model that serves the university and the wider community, showcasing how academic institutions can directly engage with and solve real-world problems.
The Beginning: Identifying the Problem
The dependency on costly and unreliable external water sources has been a critical issue that plagued UMK, threatening the health of our students and staff and frequently disrupting campus operations. Recognising the potential for knowledge-based innovation from academic initiatives to address these challenges, we embarked on a journey to develop a sustainable, self-reliant water solution with the communities. This initiative was not just about improving infrastructure; it was about instilling an entrepreneurial mindset within our community, where students and faculty are encouraged to think creatively and act decisively to overcome complex challenges.
Innovating for Sustainability: The UMK Groundwater Water Treatment and Quality Monitoring System
Our pivotal breakthrough came with the development of the UMK Groundwater Water Treatment and Quality Monitoring System. This dual-function system exemplifies how entrepreneurial thinking and academic knowledge can merge to create impactful solutions. The university played a crucial role in supporting this project by providing funding and monetary contributions from public donations. The initial facility setup at the UMK Bachok campus was made possible through this combination of university funding and public support, and the overall system cost was only RM 400,000—a significant saving of approximately RM 300,000 compared to if the system had been built by an external company.
My dedicated team consisted of five experts and ten students from the Faculty of Earth Science for the initial groundwater resistivity survey, which was instrumental in identifying viable water sources and designing the treatment system. This solid institutional backing and collaboration between faculty and students were vital to our success. Students were engaged at every stage of the project, and many took part in research activities, fieldwork, and the operation of the monitoring system. They were given opportunities to apply their classroom learning to real-world challenges, thereby gaining invaluable hands-on experience for their future careers.
Figure 1: A part of our UMK team, alongside the Groundwater Water Treatment and Quality Monitoring System, revolutionised our water management practices.
Extending the Impact to the Community
Following our external engagement mission, we expanded the reach of our water project beyond the university gates and addressed similar challenges faced by the surrounding communities. This extension was driven by our engagement spirit, aiming to maximise the impact of our innovations. By collaborating with local authorities and NGOs, we adapted our in-house developed technologies to benefit a broader audience, thereby enhancing thousands of locals health and quality of life. This demonstrated the scalability of our solutions and reinforced the role of academic institutions as catalysts for community development and engagement.
Figure 2: UMK's team with local NGO’s reaching out to local communities to extend the impact of our sustainable water solutions.
Cost-Saving and Sustainability
The financial sustainability of this project underscores our entrepreneurial approach to resource management. By internally managing our water supply, UMK significantly cut costs, redirecting savings into further educational and community initiatives. For example, the savings were reinvested in teaching and learning resources, providing additional scholarships, and supporting student entrepreneurial programs and activities. These reinvestments have enhanced the academic experience at UMK and encouraged innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among students, empowering them to engage in sustainability-driven projects and initiatives. This aspect of the project highlights how entrepreneurial strategies can lead to substantial efficiencies and reinvestments in core academic and community-serving activities.
Figure 3: The comprehensive setup of UMK’s groundwater treatment facilities showcasing our commitment to sustainability and efficient resource management.
Challenges and Learnings
The journey was lined with numerous challenges, from funding to stakeholder engagement. Our entrepreneurial approach enabled us to navigate these challenges effectively, using innovative problem-solving techniques and comprehensive stakeholder management strategies. A key aspect of this approach was the direct involvement of students in the project, allowing them to apply their academic knowledge in real-world scenarios.
For instance, students enrolled in the Water Treatment Technology course participated in field visits to the UMK Jeli Campus groundwater treatment plant - Phase 1, where they actively engaged in hands-on learning. They took part in system and water quality monitoring and data collection tasks, providing them with a clear understanding of the operational complexities and sustainability challenges involved in running a treatment system. These practical experiences allowed the students to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, fostering a deeper appreciation for the role of sustainable practices in water management.
This experience has been an invaluable learning process for students and the institution, reinforcing the importance of adaptability and proactive engagement in achieving long-term sustainability goals. The foundational result is the model of embedding entrepreneurial mindsets and activities into sustainability initiatives that can be replicated across other institutions.
Figure 4: Students from the Water Treatment Technology course during a field visit to the groundwater treatment plant (Phase 1) at UMK Jeli Campus (A); A sample of clean water produced by the groundwater treatment system demonstrates our technology's effectiveness (B).
Looking to the Future
Inspired by the success of our water sustainability project, we are exploring opportunities to replicate and adapt this model in other institutions and communities. The main elements of the model include integrating sustainable groundwater treatment systems with real-time water quality monitoring, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between faculty and students, and employing a hands-on, entrepreneurial approach to solving environmental challenges. This model creates a blueprint for scalable, self-reliant water management systems by combining academic research, practical applications, and community involvement. Our commitment to ongoing research and development in water sustainability is driven by an entrepreneurial ethos that continually seeks to improve and innovate.
Conclusion
UMK’s journey from water scarcity to sustainability is a testament to how higher education institutions can leverage their entrepreneurial and innovative capabilities to address real-world challenges. The UMK Groundwater Water Treatment and Quality Monitoring System epitomises universities’ possibilities for realising the Third Mission regarding entrepreneurship and engagement and creating a lasting impact on the regions. By engaging with these issues directly, we enhance our operational and educational capacities and contribute significantly to community well-being. This project serves as a beacon for others, proving that with creativity and determination, sustainability is necessary, achievable and impactful globally. As we reflect on our accomplishments at UMK, we call on others in the academic community to consider how they can integrate practices that foster a sustainable future.
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Images Credit: Dr. Mohd Amin