The ocean provides essential resources, including food, minerals, energy, and medicine, while sustaining global ecosystems. Yet, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that around 87% of the world’s oceans are affected by pollution, with only 8.4% currently protected, far below the 30% target set under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
Dr Arasu Raman, Director of Social Impact and International Relations and Collaboration Centre at INTI International University, attended Blue Horizon 2026 in support of the student-led initiative.
In response, Blue Horizon 2026 was organised as a student-led awareness initiative at INTI International University to bring greater attention to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water. Led by Foundation programme students from the Faculty of Business and Communication as part of their General Studies subject, the initiative was developed in collaboration with WWF Malaysia to encourage greater environmental responsibility within the campus community.
A representative from WWF Malaysia delivered a talk titled “From Sand to Sea: The Sea Turtle Journey,” highlighting marine conservation efforts and the importance of protecting ocean ecosystems.
Rather than a conventional event, Blue Horizon 2026 was structured as an interactive learning experience in which students designed and facilitated activities to help their peers better understand marine conservation issues. From planning the programme to managing the event space, the student organisers took full ownership of how the message was communicated.
Across the venue, participants moved between stations that combined education with participation. At one booth, an ocean-themed picture-matching game introduced key concepts of marine ecosystems while encouraging students to engage with the content in a simple, accessible way. Elsewhere, an information wall presented key facts and insights, allowing participants to explore the topic at their own pace.
Complementing these student-led activities, WWF Malaysia contributed an information-sharing session on sea turtles, providing context on conservation efforts and the challenges facing marine life. The session helped connect the activities on the ground with broader environmental issues.
“Honestly, it’s a little tiring, but I’m happy,” said Khin No No Htut, a first-semester Foundation in Science student from Myanmar. “I love volunteering, and I love environmental projects.”
Reflecting on the issue, she added, “In our modern day, humans create many things, but at the same time, the ocean is destroyed.”
Fiona Cheong, Brand Activation and Events Manager at WWF Malaysia, observed varying levels of engagement among participants.
“Some of the students are very proactive. The ones who are interested in this topic know their stuff. When we ask questions, they can answer. They pay attention to the talk that was done earlier,” she said.
She also noted the challenge of engaging a diverse audience, attributing it partly to differences in attention and interest levels.
Event committee members engaged students at one of the interactive booths, encouraging participation and raising awareness on marine conservation.
“They have a very short attention span, and they don’t really pay attention. But those who care, they really care,” she added.
Fiona also highlighted WWF Malaysia’s continued collaboration with INTI, including initiatives such as Earth Hour engagements and student volunteer participation. She also expressed hope for a deeper impact moving forward and encouraged students to take their involvement further.
For the students involved, Blue Horizon 2026 was not just about raising awareness but about finding practical ways to engage others on an issue that continues to shape environmental and societal outcomes.