With a strong desire to protect nature, as it is one of our greatest allies against climate change and is vital for our survival and prosperity, students from INTI International University & Colleges took part in the ‘Earth Hour #Connect2Earth Pledge for Nature’ contest as they pledged to defend mother nature.
With their lecturers, the students emerged as winners whilst joining million others at the ‘Earth Hour #Connect2Earth Pledge for Nature’ nationwide contest held from February 1 to April 22. These students from INTI campuses in Nilai, Subang, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Sabah worked hand in hand with their friends and family to achieve more than 19,000 pledges.
WWF Malaysia invited lecturers and students from various Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia to join millions and ‘Speak Up for Nature’ by participating in the inaugural of ‘Earth Hour #Connect2Earth Pledge for Nature’ contest.
“Nature and biodiversity loss is so severe that it poses grave risks to our health, economy and livelihood. Pandemic, wildfire, wildlife decline and climate change are all symptoms of our dangerously unbalanced relationship with the natural world. We can’t ignore it any longer, and we must act decisively,” said INTI’s Assistant Vice President of Career Services at INTI, about the initiative by WWF Malaysia.
The pledge highlights that this accelerating crisis is causing irreversible harm to our life-support systems, aggravating poverty and inequality, increasing the risk of future zoonotic pandemics and significantly contributing to climate change. The rising costs to societies and the economy require biodiversity loss to be halted and reversed with urgency, if humankind wishes to achieve our climate objectives and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
INTI International University & Colleges and WWF Malaysia have collaborated since 2012 in various initiatives in the notion of conserving nature.
Naomi affirms that while we endorse the Pledge for Nature, we should commit ourselves not simply to words, but to meaningful actions and mutual accountability to address the planetary emergency.
“It marks a turning point, and comes with an explicit recognition that we will be judged now and by future generations on our willingness and ability to meet its aims. With this pledge, we also aim to support the United Nations and its fundamental role in catalysing the global response to this crisis in the upcoming months and years,” shared Naomi.
INTI’s long track record with WWF Malaysia was made all the more relevant as it aligned classroom learning with actual hands-on application of subjects being taught in areas such as business, advertising, economics and creative thinking. These skills were put to use as students drew out strategic plans to engage their families and friends throughout the contest period to Pledge for Nature.
The ‘Pledge for Nature’ employer project between INTI International University & Colleges students and WWF Malaysia was organized virtually last March.
Through INTI’s close ties with over 450 industry partners, students have access to various platforms to gain industry relevant skills and experience. They also have the opportunity to work with industry partners on projects that may have actual and immediate impact on participating companies, which enable students to develop and enhance 21st century skills like creativity, communication, critical thinking and collaboration.
Naomi concludes, “It is incredible that we are able to provide the students an experience like this, in where they are involved in making such a big difference to the wildlife. The project was able to correlate very well with their courses and empowered them to expand their creative thinking skills.”