The students mainly engage with sustainability learning through courses in their undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as the MPU courses. 

Education

The Master in Sustainable Development Management

Sunway University’s Master in Sustainable Development Programme aims to equip individuals and organisations to develop innovative solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in actionable ways in their specific sectors or areas of
work.

Sunway University offers a 12-month, full-time Master’s in Sustainable Development Management (MSDM) program that will equip students with the system-level thinking essential for achieving sustainable development (e.g. natural earth systems, socio-political stability); in-depth technical expertise in two fields of concentration (e.g. green urbanization, economic development); management skills (e.g. effective governance in public and private organizations); and research ability (e.g. geographic information system). The classes will be held at time slots convenient to students located in the geographical area from New Zealand to Turkey. Every class will be co-taught by Sunway faculty members and SDG Academy experts. All the interactive online teaching will be conducted inside a Sunway University classroom, so students can also choose to be in Kuala Lumpur to receive in-person teaching when possible. The program will consist of four 11-week terms. At the end of the third term, there will be an optional, week-long MSDM Study Fest held at Sunway University.

Online Master's Program in Sustainable Development Management

A fully online version of the Masters in Sustainable Development was launched in 2020 together with the SDG Academy and University College Dublin (UCD). This programme offers cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary, and trans-disciplinary learning for the SDGs. Both UCD and SDSN have mandates to support the UN System through consultative status, and provide students with a unique experience in virtual classrooms with leading academics and global thought leaders. There are also opportunities for excellent placements and careers in sustainable development. The core elements of the Master’s require students to study the SDGs at the national level, city level, and through an SDG project. The program will include a wide range of electives to cover the SDG agenda, such as social justice, climate change, industrial economics, food systems, and public health. The Master’s is a one-year, full-time program, but can be taken part-time over two years or more. 

Its availability online makes it more accessible to both local and international students. 

PhD in Sustainable Development

The PhD in Sustainable Development is a full research programme focusing on key areas of sustainable development and themes outlined in the 17 sustainable development goals. 

Doctor of Philosophy in Sustainability Science and Technology

The PhD programme in Sustainability Science and Technology has a multi-disciplinary approach to sustainability where candidates will be guided into identifying areas of investigation within the emerging areas of research contributing towards sustainable development solutions.

Sustainability-Related Learning 

The topic of sustainability is embedded throughout Sunway University's courses and programs as both core and electives in all discipline areas of art, design, business, biological sciences, computing, psychology and more.

MPU (Mata Pelajaran Umum) Courses

MPU courses also known as the General Studies courses provide students with skills and knowledge from various aspects of sustainability including the social, environmental and governance aspects.

MPU 2: Bahasa Kebangsaan MPU 3232

With language being the 4th lesser-known pillar of Sustainability, Bahasa Kebangsaan aims to provide students with a string grasp on the national language. At the end of the course, students can listen, read, speak and write the language in formal and informal settings. This will provide them with the skill to express and understand important communication materials. 

MPU 3: Integrity and Anticorruption MPU 3322 

This course covers the basic concept of corruption including the value of integrity, anti-corruption, forms of corruption, abuse of power in daily activities and organizations as well as ways to prevent corruption. Cases related to corruption are discussed. Teaching and learning methods are implemented in the form of ‘experiential learning’ through individual and group activities. At the end of this course, students are able to understand the practice of integrity, the concept of corruption, anti-corruption, abuse of power as well as the prevention of corruption in society and organizations.

MPU 4: Community Service for Planetary Health

The Community Service for Planetary Health course is one of the compulsory general studies subjects for all undergraduate students. It is part of the university’s efforts to integrate planetary health and sustainability into the student curriculum regardless of course of study.  The course is meticulously crafted to serve as a gateway for undergraduate students into the realm of planetary health – an integrative framework uniting the well-being of both humanity and our cherished planet. Through active engagement, participants will not only grasp the fundamental principles of planetary health (both environmental and social aspects) but will also cultivate the essential skills required to address pressing issues through a community-focused lens, drawing upon interdisciplinary perspectives.

Upon completion of the course, learners will emerge equipped with the following capabilities:
 • Mastery of the core concepts and principles of planetary health, with a keen focus on local community dynamics. 

 • Proficiency in diagnosing planetary health challenges and devising tailored solutions at the grassroots level. 

 • Cultivation of a profound sense of civic duty and collaborative spirit in championing planetary health causes alongside fellow advocates.
 

Structured around comprehensive modules, the course journey encompasses:
"Planetary Health: Our New Compass for Our Future": An exploration of contemporary challenges impacting both human and environmental well-being, coupled with an in-depth understanding of planetary health principles and the overarching mission of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health.
"Diagnosing Planetary Health Problems": Empowering learners to identify, dissect, and analyze planetary health issues, discerning their root causes and multifaceted implications while recognizing the diverse stakeholders involved.
"Designing Planetary Health Solutions": Guiding students through the intricacies of crafting impactful projects, fostering effective teamwork dynamics, and implementing diverse problem-solving methodologies.
"Project Selection & Preparation": Instilling a robust understanding of risk management protocols, coupled with ethical considerations essential for undertaking community service projects ethically and responsibly.
"Project Implementation": Immersing participants in hands-on experiences, where leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking are put to the test during the execution of community projects, emphasizing effective communication and collaboration with local communities.
"Project Synthesis": Culminating in the presentation of completed community projects, showcasing learners' holistic grasp of planetary health concepts and their tangible impact on local communities.

 

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Compulsory Units

Entrepreneurial Mindset and Skills (EMS) ENT 2002

With the fundamental belief that everyone (and anyone) can become an entrepreneur, this subject will introduce 
the students to the entrepreneurial mindset and skills required to be a successful entrepreneur in the 21st 
Century. It explains an entrepreneurial venture and covers the critical mindset qualities, characteristics and skills 
necessary for an entrepreneurial endeavour. Lastly, the subject allows the opportunity to practice an 
entrepreneurial mindset and skills to solve SDG-related challenges. The topics cover critical thinking and creativity and innovation to tackle these SDG challenges, which is done through flipped classroom settings, online quizzes and group proposals.

Communication Skills ENG 2044

This is an interactive module which combines classroom discussion and a variety of oral activities meant to give students opportunities to practise and master the basic concepts in communicating.  Students are expected to be able to participate in classroom discussions which focus on various aspects of communication. In addition, students are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the issues discussed and the skills needed for effective communication through a variety of oral assignments.