In line with CPSC’s green advocacy program, a mini-seminar on clean air and green practices was held at the CPSC Conference Room on September 2, 2013. As a form of a staff development for CPSC’s Faculty and Staff to fully inculcate green mindset and practices in the College, three students from the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Malaysia shared with CPSC the learnings and insights they gained from the special internship they had undertaken in the Philippines.

The three students, namely, Mr. Mohd Nafizal bin Mohd Nayan, Mr. Mohd Fazli bin Abd Malek and Ms. Siti Norhaniza bt Kholitiza completed their industrial internship as a part of their core subjects in their Bachelor’s course on Environmental Technology. The internship, which aims to provide a simulation to the real working environment in a related field of study, was embarked through a 12-week training program in environmental companies in Manila.

The mini-seminar mainly tackled the experiences of the three Malaysian interns during the 12-week internship in Manila. These topics offered relevant information regarding the activities of their companies in relation to green practices, their missions and goals and the specific activities that they have undergone during the training. The seminar also facilitated the knowledge transfer between the interns and the CPSC local staff, which is very important in promoting the green TVET culture being advocated by the College.

Ms. Siti and Mr. Mohd Nafizal had their internships at Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Inc, (Clean Air Asia), which is a premier air quality network for Asia by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, and USAID with office at Ortigas, Pasig City. One of its major activities includes harmonizing regional and national policies and standards for air pollution monitoring.

The students imparted with the CPSC faculty and staff the knowledge and insights they gained on air quality laws and regulations in Asia and other regions, clean fuels and current status of vehicles, air pollution initiatives by international companies and organizations, air quality monitoring framework and future plans and way forward for air pollution mechanisms.

On the other hand, Clean Engines International located at Mandaluyong City, hosted Mr. Mohd Fazli’s internship. CEI provided opportunity for Mr. Fazli to assist in the conversion of gasoline to LPG fueling system; in unit decommissioning and undertake a case study on carbon deposit in engine parts. CEI is a company that promotes the switch of car engines from diesel to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and installs retrofitting to dirty engines as a way to further reduce air pollutants emitted by vehicles.

The seminar was made more interesting by the valuable inputs rendered by Dr. Noor Zaitun binti Yahaya, Civil Engineering Lecturer from UTM who handles the internships of the students and acts as representative of the university. She enlightened mindset of the listeners on being fully aware and active to learn of and act on the hazards of air pollution, particularly in Manila, which is in a very dangerous level and in effect reduces life span. Dr. Noor provided awareness on studies, conferences, movements, organizations focusing on this concerns by which people should really get involved, as such she added that an “environmental psychology” must be seriously considered a new area in education.

Overall, the seminar espoused the reduction of air pollutants through the establishment of fuel standards and serious enforcement of clean air policies and regulations. Some recommendations were also forwarded for the success of CPSC’s green movement, these are: encouraging the Department of Education, PHILSPORTS and other government institutions within the vicinity to participate in the green initiative, especially in the reduction of fuel consumption and electricity consumption, recycling of materials, and further exchange of ideas on best practices on conservation and environmental protection; use of protective masks by CPSC employees and employees within the compound; reduce of carbon footprint by fully adhering to its green advocacy; recycling, reducing energy consumption, composting food wastes, reduction of waste generation; and spreading the advocacy to other institutions.

Dr. Naim Yaakub, CPSC Director General, on behalf of the CPSC Faculty and Staff, welcomed Dr. Noor and the students and expressed appreciation for the fruitful knowledge sharing on environmental concerns and initiatives by international organizations and industrial companies during the mini-seminar. He ensured that the recommendations forwarded and the new learnings gained shall boost momentum of fully advancing the ideals of the green CSPC movement.

The Director General shared about CPSC’s mandate, activities and achievements to UMT. Both CPSC and UMT expressed hopes for formal partnership, further cooperation on mutual objectives for education and training as well as on accreditation.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) is a polytechnic university in Malaysia which aims to become a high performing institution with a global reputation. It aims to fulfill its vision by venturing in learning and research activities and initiatives that will drive knowledge-based generation of Science and Technology towards the sustainable development, economics and social welfare improvement.


(Photos fr. L-R) Mr. Mohd Fazli bin Abd Malek, Ms. Siti Norhaniza bt Kholitiza, Mr. Mohd Nafizal bin Mohd Nayan, UMT student-interns; with Dr. Noor Zaitun binti Yahaya, Lecturer, Civil Engineering, UTM (2nd fr right, 3rd photo) and Dr. Naim, CPSC DG (far right) during the presentation.