C. S. Lai, N. Baharom and L. M. Foong, (2018).

Integrating Knowledge Aspects of Green Skills into

Engineering Programmes: The Perceptions of Engineering Lecturers in Malaysia Polytechnics, 2018 IEEE
10th International Conference on Engineering Education (ICEED), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pp. 19-23.

Integrating Knowledge Aspects of Green Skills into

Engineering Programmes: The Perceptions of
Engineering Lecturers in Malaysia Polytechnics
Chee Sern Lai Noordiana Baharom
Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education
UTHM UTHM
86400 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia 86400 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Email: lcsern@uthm.edu.my Email: noordiana89@gmail.com

Lee Ming Foong

Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education
UTHM
86400 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Email: mflee@uthm.edu.my

Abstract— This paper attempted to find out the knowledge The environmental pollution and climate change have
aspects of green skill that need to be embedded in the curriculum brought about a number of negative impacts on the economy
of engineering programmes offered by Malaysian Polytechnics. growth and social activities [3]. Take agriculture sector as an
The present research was descriptive in nature which employed example, the changing weather pattern and more extreme floods
survey design. A set of questionnaire was designed and developed
or droughts will reduce crop yield, and thereby affecting food
for the purpose of data collection. A total of 332 lecturers from
engineering departments of Malaysia Polytechnics were selected supply. In addition, transportation system will be disrupted due
to participate in this research. Based on the perceptions of the to flood and the connection between cities will be interrupted
participating engineering lecturers, the knowledge aspects which, in turn, may affect social activities.
associated with green skills that should be embedded into the The issues related to global warming, climate change,
engineering programmes are knowledge related to environmental destrution of ecosystem and environmental pollution have
pollution, law of environment protection, energy saving, drawn attention from many countries across the world.
renewable energy, environmental friendly design, solid waste Multiples developed countries (e.g., Japan, Germany, the
management, water usage, natural resources management, Netherlands) have started to transform their existing economy
manufacturing processes, sustainable living style, biodiversity and
model to a green economy model [4]. In brief, green economy
ecological system. The current curricula should be reviewed and
revised in order to embed the knowledge aspects of green skill into can be regarded as any economic activities (e.g., production,
the engineering programmes. servicing, commercial, transpotation) that are friendlier to the
environment, consume more renewable energy, and produce
Keywords— knowledge, green skill, engineering program, less carbon emission that lead to improved human well-being
lecturer, polytechnics, Perception [5].
Green economy is driven by green industries where green
I. INTRODUCTION jobs are created and the non-green jobs will be “greened”
eventually. This scenario reflects the facts that the future
In the recent decades, it has been noticed that the weather workers must equip themselves with green skills in order to
around the world is getting more and more extreme [1] in which allow them to secure a better job within the green economy
the summer is unbearably scorching, and the winter is model. In general, green skill can be briefly defined as skills
exceptionally cold and lasts longer. The devastating tropical that consists of cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skill) and
hurricanes are more frequent and even more damaging that affective (attitude) dimensions that contribute the sustainability
causes loss of homes and livehood. Several islandic countries, of economic, social, and environment development [6]. From
such as Maldives and Tuvalu, are sinking and will disappear in the educational perspective, higher learning institutions should
near future due to rising sea level [2]. These human-induced play a more significant role in training and producing graduates
natural disasters are actually caused by environmental pollution who are able to cater for the needs of the green industries.
due to irresponsible economic activities.

19
C. S. Lai, N. Baharom and L. M. Foong, (2018). Integrating Knowledge Aspects of Green Skills into
Engineering Programmes: The Perceptions of Engineering Lecturers in Malaysia Polytechnics, 2018 IEEE
10th International Conference on Engineering Education (ICEED), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pp. 19-23.
Given the importance of green skills towards employment, traditional skills. These new skills will have to be incorporated
the curriculum of engineering programmes should be reviewed into training and education programmes.
and revised because the green skill elements are almost non- In most cases however, the new jobs created by the
existent in the existing engineering curriculum. However, to green industries will require a mix of both traditional and new
date, research related to green skills is fairly scarce, especially green skills. For example, construction companies that carry out
within the Malaysia context. Many aspects of green skill are building and housing projects will require workers with
still unclear. For example, the types of knowledge, skills and traditional construction skills and up-to-date training in energy
attitude are relevant to green skill are still unexplored. efficiency [8]. In general, it can be said that for low to middle-
Against this background, the present research was skilled jobs, there will be a need for traditional skills
conducted to find out the knowledge apects of green skill that complemented by green skills, most of which can be offered by
should be integrated into the engineering programmes offered on-the-job training programmes. Higher skilled occupations,
by Malaysian Polytechnics in order to produce graduates who such as those found in eco-consulting, will require a broader
more marketable in the green manpower market. and more specific set of new green skills. Such new skills are
best delivered by educational and in-depth training
programmes.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW The green industry has caused a change in occupations'
employment demand and worker skills requirements. In other
words, significant skills gaps will be created in labour market
Definition of Green Skill due to the needs of the green industry. Neglecting to fill these
skills gaps could impede economic and employment growth,
In general, green skill can be defined as skill that contribute to and would also represent an obstacle to broader efforts to fight
sustainable development. In specific, green skill is climate change. As mentioned by the UNEP [9],
conceptualised as skill associated with the elements of technical
skills, knowledge, attitude and values required in the workforce “shortages of skilled labour could put the
to sustain the development of economy, social and brakes on green expansion… it is important
environments in industry, business, and society [6]. Similarly, both to prepare the workforce at large for
CEDEFOP [4] define green skill as the knowledge, ability, the skills requirements inherent in green
values and attitudes needed by an individual to social jobs and to ensure that green industries and
development by mitigating the negative impacts of human workplaces do not face a shortage of
activities on the environment. adequately skilled workers”
Taken together, green skills comprise three major pp 309
components: cognitive (knowledge aspects of green skill),
psychomotor (abilities of green skills) and affective The above mentioned statement appears to reflect the fact that
components (attitudes/values towards green skills) required by a large number of workers with green skills are needed in order
workforce to promote sustainable economy, social and to succeed the transition to a green economy. In order to avoid
environmental development. As far as cognitive component is the shortage of green skilled workers from happening,
concerned, the knowledge pertaining to environmental immediate action needs to be taken by training institutions in
protection and conservation can be considered as a part of green order to provide the adequate workforce training. Several
skills. From psychomotor perspective, green skill refers to the surveys concerning this issue have been conducted in different
ability to protect and conserve environment, for instance, countries. The outcomes have revealed difficulties in finding
reduce greenhouse gas emission and cut down energy well-trained employees for green industries, and the workforce
consumption. Green skill is also composed of effective aspects is still lacking green skills. In specific, Alliance [8] has reported
which focuses on attitude and motivation of an individual to that in the US, the growing green industry is faced with worker
engage in environmental protection, conservation and shortages in sectors such as manufacturing, construction and
preservation [27]. installation. Similarly, the renewable industry in Germany is
There is dispute over the idea that green skills represent a also suffering from a lack of qualified employees, especially for
completely new set of skills which remain largely absent within knowledge intensive positions [9]. Although the detail might be
existing labour markets. A report published by the European different, similar trend and problems are expected to occur in
Commission [7] states that specific skills will be needed for the Malaysia in very near future. Therefore, it is imperative to train
growth of the green economy such as knowledge of sustainable future workers who are able to contribute to green industries
materials, carbon foot-printing skills and environmental impact and to get rid of shortage of green skilled workers.
assessment skills. In this case, the challenge of filling the skills
gap created by the transition to a greener economy goes beyond
ensuring the existence of a qualified workforce in possession of

20
C. S. Lai, N. Baharom and L. M. Foong, (2018). Integrating Knowledge Aspects of Green Skills into
Engineering Programmes: The Perceptions of Engineering Lecturers in Malaysia Polytechnics, 2018 IEEE
10th International Conference on Engineering Education (ICEED), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pp. 19-23.
III. METHODLOGY environmental pollution.
Knowledge about solid waste
A. Research Design
P4 management based recycling 4.43 0.64
This research was performed using quantitative survey practices.
technique. This research design was employed because of its Knowledge about prudent
capability in representing a large population and low cost. In P5 4.53 0.57
use of water.
addition, the survey can be administered easily and quickly Knowledge about renewable
through various methods, such as email, fax, or by postage P6 4.41 0.69
energy.
service. Knowledge about efficient
P7 natural resources 4.36 0.68
B. Sampling
management
A total of 332 engineering lecturers were selected using Knowledge about sustainable
convenient sampling method. Out of the total, 131 (39.5%) were P8 4.27 0.71
living style.
male lecturers and 201 (60.5%) were female lecturers. A total of Knowledge about
116 (34.9%) respondents were with civil engineering P9 4.23 0.75
biodiversity.
background, 107 (32.2%) respondents with mechanical
engineering background, and 109 (32.8%) respondents with Knowledge about the law of
P10 4.23 0.77
electrical engineering background. environmental protection.
Knowledge about the
C. Instrument environmental friendly
P11 4.29 0.73
A set of self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data manufacturing proceses.
related to the knowledge aspect of green skill. The knowledge
aspect of green skill was measured by 12 items. The 5-point- Knowledge about ecological
scale was used for each item in the questionnaire, which range P12 4.27 0.71
system.
from 1 (very disagree), 2 (disagree), 3 (nearly agree), 4 (agree) Overall Mean 4.37 0.68
to 5 (very agree). The questionnaire has yielded a very good
coefficient of reliability, α = 0.96.
In general, the engineering lecturers have high degree
of agreement (M=4.37; SD=0.68) towards then integration of
IV. RESULTS knowledge aspects of green skills into engineering programmes
offered by Malaysia Polytechnics. In specific, item P1
Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics which (knowledge related to energy saving that helps nature
involved mean and standard deviation. Table 1 shows the protection) yielded the highest agreement mean score (M=4.59,
outcomes of analysis which indicate the means as well as SD=0.55). Whereas the items P9 (Knowledge about
standard deviation for every items that measured the knowledge biodiversity) (M=4.23; SD=0.75) and P10 (Knowledge about
aspects of green skills among the participating engineering the law of environmental protection) (M=4.23; SD=0.73)
lecturers of selected Polytechnics. gained the lowest agreement mean score

Table 1: Mean and Standard Deviation (S.D) for measured

items V. DISCUSSION
No Item Mean S.D
The following knowledge Based on the analysis outcomes, the knowledge aspects that
aspect of green skill should be should be embedded into the engineering programmes are
included in the curriculum: knowledge related to environmental pollution, law of
Knowledge related to energy environment protection, energy saving, renewable energy,
P1 saving that helps nature 4.59 0.55 environmental friendly design, solid waste management, water
protection. usage, natural resources management, manufacturing
Knowledge about design that processes, sustainable living style, biodiversity and ecological
is more environmental system.
friendly related to the Majority, if not all, of the engineering programmes offered
P2 4.36 0.70 by Malaysia Polytechnics do not include the element of
progremme (mechnical,
electrical, and civil environmental pollution into the curriculum. This piece of
engineering) knowledge is critical not only to enhance the knowledge about
P3 Knowledge about 4.47 0.65 environmental pollution to the students, but also to increase
awareness of students on the environmental pollution [10].

21
C. S. Lai, N. Baharom and L. M. Foong, (2018). Integrating Knowledge Aspects of Green Skills into
Engineering Programmes: The Perceptions of Engineering Lecturers in Malaysia Polytechnics, 2018 IEEE
10th International Conference on Engineering Education (ICEED), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pp. 19-23.
Apart from the knowledge of environmental pollution, the law reuse material. Besides, recycling is also important to practice.
of environmental protection should be exposed to students as Recycling can be easily achieved by sorting the waste and send
well in order to allow them to take the aspects of law into to recycling company [19]. This knowledge should be imparted
account when they perform the working tasks in the industrial to the students through formal curriculum because the
sector. The formulation of law is an important part of knowledge is very useful not only in the workplace, but also in
environment protection process, and its enforcement is crucial daily life.
to make the environment protection successful [11]. The next element that should be included in the engineering
Nonetheless, implementation and enforcement of law will not curriculum is the knowledge pertaining to manufacturing
be effective without educating the people about the function of process. Manufacturing processes have a great impact on the
law towards environmental protection and conservation. In development of social, economy, and environment [20].
aspect, higher learning institution can play a major role in Therefore, engineering graduates should be knowledgeable in
educating students by integrating the basic environmental terms of environmental friendly production technique and
protection law into the curriculum. processes that consume less energy, emit less greenhouses
The knowledge of energy saving or energy conservation gases, and at the same time produce less waste materials [21].
should be included in engineering programmers because it is Apart from the above, knowledge regarding water usage and
important to train worker who is knowledgeable in planning and natural resources management should be included in the
strategizing steps for energy conservation efficiently. engineering programmes. Knowledge concerning prudent use
According Syed Hussain, Ismail dan Md Noh [12], it has been of water is imperative in order to assist organization to deal with
one of the challenges to conserve and manage energy efficiently water crisis. According to UNESCO-UNEVOC [22], two third
in order to make this world a better place to live in. This of the world population will be faced with clean water shortage
problem can be resolved by producing more knowledgeable by the year 2025. Therefore, it is important to expose students
workers who can conserve energy effectively. Apart from with the knowledge of water usage. Similarly, it is equally
energy conservation, the use of renewable energy, such as solar important to insert natural resources management into the
energy, wind energy, and biofuel energy, should be emphasized curriculum of engineering programmes. The workers who serve
as it may mitigate the problems related to environment pollution green industries should equip themselves with the knowledge
[13]. Using renewable energy for industrial activities and of natural resources management in order to ensure the use of
human’ daily activities produce less greenhouse gases and natural resources as well as the exploitation of natural resources
thereby, having less negative impacts on the environment and are sustainable in the long run and balance up the development
global warming. For this reason, the knowledge of renewable between environment, social and economy [23]. Additionally,
energy should be embedded in the engineering programmes in natural resources should be managed efficiently to make sure
Polytechnics. the environment is sustainable and well preserved.
Likewise, design knowledge should be part of the In order to generate a sustainable development in
engineering program curriculum. The design knowledge is very environment, social and economy, how people live is a crucial
important in building design, mechanical product design, or determinant factor. Human living cannot be separated from
electronic circuit design in order to produce a product that is housing, transportation, energy consumption, and even diet.
friendlier to the environment [14, 15]. In building design, for The living style that does not contribute to the reduction of
instance, designer should have sufficient knowledge to natural resources use, and minimize of carbon footprint, might
integrate natural elements into the design, such as optimizing negatively influence the environment condition [24]. For
the use of natural light and applying natural ventilation system example, driving a 7-sitter big car for small family is not
in building to reduce the electricity consumption [16]. In environmental friendly simply because big car needs more fuel
mechanical design, designer should be knowledgeable to come consumption and more materials are needed to build a bigger
out with a product that consume renewable energy, for example, car. For this reason, the knowledge of sustainable living style
an engine that use solar energy [17]. Whereas in electronic should be taught in engineering programmes.
design, designer should be able to design an electronic circuit Lastly, the knowledge of biodiversity and ecology system
that uses environmental friendly materials and less energy should be included as well in the curriculum of engineering
consumption. programmes. Biodiversity, which means the variability or
Another knowledge that needs to be integrated into the diversity of fauna and flora, is interrelated to the equilibrium of
engineering program is regarding solid waste management. ecosystem and these two aspects are very important to human
Solid waste management is closely related to the 3R concept life [25]. For instance, plants produce oxygen needed by the
which means Reduce, Reuse and Recycle [18]. It is impossible living things and insects help pollinate fruits and vegetables.
to eradicate waste production, however it can be reduced by Human and industrial activities that are harmful to the
cutting down the amount of waste. It is also advisable to reuse environment may bring destruction to the ecosystem and
materials in whenever it is possible. For example, using scrape biodiversity which, in turn, will affect human being [26].
paper for taking note is the easiest thing that can be done to

22
C. S. Lai, N. Baharom and L. M. Foong, (2018). Integrating Knowledge Aspects of Green Skills into
Engineering Programmes: The Perceptions of Engineering Lecturers in Malaysia Polytechnics, 2018 IEEE
10th International Conference on Engineering Education (ICEED), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pp. 19-23.
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