Islamic Environmental Education: The Experience of the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM)

Abstract

The conceptual framework of environmental education emerged from United Nation’s first international conference in 1977 and now has been acknowledged as one component of education for sustainability. This has allowed environmental education to address the broad range of issues from interdisciplinary approaches—science and religion especially Islam. Looking at this potential and in view of the insufficiency of existing religious institution promoting environmental education in Malaysia, IKIM has been selected as a single case study to provide content analysis of potential role of religion and/or religious institutions in promoting environmental education in Malaysia. This research provides examples by looking at how public understanding of science (PUS) can be further enhanced by focusing on the initiatives in terms of collaborative efforts with the stakeholders and programmes that have been undertaken by an Islamic institution in this endeavour. Information was gathered through qualitative analysis via interviews and document analysis. Potential roles of an Islamic institution in promoting environmental education were identified, and challenges in implementing environmental programme were also discussed. This research suggests that religious institutions promote environmental education through public scholarship and collaborative governance in promoting PUS in society through its environmental programmes and collaborative activities on the ground.