Duta ESD: Bringing Education for Sustainable Development into School Communities

Penang, 18 September 2026 –The School of Educational Studies (SES), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) continues to strengthen its commitment to preparing preservice teachers who are equipped not only with professional knowledge and teaching skills, but also with the capacity to contribute positively to society and a sustainable future. Central to this effort is the Duta ESD (Education for Sustainable Development Ambassadors) initiative, which empowers preservice teachers to translate sustainability education into meaningful action in schools and communities.

This commitment was showcased when the Duta ESD were invited to participate in “Pameran Hari Kita: Pembentukan Karakter MADANI”, held on 18 September 2026 at SMJK Chung Ling, Penang. Through the exhibition, Duta ESD engaged with the school community through educational activities that brought Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to life while connecting sustainability with Karakter MADANI.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formed an important part of the Duta ESD activities and were organised into five relatable themes, making the global goals more relevant and accessible to everyday life: Prihatin Diri (Care for Yourself), Prihatin Masyarakat (Care for Our Community), Prihatin Alam (Care for Our Planet), Prihatin Cara Hidup (Live Sustainably), and Kemajuan Bersama (Progress Together).The Duta ESD initiative brings together preservice teachers from the School of Educational Studies, USM, and is led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melissa Ng Lee Yen Abdullah, with the support  fellow academics from the Educational Psychology cluster, Prof. Dr. Hairul Nizam Ismail, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shahabuddin Hashim and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aswati Hamzah.

A distinctive feature of Duta ESD is its emphasis on learning through experience, engagement and leadership. Preservice teachers are not merely participants in ESD activities; they take ownership of projects and are given opportunities to plan, communicate and lead sustainability-related educational activities. Student Duta ESD also took on leadership roles as project directors across the different themes, working collaboratively to engage the school community in ESD.

This approach is underpinned by the TRACE–ESD framework for educating the teachers of tomorrow, initiated by Dr. Melissa, with its implementation supported by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rahimi Che Aman, Dean of the School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The framework provides a structured pathway through which preservice teachers learn, reflect, act, engage with communities and develop the confidence to lead. Through Duta ESD, preservice teachers move beyond learning about sustainability to translating their knowledge into meaningful educational practice, engaging with communities and encouraging others to contribute to a more sustainable future.

By placing SDG 4: Quality Education at the heart of teacher preparation while connecting learning across the wider SDGs, the School of Educational Studies is preparing teachers who can carry sustainability into their future classrooms, schools and communities. In doing so, Duta ESD contributes to USM’s broader sustainability agenda, extending its impact from the university to the next generation.

Text & Photo: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melissa Ng Lee Yen Abdullah, Psychology and Psychometric Cluster, School of Educational Studies, USM