Embedding Sustainability in Landscape Architecture Education: Assessing the Needs of the Malaysian Industry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37134/ejoss.vol11.2.1.2025Keywords:
Education for sustainable development (ESD), Industry, Landscape architecture, Nominal group techniques, Sustainable development goalsAbstract
This study assesses the need to embed sustainability elements into landscape architecture education in Malaysia, harmonising with industry demands and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite its relatively recent establishment in Malaysia, landscape architecture is experiencing significant growth, necessitating the integration of sustainable development principles into its educational framework. Using the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) to gather insights from seven landscape industry experts, the study identifies a strong consensus on the relevance of sustainability in landscape architecture. The findings indicate a unanimous agreement on the need for graduates to possess sustainability skills, emphasising the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) introduced by UNESCO. Although the present understanding of ESD among industry personnel is relatively excellent, there is room for development, mainly through greater collaboration between academia and industry. Therefore, this study proposes the revision and enhancement of existing curricula to integrate sustainable aspects relevant to the Malaysian context. The essential need for a comprehensive educational framework is stressed, ensuring that landscape architecture graduates are well-prepared to meet industry expectations and contribute to the SDGs.
Downloads
References
Alpak, E. M., Eren, E. T., & Düzenli, T. (2021). Green design in urban squares: Ecological urban consciousness in landscape srchitecture education. 4th International Conference of Contemporary Affairs in Architecture and Urbanism, 322–330. https://doi.org/10.38027/iccaua2021tr0042n14
BPLTV. (2023). Kurikulum Standard Kolej Vokasional Diploma Senibina Landskap.
Caniglia, G., John, B., Bellina, L., Lang, D. J., Wiek, A., Cohmer, S., & Laubichler, M. D. (2018). The glocal curriculum: A model for transnational collaboration in higher education for sustainable development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 171, 368–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.207
Carney, O., McIntosh, J., & Worth, A. (1996). The use of the Nominal Group Technique in research with community nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 23(5). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.1996.09623.x
Delbecq, A. L., & Van de Ven, A. H. (1971). A Group Process Model for Problem Identification and Program Planning. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/002188637100700404
Deslandes, S. F., Mendes, C. H. F., Pires, T. de O., & Campos, D. de S. (2010). Use of the nominal group technique and the delphi method to draw up evaluation indicators for strategies to deal with violence against children and adolescents in Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Saude Materno Infantil, 10(SUPPL. 1). https://doi.org/10.1590/s1519-38292010000500003
Dobbie, A., Rhodes, M., Tysinger, J. W., & Freeman, J. (2004). Using a modified nominal group technique as a curriculum evaluation tool. Family Medicine, 36(6).
Duzenli, T., Yilmaz, S., & Alpak, E. M. (2017). The effects of model making on design and learning in Landscape Architecture Education. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 17(70). https://doi.org/10.14689/ejer.2017.70.7
Fox, W. M. (1989). The Improved Nominal Group Technique (INGT). Journal of Management Development, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000001331
Gallagher, M., Hares, T., Spencer, J., Bradshaw, C., & Webb, I. (1993). The nominal group technique: A research tool for general practice? Family Practice, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/10.1.76
Harvey, N., & Holmes, C. A. (2012). Nominal group technique: An effective method for obtaining group consensus. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2012.02017.x
Horton, J. N. (1980). Nominal group technique: A method of decision‐making by committee. Anaesthesia, 35(8). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.1980.tb03924.x
Humphrey-Murto, S., Lee, S. H., Gottlieb, M., Horsley, T., Shea, B., Fournier, K., Tran, C., Chan, T., Wood, T. J., & Ten Cate, O. (2023). Protocol for an extended scoping review on the use of virtual nominal group technique in research. PLoS ONE, 18(1 January). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280764
Hussein, M. K., & Kabai, R. (2015). New horizons for Malaysia’s Landscape Education: Gate project across cultures and continents. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 174, 179–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.644
Institute of Landscape Architect Malaysia. (2019). Malaysia Architecture Landscape Programme recognition procedures & standards (Issue April). Institute of Landscape Architect Malaysia.
Kaliappan, A., & Hamid, H. (2021). Green technology: A must or a need in TVET education in Malaysia? Journal of Technical Education and Training, 13(1), 86–96.
Kempenaar, A. (2021). Learning to design with stakeholders: Participatory, collaborative, and transdisciplinary design in postgraduate landscape architecture education in Europe. Land, 10(3), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10030243
Lomax, P., & McLeman, P. (1984). The Uses and Abuses of Nominal Group Technique in Polytechnic Course Evaluation. Studies in Higher Education, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/03075078412331378834
Macphail, A. (2001). Nominal group technique: A useful method for working with young people. British Educational Research Journal, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/01411920120037117
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia. (2016). Environmental Impact Assessment guideline in Malaysia. Department of Environment, Malaysia.
Muogahlu, N., & Ahmad, A. Bin. (2023). Redesigning Technical Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Economic Development in Nigeria. Journal of Vocational Education Studies, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.12928/joves.v6i1.8021
Mustapha, R., Ibrahim, N., Mahmud, M., Jaafar, A. B., Wan Ahmad, W. A., & Mohamad, N. H. (2022). Brainstorming the Students Mental Health after Covid-19 Outbreak and How to Curb from Islamic Perspectives: Nominal Group Technique Analysis Approach. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v12-i2/12367
Nurulrabihah Mat Noh. (2020). Pembangunan Model Pengajaran Pemikiran Reka Bentuk Sekolah Rendah Nurulrabihah Bt Mat Noh Fakulti Pendidikan. 348.
O’Neil, M. J., & Jackson, L. (1983). Nominal Group Technique: A process for initiating curriculum development in higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/03075078312331378994
Raffi, M. L. M., Hussain, M. A. M., Ab Malik, Z., Arshad, Z. M., Idris, N., Samsudin, N., Munusamy, I., Muis, A. M. S. A., Kamaruddin, N. J., & Jeyaram, S. (2025). Analisis kebolehgunaan sistem pengurusan persidangan, IPACSYS: Aplikasi NGT diubahsuai dengan Instrumen Soal Selidik SUS. EDUCATUM Journal of Social Sciences, 11(1), 28–40.
Ruggeri, D. (2019). The studio as an arena for democratic landscape change. In The Routledge Handbook of Teaching Landscape. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351212953-9
S.Muthuveeran, A. A., Mohd Tahir, O., Ibrahim, R., & Mohd Noor, M. Z. (2020). Risk management challenges in Malaysia’s Landscape Architecture project. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 5(14), 179–186. https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5i14.2162
Sakumoning, R., & Masnan, A. H. (2024). Analisis keperluan terhadap pembagunan modul nyanyian membentuk tingkah laku kanak-kanak. EDUCATUM Journal of Social Sciences, 10(2), 49–56.
Yunos, J. M., Sern, L. C., & Hamdan, N. H. (2019). Criteria for sustainable curriculum of TVET teacher education programme in Malaysia. Journal of Technical Education and Training, 11(3), 49–54.
Zahari, Z., Abdullah, N., & Hanapi, M. H. M. (2024). Development of nursery rhyme module in essay writing for level two students in primary school: A needs analysis. EDUCATUM Journal of Social Sciences, 10(1), 109–117.
Zhou, M. (2020). Role of contemporary landscape architecture in public spaces in terms of shaping architectural education and recreation - Selected examples from China. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 960(3). https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/960/3/032030
Zulkifli, N., Hamzah, M. I., & Abdul Razak, K. (2023). Aplikasi Teknik Modified Ngt Dalam Penilaian Model Pengajaran Kreatif Pensyarah Pendidikan Islam Politeknik. Asian People Journal (APJ), 6(2), 47–59. https://doi.org/10.37231/apj.2023.6.2.440
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nurul Hidayah Mohd Ali, Ridzwan Che' Rus, Azlin Iryani Mohd Noor
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
