By: Noor Eszereen Juferi
Photo: Marina Ismail
SERDANG, May 28 – For the first time, the eDU-PARK, Putra Science Park (PSP) Division of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) held a eDU-PARK 1.0 carnival, featuring many interesting activities for children and adults alike.
The Director of UPM PSP, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Samsilah Roslan said the carnival helped to promote and expose the university’s edu-tourism programmes to the public.
“The main attraction at this carnival is that visitors are able to enjoy and gain beautiful insights of the farms which are never opened to the public on normal days,” he said.
The carnival was launched by Deputy Director-General of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Datin Paduka Ir. Dr. Siti Hamisah Tapsir and UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris was among those present.
The carnival’s main activity - Farm Exploration Adventure Biking @ UPM or Kembara Berbasikal was participated by children as young as five years old and adults.
A participant of the programme, Rafidah Md Tahir, 42, said what was interesting about the programme was that cyclists had the opportunity to cycle around UPM Putra Diary Farm in groups where they had to stop at five check points and finish their activities and assignments before they could proceed to another station.
“I am attracted to the concept of bicycle rental at UPM where you only have to give away four aluminum cans or 8 plastic bottles before you could get a bicycle as this, indirectly, helps to encourage recycling among the public,” she said.
Other interesting activities outlined for the carnival were Farm Exploration Adventure Biking @ UPM, where visitors could come close and touch tame animals such as cows, deer and horses, exhibitions at Muzium Warisan Melayu, Serdang Gallery, Conservatory Park, Human Anatomy Museum, cooking demonstration by a chef from UPM L'Apprenti Restaurant, sale of agriculture produce and other UPM products, food trucks as well as lucky draw.
Meanwhile, with the cooperation of Dakwah Orang Asli, some 40 Orang Asli children from Kampung Ulu Batu, Hulu Yam, had the opportunity to come and visit the university. The visit was aimed at giving these children the chance to feel for themselves and get the experience of studying at university as this, indirectly, helped to expose them to tertiary education at higher learning institutions.
The eDU-PARK programme which started in June 2013 is recognized by the Tourism Malaysia, Higher Education Ministry’s NBOS and the Tourism Ministry.
This programme promotes learning through experience, with each visiting module encompasses an integrated and interactive visit to suit with the tagline - Play, Learn and Stay Young. This programme is also in line with STEM’s aspiration to bring the society closer to the field of science and Technology through recreational activities and means. – UPM.
