Unpacking place-based narratives: enhancing campus community participation in watershed conservation

Siti Norasiah, Abd. Kadir, MacBride-Stewart, Sara ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1562-9536 and Mohamad, Zeeda Fatimah 2024. Unpacking place-based narratives: enhancing campus community participation in watershed conservation. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 25 (8) , pp. 1787-1802. 10.1108/IJSHE-05-2023-0209

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Abstract

Purpose – The study aims to identify the evoked ‘sense of place’ that the campus community attributes to a watershed area in a Malaysian higher institution, aiming to enhance their participation in watershed conservation. Central to this objective is the incorporation of the concept of a watershed as a place, serving as the conceptual framework for analysis. Design/methodology/approach – This case study explores an urban lake at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia's oldest higher institution. It utilises diverse qualitative data, including document analysis, semi-structured interviews, vox-pop interviews, and a co-production workshop, to generate place-based narratives reflecting the meanings and values that staff and students associate with the watershed. Thematic analysis is then applied for further examination. Findings – The data patterns reveal shared sense of place responses on: 1. Campus as a historic place, 2. Student, staff, and campus identity, 3. In-place learning experiences, and 4. Interweaving of community wellbeing and watershed health. Recommendations advocate translating these narratives into campus sustainability communication through empirical findings and continuous co-production of knowledge and strategies with the campus community. Practical implications – The research findings play a critical role in influencing sustainable campus planning and community inclusion by integrating place-based frameworks into sustainable development and watershed management. The study recommends the process of identifying place-based narratives with implications for the development of sustainability communication in a campus environment. Originality/value – This paper contributes both conceptually and empirically to the sustainable management of a campus watershed area through place-based thinking. It outlines a process for enhancing campus sustainability communication strategies. Keywords Sense of place, Campus sustainability, Sustainability communication, Higher education, Watershed conservation, Malaysia Paper type Research paper

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	Emerald
ISSN:	1467-6370
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	7 March 2024
Date of Acceptance:	1 February 2024
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2024 13:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/167001

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