Varsity plans mountaineering school to boost safer hiking

 UPSI vice-chancellor Amin Taff said short courses and academic programmes would be offered with the aim also to reduce the number of mountain-related incidents that have occurred frequently in recent years.

A hiker missing on Gunung Batu Putih, Perak, left a message scrawled in the ground saying she had reached the summit, a guide said yesterday. (PFMG pic)

IPOH:

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris is planning to establish a mountaineering school to help stimulate the hiking industry while minimising incidents in mountainous areas.

UPSI vice-chancellor Amin Taff said the idea for such a school emerged from discussions with the president of the Malaysian Mountain Guides Association and the fire and rescue department, who highlighted the need for a training and research centre focused on hiking and mountain-related activities.

Amin Taff.

He said the initiative was also in response to a call by higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir for universities to be attentive to societal issues and serve as centres for lifelong learning.

The announcement comes days after a 19-year-old hiker, Nur Izzati Humaira Azizul, was found dead four days after she went missing in Bukit Changkat Asa in Hulu Bernam, Selangor. Another hiker, Jaslinda Saludin, 49, is still missing after climbing Gunung Batu Putih near Tapah, Perak.

UPSI’s mountaineering school will be open to Malaysian and international students. Its primary objective is to provide exposure in hiking, research and mountain rescue,” Amin said in a statement to Bernama today.

Amin said the aim was also to reduce the number of mountain-related incidents that have occurred frequently in recent years, with its two main areas of focus being skills development and research.

In line with the concept of lifelong learning, the school will offer a variety of courses related to mountaineering and hiking, including research skills, rescue operations, environmental ethics, the socio-economic aspects of hiking, event management and more.

“The courses to be offered will range from short-term programmes and professional certificates to academic qualifications such as diplomas, degrees and even doctorate programmes,” he said.

Amin said the school will be managed by the Faculty of Sports Science and Coaching and the Adventure Leadership & Outdoor Recreation Academy of UPSI.

He added that the school will work closely with various government agencies, including the ministry of higher education, the ministry of youth and sports, the fire and rescue department, the forestry department and the wildlife and national parks department.

The Malaysian Mountain Guides Association, Forestry Mountain Guides and various international organisations such as Outward Bound, National Outdoor Leadership School and Bradford Woods would also be involved. - FMT