Bathing stray cats or caring for the elderly has nothing to do with engineering but for mechanical engineering students at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), it is a prerequisite for graduating.
This is because the students have to take on the subject ‘Engineer and Society’, which hopes to inculcate the practice of social responsibility among future professionals.
Bulan Abdullah, who teaches the subject, said UiTM Shah Alam mechanical engineering students have to be involved in volunteer programmes as a way of learning how to communicate with society.
“In this subject of ‘Engineer and Society’, we need non-engineering elements. This subject broadens the students’ perspectives and brings them closer to the community in need," she said.
In this subject, the final year mechanical engineering students have to participate in a programme called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
As many as 19 students per group were tasked to come up with a CSR programme according to the theme assigned by the lecturer.
“Themes like animal shelter, disabled centre and helping the elderly were the themes that were suggested,” Bulan said.
Malaysiakini joined the students as they undertook their volunteer activity at the animal shelter Sollu Shelter, in Klang, Selangor, on Oct 31.
The name of the programme was ‘Give Me Four’ and it required the volunteers to clean the cages, the cats’ roaming areas, bathe the felines, feed them and also play with them.
“This programme can help society and make them more aware of animals in need.
"It can also improve their relationship with the community as we are acting responsibly to create a better environment for the community," said programme leader and student Muhammad Farid Haziq Abdul Hami, 23.
Mechanical engineering students were not the only ones involved in the programme last month. They also recruited students from other courses and members of the public to participate.
Farid hopes the programme will garner positive feedback and will continue to operate.
“I hope it will make our community more aware of animals in need and how they require a lot of love and support from us, especially those animals that are beloved by Prophet Muhammad SAW.
“It also helps to foster a sense of respect for these little creatures. Also, I urge the community to adopt street cats, rather than buy cats at a pet store,” he said.
A volunteer, Mhd Khusairi Abdul Razak (photo), expressed his sympathy towards the street cats.
“If you see a street cat that is in need or hungry, you don’t have to kick them. Even if you just let them be, it is better (than hurting them)... Just don’t torture them,” said the Bangi native.
Bulan hopes such activities can train the future engineers to become more humane, including in their future professions.
“I hope that the engineering students will not only focus on their course, but will be multiskilled in various aspects of their lives,” said the lecturer. - Mkini
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