91��ý

From 31 March to 12 April 2026, six second-year Master's students from the Tourism programme (7М11101) at the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, 91��ý Kazakh National University, undertook a research internship at the Department of Recreation and Ecotourism, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The internship was made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between KazNU and UPM in 2026.

The participating students were:

• Abubakir Aruzhan Nurlankyzy
• Zaminova Zhuldyz Askarkyzy
• Sugirbay Aruzhan Manapkyzy
• Ussenova Akzhan Ayanovna
• Kartanova Inkar Yeszhankyzy
• Kurmanbek Saltanat Zhanabekkyzy

The programme, designed by the Malaysian side, comprised three thematic modules: sustainable tourism, ecotourism, and recreation ecology and resource management. Each module combined lectures, practical sessions, and fieldwork.

The sustainable tourism module was led by Dr. Nor Akmar Abdul Aziz and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shazali Johari, who delivered lectures and group activities. The students then visited Putrajaya, where they examined urban sustainable tourism practices at sites including the Tangga Putrajaya Steps, Taman Saujana Hijau, and the Putrajaya Botanical Garden.

The ecotourism module was taught by Dr. Evelyn Lim Ai Lin and Dr. Sheena Bidin. The students took part in a river cruise along Sungai Timun in Negeri Sembilan, observing local wildlife and learning about community-based ecotourism. Later that day, they visited the historic city of Melaka, where they explored its cultural heritage.

For the recreation ecology module, Gs. Dr. Azita Ahmad Zawawi and Dr. Zamru bin Ajuhari led fieldwork in Kota Damansara (Selangor) and at UPM's Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve research station (SISFEC). The students carried out a condition assessment of a 1.3 km recreational trail, recording various forms of human impact such as erosion, trail widening, and root exposure. Each student produced an individual field report based on their findings.

Throughout the programme, every student was assigned a personal research supervisor from UPM's academic staff. During individual consultations, students discussed their field results as well as their Master's dissertation topics and future research directions.

The internship concluded with final presentations in which the students shared their findings from all three modules, followed by a certificate ceremony.

On the UPM side, the programme was organised by Ts. Dr. Mohd Hafizal Ismail, Head of the Department of Recreation and Ecotourism, and coordinated by Dr. Noor Jalilah Jumaat. Academic supervisors and lecturers included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Suriawati Isa, Dr. Sam Shor Nahar Yaakob, Dr. Zulkhairi Azizi Zainal Abidin, Dr. Mohd Aswad Ramlan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shazali Johari, Dr. Nor Akmar Abdul Aziz, Dr. Evelyn Lim Ai Lin, Dr. Sheena Bidin, Gs. Dr. Azita Ahmad Zawawi, and Dr. Zamru bin Ajuhari.

The internship was conducted within the framework of the partnership between the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences at 91��ý KazNU and the Faculty of Forestry and Environment at UPM.