Department of Nature Parks and Recreation
Established on 1 st September 2012, the Department of Nature Parks and Recreation was formerly known as the Department of Recreation and Ecotourism. The Department began offering the Bachelor of Parks and Recreation Science program since 2011/2012 as it aspires to produce graduates who are professionally ethical and competent in leading and planning programs in the field of nature parks and recreation.
The academic staffs in the Department specialize in various fields including Recreation Ecology, Recreation Programming, Recreation Entrepreneurship, Outdoor Recreation Skills, Parks Administration, Parks Planning and Designing, Environmental Interpretation, Recreation Leadership, Therapeutic Recreation, Wilderness Risk Management, Recreation Economy and Ecotourism. The expertise available in the Department will strengthen and enhance the academic programs offered in the Faculty of Forestry and Environment, specifically and Universiti Putra Malaysia, as a whole.
The Department’s establishment is in line with the country’s aspiration in developing the tourism industry towards steering the country’s economy parallel to the principles of sustainable tourism. Ecotourism being one of the 11 sectors listed under the country’s National Key Economic Areas is set to increase the demand for professional work force in the tourism industry, specifically nature-based tourism. The Department is planning to offer the Master of Ecotourism program that offers courses based on the principles of ecotourism. The courses and programs offered here are able to spearhead the forestry and ecotourism industry, in line with UPM status as the leading institution in forestry and ecotourism in Malaysia.
The Department supports and encourages student involvements in activities and organizations by providing the resources needed for academic development. Students of the BSTR Program are active in the award-winning Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Coaching Club (K3 Club) where students are directly involved in all aspects of activity planning and leadership. This encourages the formation of positive student personalities and instils a sense of responsibility to the community.
The academic staffs in the Department specialize in various fields including Recreation Ecology, Recreation Programming, Recreation Entrepreneurship, Outdoor Recreation Skills, Parks Administration, Parks Planning and Designing, Environmental Interpretation, Recreation Leadership, Therapeutic Recreation, Wilderness Risk Management, Recreation Economy and Ecotourism. The expertise available in the Department will strengthen and enhance the academic programs offered in the Faculty of Forestry and Environment, specifically and Universiti Putra Malaysia, as a whole.
The Department’s establishment is in line with the country’s aspiration in developing the tourism industry towards steering the country’s economy parallel to the principles of sustainable tourism. Ecotourism being one of the 11 sectors listed under the country’s National Key Economic Areas is set to increase the demand for professional work force in the tourism industry, specifically nature-based tourism. The Department is planning to offer the Master of Ecotourism program that offers courses based on the principles of ecotourism. The courses and programs offered here are able to spearhead the forestry and ecotourism industry, in line with UPM status as the leading institution in forestry and ecotourism in Malaysia.
The Department supports and encourages student involvements in activities and organizations by providing the resources needed for academic development. Students of the BSTR Program are active in the award-winning Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Coaching Club (K3 Club) where students are directly involved in all aspects of activity planning and leadership. This encourages the formation of positive student personalities and instils a sense of responsibility to the community.
Figure 1. Experiential learning through practical work to Lembah Jemaloi, Negeri Sembilan for outdoor recreation skills.
Figure 2. Students doing risk assessments on adventure recreation activity by experiencing it.
Figure 3. Student conducting water based activity to targeted participant as part of practical learning in handling programming recreation course
Figure 4. Student learning about the relationship between heritage and ecotourism at Royal Belum
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| Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia | ||||||||||||||||
 | @forenvupm |  | @forenvupmi |  | 603-9769 7171 |  | https://forenv.upm.edu.my |  | dean.forenv@upm.edu.my | |||||||