By, Adibah Amir
In conjunction with Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN 2025, the ASEAN Universities Exhibition and Forum 2025 (AEF2025) organised an educational activity for university students from ASEAN member countries. As part of this initiative, IIUM proudly hosted the ASEAN Student Mobility Programme Familiarization Visit on the 20th of February 2025.
One of the highlights of the program was a visit to IIUM’s distinctive Stingless Bee Sanctuary, a feature of the university’s edutourism offerings. During the visit, members of Kelulut Research Group hosted around 40 university students from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and other ASEAN nations. Students experienced firsthand the process of harvesting and tasting pure stingless bee honey freshly harvested directly from the hives.
The students were captivated by the sanctuary’s location on Rectory Hill, a serene site within IIUM’s campus. Although IIUM is situated in KL, its proximity to tropical forests has created an ideal environment for rare stingless bee species such as Tetragonula apicalis and Tetragonula bighami to thrive.
The sanctuary serves not only as a conservation site but also as an educational platform, allowing students and visitors to gain insights into the ecological significance of stingless bees. These bees play a crucial role as pollinators, supporting plant biodiversity and enhancing food security. IIUM’s initiative aligns with efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and environmental awareness.
The visit offered an educational insight into sustainable beekeeping practices but also demonstrated IIUM’s commitment to promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism within an urban academic setting. Participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to explore this hidden gem and learn about the ecological significance of stingless bees in Southeast Asia.
This successful visit reflects IIUM’s dedication to fostering educational exchange, environmental stewardship, and regional collaboration as part of the broader ASEAN 2025 agenda.
Ts. Mohd Yazid briefing participants.
A participant tried his hand at harvesting honey from the hive.
Participants captured photos of their newfound experience.
Participants took turns harvesting honey at Rectors’ Hill.
Downstream products from stingless bee honey.
(These are the views of Dr. Adibah Amir, affiliated with the Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, Kulliyyah of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia which do not represent IIUM Today’s.)
