GEORGETOWN, PENANG, 11 April 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has been honoured to host the 4th National E-sports Tournament, called USM CGSS X Tzu Chi PaGamO Environmental Education E-sports World Cup IV Malaysia Finals 2025.

The tournament was organised by the Environmental Protection & Education Hub (EPEHub), USM Centre for Global Sustainability Studies (CGSS), in a strategic collaboration with Tzu Chi Malaysia, Swisspac Resources Sdn. Bhd., and the Green Educators' Workgroup (GREW).

Themed "Environmental Protection and Disaster Prevention," the tournament was held on 16 March 2025 at the USM Dewan Utama Peperiksaan (DUP) in Penang.

The main goal of this tournament is to raise awareness on the importance of environmental sustainability through innovative and interactive learning methods, in line with technological developments in the world of education and via an alternative method that is becoming increasingly important to promote education through e-sports.

Encouraging Nationwide Participation from Primary and Secondary Students

The tournament received a very encouraging response, with the participation of primary and secondary school students from various states including Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Melaka and Johor.

Penang was chosen as the main location for the tournament, while the competition was also held virtually in Melaka and Johor to ensure a wider participation from all over the country.

The welcoming speech was given by the Coordinator of EPEHub@CGSS, Associate Professor Dr. Ng Theam Foo.

In his speech, he emphasised on having the spirit of collaboration and partnerships among all parties that would bring success in the organisation of this meaningful event.

He also applauded the sponsors and more so the parents, who encouraged their children to engage and participate in this PaGamO E-sports Malaysia Final 2025.

The opening ceremony was officiated by the Director of CGSS, Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Wira Mohd Shafiei, who represented the USM Vice-Chancellor.

He emphasised on the importance of cultivating the interest among the younger generation, especially in primary and secondary schools, in learning and increasing their knowledge and practice regarding environmental protection on carbon emission reduction and sustainable lifestyles.

Also present at the ceremony were several guests of honour who played an important role in making the tournament a success, including Deputy Executive Officer of Yayasan Tzu Chi Malaysia, Song Boon Kah; Commissioner of Yayasan Tzu Chi Malaysia (Penang), Dato' Khoo Boo Leong, D.S.P.N; GREW representative, Khaw Chiew Hong; Green Ambassador advisor, Dr. Mohd Sukri Shafie; EPEHub, CGSS officials as well as Honorary CGSS academician, Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Sayuti Hassan.

A total of 179 participants from 22 schools participated in the competition physically, including 150 secondary school students, 29 primary school students and 28 adults.

Among the 28 adults, 21 were USM students, further demonstrating the university's involvement in sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, 127 participants joined the competition online, with 50 students from Johor (one secondary school) and 77 students from Melaka (15 primary schools and 13 secondary schools).

After going through an intense round of gaming and competing to be the best among the participants, in the closing ceremony, Dr. Mohd Sukri Shafie announced that the top 60 best participants will represent Malaysia at the international level on 13 April 2025 at Tzu Chi Education Centre in Georgetown, Penang.

This is an achievement to be proud of, in proving that the younger generation is increasingly ready to become leaders in the effort to preserve the environment through digital and innovative approaches.

Among the top 60 best, 50 participants were in Category B (secondary & above) and 10 participants were in Category A (primary school).

They will later compete against representatives from Taiwan and Thailand in the international final tournament.

Among the top 50 category B winners, Lee Yen Fei and Wong Sze Keith will represent USM in the international final, demonstrating their excellence in environmental strategy gaming.

The participants showed the dedication to sustainability and emphasised the importance of innovative learning platforms in environmental education.

The event attracted enthusiastic participation, highlighting how e-sports can be a powerful tool for increasing environmental awareness.

As climate issues become more pressing, initiatives like this should continue to inspire students to be proactive in building a more sustainable future.

Increasing Participation with the Bahasa Malaysia Version

The 5th National Level Championship of USM CGSS X Tzu Chi PaGamO E-Sports World Cup Environmental Education will introduce a version of the game in Bahasa Malaysia.

This edition is expected to expand the participation of school students nationwide, as well as to ensure that more students can understand and appreciate the importance of environmental sustainability through more user-friendly technology.

With this special edition, Malaysian participants can choose their native language when answering in-game questions, making environmental education more accessible and inclusive.

Objectives Met: Combining Environmental Education with Digital Technology as Interactive Learning Tools

Overall, the 4th National Tournament of USM CGSS X Tzu Chi PaGamO Environmental Education E-Sports World Cup IV 2025 successfully achieved its objective of combining environmental education and digital technology as interactive learning tools.

The tournament not only fosters awareness of environmental sustainability among the younger generation, but also serves as a platform to produce future leaders who are more responsible for environmental care.

With continued support from various parties as well as growing participation, the tournament has the potential to grow into an even bigger and more high-impact annual event in the future and marking another milestone in the effort to spread awareness about environmental sustainability.

Source Text & Photos: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ng Theam Foo, Nareshh Kumar A/L Sri Ganesh & Syafiq Saifullah Azmi, CGSS USM/Editing: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin & Tan Ewe Hoe