ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
Outdoor environment campuses are essential for promoting spatial needs for the equitable use of students with different abilities in campus life. Since January 2025, UPM has had 63 disabled students, with 80% living on campus. However, a 49% increase in the number of these students over the three years indicates the need for a reassessment of the physical built environment surrounding the campus, especially in their residential colleges. This research will evaluate the requirements for ease of access in residential colleges with study cases Kolej Sepuluh (K-10) and Kolej Sultan Alaeddin Suleiman Shah (KOSASS), in accordance with the selected items of the Guidelines and Standards in Malaysia related to the outdoor environment as well as established design features. The results from the study identified that both residential colleges have not entirely fulfilled the standards of universal design in the outdoor environment in terms of connectivity and that the passageways have seamless routes for all within the building and from one building to another. From the 14 items of the universal design standard requirement, fifty-two (52) checkpoints were identified in both colleges. Seven (7) checkpoints require reconsideration regarding the provision of facilities, and five (5) checkpoints require refinement that leads to disconnected of travelling routes. As a way forward, the results of this research will contribute to developing a comprehensive model of evaluation for outdoor environmental design features in campus life.
Dinc Uyaroglu, I. (2021). A Performance Evaluation Tool for Inclusiveness in University Campus Outdoor Spaces. MEGARON, 16(2), 197–211. https://doi.org/10.14744/MEGARON.2021.35336
Nuratirah, S., Mohd Nasir, C., Nashatah, N., Ahmad, Z., Aziz, S., Mohamad, J., Huda, N., & Razali, M. (2024). Design Guideline: Education Building for Handicapped People Towards Healthy Environment. In Journal of the Malaysian Institute of Planners VOLUME (Vol. 22).
Prandi, C., Barricelli, B. R., Mirri, S., & Fogli, D. (2021). Accessible Wayfinding And Navigation: A Systematic Mapping Study. Universal Access in the Information Society. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-021-00843-x
Qhairuxy, M., Bin Ghadzlie, S., Seifi, M., & Wong, C. S. (2024). Evaluating The Walkability Of Old Town In Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia, Through The Assessment Of Pedestrian Walkway Quality. In Journal of the Malaysian Institute of Planners VOLUME (Vol. 22).
Rahim, A. A., Zen, I., Samad, N. A. A., & Rahim, C. R. C. (2014). Universal design and accessibility: Towards Sustainable Built Environment In Malaysia. Assistive Technology Research Series, 35, 299–306. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-403-9-299
Ramli, M. R., Mansor, N., Ja’afar, M. F. Z., Hassan, M. M., & Ramli, I. (2023). Systematic Review on The Integration of Universal Design in Architectural Outdoor Environments of Higher Educational Institutions. Idealogy Journal. https://doi.org/10.24191/idealogy.v8i2.425
Rangga, F., Nangkula, U., & Nazlina, S. (2020). Evaluation Of Universal Design Requirements Application In Public Mosques In Bandung. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine
Tinklin, T., & Hall, J. (1999). Getting Round Obstacles: Disabled students’ experiences in higher education in Scotland. Studies in Higher Education, 24(2), 183–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079912331379878
Utaberta, N., & Niya, A. (2018). The Evaluation Of Universal Design And Accessibility For People With Disabilities In Masjid Putra By Using Malaysian Standard Of Ms 1184:2014, “Universal Design And Accessibility In The Built Environment-Code Of Practice.” In International Journal for Studies on Children, Women, Elderly And Disabled (Vol. 4).
Ramli, M. R., Mansor, N., Ja’afar, M. F. Z., & Hassan, M. M. (2025). Evaluation of Universal Design on Outdoor Environmental Design Features in HEI Residential Colleges. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(1), 229–237.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode