Published:
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) is a partner in a new collaboration to recycle old computers and make them available to underserved communities in the country.
We want to emphasise among students as well as staff members the importance of recycling and reusing.
Launched by Humanitarian organisation SOLS 24/7 Malaysia, Transform It! is the result of a tripartite collaboration between computer hardware company HP, HWUM and student not-for-profit body AIESEC SU (International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences) at HWUM. Its aim is to get people to donate their old computers to reuse, refurbish and recycle them for free, with the goal of making technology accessible to all Malaysians.
Tim Spijker, chief operating officer of SOLS 24/7 Malaysia welcomed the campaign, "Technology and IT education are not just about machines or devices. They are about people and opportunities."
At the same time, students and staff of HWUM who give their old devices at the drop-off points will earn discounts from HP for purchasing new computers and laptops.
HWUM Provost and CEO, Professor Robert Craik, said, "Transform It! is very much in line with the University's aspirations to be a truly green campus that other organisations can take lessons from. We want to emphasise among students as well as staff members the importance of recycling and reusing."
Stacy Primus Liew, Specialized Unit president of AIESEC in Heriot-Watt University, said they were honoured to be part of this programme, which has brought new opportunities to improve quality of life to underprivileged communities. "We are here with Transform It! looking forward to making positive impacts beyond the mere donation of computers."
The driver of the Transform It! campaign, SOLS Tech, has refurbished and donated nearly 5,000 devices all around Malaysia and has had an impacted more than 4,000 people from communities in need.