Nearby Pocket Settings for Social Learning on Tropical Universities Campuses

Abstract— Nearby pockets on university campuses, known as nearby pocket settings, have become essential for enhancing the academic experience by encouraging casual social learning activities. However, universities in tropical countries, such as Malaysian public universities, predominantly emphasize formal indoor learning, neglecting informal social education that aligns with modern academic goals. Therefore, this study seeks to identify the design factors influencing students' social learning experiences in nearby pocket settings on university campuses in a tropical context. Data were collected through a survey involving 408 participants from three public universities in a tropical region in Malaysia. The findings revealed a variety of factors impacting students' social learning experiences on tropical campuses pocket settings, including design elements (such as softscape elements, furniture, and sensory elements), environmental conditions (temperature, rainfall, sunlight, and shade), access (proximity and accessibility), and noise levels. Additionally, demographics like gender, education level, and university also played a role in shaping students' experiences in university campuses in tropical region. This study provides valuable insights for designing campus environments in tropical universities, especially in Malaysia, to incorporate pocket settings that foster social interaction and enhance sustainable academic social learning experiences. Keywords: design factors, informal learning spaces, on-campus pocket settings, Malaysian universities, social learning, tropical campuses.