PBL PLUS: a student-driven innovation in biology education for sustainable and real-world problem solving

This study introduces PBL PLUS, an enhanced Problem-Based Learning approach designed to strengthen engagement, critical thinking, scientific communication, and real-world problem- solving in biology education. Unlike conventional PBL, which commonly uses predefined scenarios, PBL PLUS allows students to identify and investigate their own research problems within broad environmental themes such as wildlife conservation, plant diversity, and river ecosystem health. Implemented in a foundation-level biology course with a large student cohort, the approach required students to produce research-based posters, extended abstracts, and oral presentations, later compiled into an academic bulletin. Based on student feedback, a highly positive response was observed with 65.1% strongly agreeing and 29.3% agreeing that PBL PLUS improved their understanding of course topics. The findings suggest that PBL PLUS supports meaningful learning by connecting biological concepts with real environmental issues while promoting sustainability awareness in line with SDG-oriented education. Overall, PBL PLUS offers a flexible and scalable model for student-centred biology education and real-world problem solving.