MIRI: Twenty-three civil and construction engineering and environmental engineering undergraduates from Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) visited the LAKU Lambir Water Treatment Plant near here as part of their ‘Environmental Principles and Design’ and ‘Water Quality and Resource Engineering’ education.
Accompanying them on the recent study tour were lecturers Dr Tan Yee Yong, Dr Daniel Tang Kuok Ho and Carrie Ho Lee Ing.
The objective of the visit to the plant, which is owned and operated by LAKU Management Sdn Bhd, was to observe the water treatment process and gain a better understanding of the design, planning and supervision of environmental and civil engineering projects.
Civil and construction engineering student Sabrina Ha Chian Huey said it was an interesting and fun tour as she gained considerable technical knowledge on water treatment processes.
Fellow civil and construction engineering student Aung Thu Nyein agreed, saying that it allowed the students to enhance their understanding on how raw water was treated.
Meanwhile, environmental engineering students Awa Soo Hooi and Mohamed Bassam said getting a first-hand look into how a water treatment plant worked, including the structure and chemicals used, would help students make improvements in their water treatment plant design projects.
Dr Tan, who is the coordinator for the environmental engineering programme at Curtin Malaysia, said such collaboration with the university’s industry partners and visits to their sites greatly enriched the students’ learning experience.
Department of Civil and Construction Engineering head Associate Professor Muhammad Ekhlasur Rahman also emphasised the importance of extending teaching beyond the classroom.
