MIRI: Civil and Construction Engineering students of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) need only step out of their classrooms for a practical learning experience on a real construction site.
That is because there is ongoing construction for two new campus buildings; a two-storey Engineering Research Laboratory and single storey cafeteria just across the road from the Faculty of Engineering and Science building.
There they can get a first-hand experience of managing construction projects and gain valuable insights into various aspects of construction engineering.
The idea to involve the students in the projects came from Curtin Malaysia’s chief operating officer Pieter Willem Pottas who was of the view that they are reasonably large projects and presented a perfect opportunity for students to get practical experience right on campus.
Sharing his views was head of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Associate Professor Muhammad Ekhlasur Rahman, who said Curtin’s engineering curriculum is very practical-oriented and industry-focused and such experiences complement the students’ theoretical studies in class.
“The aim is to enhance the student experience and give them a well-rounded education,” said Associate Professor Ekhlasur, adding that his department regularly organises study tours and site visits for students to locations both in East Malaysia and Peninsular Malaysia throughout the four-year honours programme.
Pottas said the buildings being built on campus, including an almost completed Curtin Trading Room facility for online stock market training for business students, are designed to be iconic campus landmarks and are being built using some new and innovative construction techniques.
“Thus, it is good that the students can witness the construction right from the foundation works,” he said.
With the support of the contractors and Associate Professor Muhammad and his staff, the students have been donning their safety gear and visiting the sites regularly to observe construction work in progress.
They also spent considerable time studying the structural drawings for the two buildings to get a better understanding of the projects.
At the sites, they were briefed on the survey works and shown the markings indicating the pile points according to the structural drawings.
They were also shown typical precast reinforced concrete piles and learned the correct methods of handling and stockpiling the piles on site.
For a more hands-on experience, they performed an overall check of the piles to ensure their soundness before the piling began, and continued to record piling data on actual piling record sheets as piling progressed.
In addition, they observed how extensions for precast reinforced concrete piles are installed to achieve the required total pile depth.
Further campus expansion projects at Curtin Malaysia include a Centre for Digital Centre for Excellence, four-storey student accommodation block, and new rugby pitch.
Its RM63 million Pilot Plant Facility, owned and developed by the Sarawak State Government and operated by Curtin Malaysia, is due to be officially opened later this year.
