MIRI: The Civil and Construction Engineering programme at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) is dedicated to producing graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the construction industry.
Students in this programme have been learning about steel and concrete design through a variety of engaging and informative activities.
Organised by the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at its Faculty of Engineering and Science and the Curtin Civil Society, its student-run academic club for civil and construction engineering students, the activities were carried out over several weeks.
As site visits are a key part of this learning experience, the students visited the Aquaculture Research Centre being built at the Curtin Malaysia campus under the guidance of lecturers Dr Tina Ting and Dr Lee Yeong Huei.
Construction of the Aquaculture Research Centre which began in 2022, involves the use of reinforced concrete and steel structures.
“This is very closely related to the Steel Design and Integrated Structural Design unit the Civil and Construction Engineering students are studying. It exposed them to the fundamentals of structural design and real-world applications of construction engineering,” said Ting.
The site visits typically began with technical briefings by Curtin Malaysia’s Safety officer Pou Wai Yee, followed by briefings on construction technologies used, as well the design aspects, practical considerations and construction methodology, followed by a physical tour of the site.
Lee said that by visiting construction sites and observing the application of theories and principles in real-world settings, students can gain a deeper understanding of the material they are studying. Such visits also provide opportunities for students to meet professionals in the industry and ask questions.
Another component of the activities was a guest lecture delivered online by Curtin Malaysia alumnus Ling Teck Ping, who is a design engineer with civil and structural engineering consultancy firm Perunding Rekamaju Sdn Bhd.
Ling’s lecture entitled ‘Wind Action and Buildings: The Fundamentals and Fibre Reinforced Concrete’ highlighted wind loading, which is an important part for structural designs involving concrete and steel.
It also provided the students with insights into the latest developments in the field and allowed them to learn from an industry expert with years of practical experience.
To further develop their communication and presentation skills, the students were asked to deliver oral presentations on their steel and concrete design projects to examiner Ir. Chong Boon Hui, Chairlady of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Miri Branch and a Curtin Malaysia alumnus.
Ir. Chong gave the students invaluable feedback on the design and construction aspects of their projects and how they could be improved upon.
Head of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Associate Professor Ir. Wong Kwong Soon, said not only do these presentations help students consolidate their knowledge, but they also give them the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and concise manner.
He added that the combination of site visits, guest lecture and oral presentations has provided Curtin Malaysia’s Civil and Construction Engineering students with a well-rounded education in the design of steel and concrete structures. By learning from both academic and practical sources, these students are set to become industry-ready graduates.
Curtin Malaysia offers Curtin’s Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Construction Engineering, which equips students with the knowledge and skills to apply scientific and technological principles to the design and construction of various types of infrastructure. It is a four-year honours course double-accredited by Engineers Australia (EA) and the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM).
For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit www.curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or Tik-Tok.
