Curtin engineering students take their learning to MCCGT site

Miri – 17 April 2024 – In an effort to introduce students to soil consolidation using prefabricated vertical drains in real-world construction engineering, the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering and Curtin Civil Society of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) organised a visit for engineering students to the construction site of the Miri Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (MCCGT) project in Lutong where clearing and earthwork is being carried out.

Some 35 students from the Civil and Construction Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Construction Management, and Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) programmes at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science joined the visit.

Accompanying them on the visit were Associate Professor Ir. Wong Kwong Soon, Head of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering; Civil and Construction Engineering lecturer Dr. Haider Hamad Ghaye; and Dr. Tan Yin Ling, Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of Environmental Engineering.

According to Associate Professor Ir. Wong, the visit was especially relevant to the Civil and Construction engineering students who are studying units in Geotechnical Design and Construction. It was also beneficial to the Construction Management and Health, Safety and Environment students who got to learn about other aspects of the project that were relevant to their courses.

“Besides introducing the students to soil consolidation using prefabricated vertical drains and other applications of construction engineering, the students also learned about the environmental, project management, quantity surveying, and safety aspects of project,” he remarked.

The site visit began with a safety briefing and a briefing on the project by Ir. Thomas Ling Kiong from construction contractor Advancecon (Sarawak) Sdn. Bhd., who is an Industrial Advisory Panel (IAP) member for Civil and Construction Engineering at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science and a Curtin Malaysia alumnus. This was followed by a tour of the site led by the site engineers and works inspector.

Associate Professor Ir. Wong emphasised the importance of site visits towards student learning, stating, “Besides providing opportunities to strengthen their understanding of engineering concepts learned in the classroom, exposure to real-world applications during site visits will motivate students to learn more, to be better equipped for their future careers. Learning from a Curtin alumnus like Ir. Ling, who has extensive experience in the field, can also be an inspiration for them.”

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Ir Ling briefing the students.

Site engineers engaging in discussion with the students.

Associate Professor Ir Wong (left) presenting souvenir to a representative of the site engineers and works inspector.

The students and lecturers posing for group photo with the site engineers and works inspector.