Curtin Malaysia academic receives prestigious award for outstanding contribution to student learning

Miri – 13 July 2023 – Associate Professor Dr. Wong Kwong Soon of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) was recently honoured with Curtin University’s Learning & Teaching Team Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning in 2022.

The Learning & Teaching Team Citation is a distinguished award that recognises educators who have made remarkable contributions to student learning outcomes. It acknowledges the efforts of individuals or teams who have displayed exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication to advancing education and enhancing the student experience.

Dr. Wong’s achievement stemmed from his work in spearheading the ‘Integrated Structural Design and Construction Challenge Cup Team’ project, which was a capstone unit where undergraduate civil engineering students at Curtin Malaysia and Curtin Colombo in Sri Lanka collaborated with civil engineering students and a master’s in architecture student at Curtin’s main campus in Perth on a joint entry to the prestigious international built environment competition, Fleetwood Challenge Cup.

The Curtin Perth students worked on the architectural design for the modular construction project, while the Curtin Malaysia and Curtin Colombo students designed the structural aspects.

The Fleetwood Challenge Cup is a team challenge designed to discover the next generation of young built environment design professionals that will help to propel the industry into an innovative future. Each year, select universities are invited to participate, with aspiring students from each university representing the Architectural, Engineering, Construction Management (AEC) and other AEC design streams to form collaborative and cross-disciplinary teams of between four to six students.

In commending Dr. Wong on his achievement, Dean of Learning and Teaching Professor Tang Fu Ee remarked that the Integrated Structural Design and Construction Challenge Cup team led by Dr. Wong has revolutionised the way students from Malaysia and Perth collaborate on a capstone unit.

“This exceptional initiative has brought together aspiring engineers from two Curtin campuses to create a cross-cultural and dynamic learning experience. By establishing effective cross-border collaboration, students are empowered to exchange ideas, foster cultural understanding, and develop a global perspective,” he said.

According to Dr. Wong, the Curtin Malaysia students had the opportunity to apply their knowledge in structural design, working together with the architecture students in Perth to craft a very innovative modular construction project. It was their first experience working in an international environment and they demonstrated exemplary teamwork, innovation, and creativity, resulting in outstanding project that will be a strong contender in the competition.

“It was a valuable opportunity for them to learn and understand the overall process of the design and construction of a project. They also learned about new technologies in modular construction, and raised their awareness of net zero construction through precast and modular construction,” said Dr. Wong.

Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Simon Leunig also congratulated Dr. Wong, saying, “Dr. Wong’s passion for advancing the boundaries of engineering education is commendable. Recognising the significance of teamwork in the professional world, he fostered collaboration among students from diverse backgrounds. His inclusive teaching approach has enabled students to enhance their critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, preparing them to thrive in a globalised workforce.”

“It is a well-deserved win for Dr. Wong. I believe that his longstanding dedication to transforming the traditional classroom into an immersive and collaborative learning environment, more than just the Challenge Cup Team project, earned him the recognition,”  Prof. Leunig added.

“His efforts have garnered industry recognition and enhanced the learning experience for countless students under his guidance. Dr. Wong’s commitment to excellence in teaching and impactful research sets him apart as a leading educator in his field.”

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Associate Professor Dr Wong Kwong Soon