Curtin Malaysia and UiTM civil and construction engineering experts meet to discuss joint research

Miri – 27 June 2022 – Staff of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) and the School of Civil Engineering at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam recently met to discuss joint civil and construction engineering-related research between the two universities.

The meeting was held as part of a visit by Head of UiTM’s School of Civil Engineering Assoc. Prof. Che Khairil Izam Bin Che Ibrahim and senior lecturer Shafienaz Ismail, accompanied by Deputy Director of the Department of Safety and Health (DOSH) Azman bin Hussain, to Curtin Malaysia.

Representing Curtin Malaysia at the meeting were Head of Department of Civil and Construction Engineering Assoc. Prof. Wong Kwong Soon, Construction Management Programme Coordinator Ir. Meheron Selowara Joo; Health, Safety and Environment Programme Coordinator Dr. Lee Yeong Huei, and civil and construction engineering lecturer Dr. Nurul Noraziemah Mohd Pauzi.

The proposed joint research will be in the area of health and safety in construction management under the topic ‘Implementation of Prevention through Design (PtD) in Education’.

During the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Che Khairil Izam and Shafienaz gave a presentation on their research on PtD, which are effective practices for resolving occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges in the construction industry. According to them, possessing relevant competencies in PtD practice enable designers to contribute towards improved OSH performance in construction management.

Curtin Malaysia and UiTM civil and construction engineering experts meet to discuss joint research – page 2

However, in Malaysia, the attributes of competence in PtD practice are far from advanced, particularly in terms of skills and experience, and more attention needs to be given to its implementation. This includes a variety of theoretical and practical initiatives, from developing an education framework and syllabus to advancing the cognitive, affective and psycho-motor aspects of the attributes.

Assoc. Prof. Wong said the meeting was a very fruitful one with considerable exchange of research ideas and proposals for future research collaborations.

“Given the vast knowledge and experience of both universities in civil and construction engineering, there is much scope for collaboration between us, particularly in the area of PtD. It is a very exciting and crucial aspect of construction management and we look forward to initiating our joint research in the not-too-distant future,” he said.

 Information on Curtin Malaysia can be found on its website at www.curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or Tik-Tok.

The meeting of UiTM and Curtin Malaysia civil and construction engineering experts.

(L-R) Azman Hussain, Dr Lee Yeong Huei, Assoc Prof Wong Kwong Soon, Assoc Prof Che Khairil Izam Che Ibrahim, Ir Meheron Selowara Joo, Dr Nurul Noraziemah Mohd Pauzi, Shafienaz Ismail.