Guest speakers impart knowledge to construction management students at Curtin Malaysia

Miri – 12 July 2023 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently hosted a hybrid seminar where two prominent guest speakers from industry imparted their knowledge to its Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons.) in Construction Management students.

The speakers, Ts. Sr. Dr. Zakaria Mohammad Yusof of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Associate Professor Sr. Dr. Saipol Bari bin Abd Karim of Universiti Malaya (UM), shared on two areas critical to the built environment – quantity surveying and value management.

The aim of Ts. Sr. Dr. Zakaria’s talk titled ‘The Role of Quantity Surveyors in Project Management’ was to  enhance the students’ understanding of the multifaceted roles and responsibilities of quantity surveyors. Through the talk, they learned that the role of quantity surveyors went beyond quantity measurement, cost estimating and contract management to include broader responsibilities such as project management.

Ts. Sr. Dr. Zakaria has served in various roles at UTM for over 30 years. He holds a Diploma in Quantity Surveying from UTM and a Master of Science in Construction from Loughborough University of Technology, United Kingdom. He completed his PhD in Technical and Vocational Education (PTV) at UTM Skudai, and was formerly Director of Lifelong Learning at UTM’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (UTMSPACE).

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Sr. Dr. Saipol Bari’s talk was titled ‘New Perspectives and Ideas through the Rapid Adoption of Value Management – The Malaysia Experience’. He emphasised that value management is increasingly important to construction projects and the built environment, particularly now that it has been mandated by the Malaysian Government where is mandatory to implement value management in projects worth more than RM50 million.

He added that value management has also been gaining prominence globally for some time, thus there is a growing demand for such expertise internationally, and he urged the students to consider careers in the field.

Assoc. Prof. Sr. Dr. Saipol Bari is a Consultant Quantity Surveyor (CQS) registered with the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM). He is currently Deputy Dean of Student Affairs at the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya. He is also Educational Development Director of the Institute of Value Management Malaysia (IVMM).

Curtin University has made significant changes to its Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) in Construction Management course of late in response to the evolving industry demands, particularly in relation to Industry 4.0 (IR 4.0); Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG); and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The four-year honours course has been offered at Curtin Malaysia since 2018, and has proven to be one of the most popular courses both at Curtin Malaysia and Curtin’s main campus in Perth. To shore up its popularity and ensure its relevance in the construction industry, the course’s structure was redesigned this year to incorporate digitalisation and sustainability elements.

Another key change to the course is the introduction of a specialisation in Quantity Surveying. This new specialisation not only aligns with industry demands for quantity surveying expertise but also equips students with specialised knowledge and skills to excel in a variety of roles within the construction industry.

The management-oriented degree course is designed in collaboration with Curtin’s industry partners in Australia and Malaysia, and the course taught at Curtin Malaysia has been largely contextualised for Malaysian industry. It is furthermore accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM), increasing its recognition and value in the local construction industry.

In the course, students learn construction technologies, quantity measurement, project planning and management, strategy and financial management, contract administration, construction law, cost estimating, planning and management, and communication skills.

The degree can lead to careers in a wide variety of industries including building and construction, local government, infrastructure, mining, and oil and gas, as construction managers, contract administrators, project managers, property developers, building surveyors, building contractors, estimators and quantity surveyors, to name a few.

In addition to the Bachelor of Applied Science in Construction Management, Curtin Malaysia  also offers a range of postgraduate courses in Project Management for those eager to acquire or take their project management skills to the next level. They include a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, and Master of Science in Project Management.

For more information on the Bachelor of Applied Science in Construction Management and Project Management courses, visit courses.curtin.edu.my, or enquire online at futurestudents.curtin.edu.my/enquiry/.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

Ts Sr Dr Zakaria giving his online talk on quantity surveying roles in project management

Assoc Prof Sr Dr Saipol Bari speaking on new perspectives and ideas from the rapid adoption of value management in Malaysia