Two undergraduate students, Ryan Chok Anak Wat and Mohammad Hafizuddin Abd. Rahman, from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, UTM were selected to receive the Kumpulan Arkitek Scholarship Award (KASA) on 30th August 2010. Both students are in their final year study at present. The scholarship is generously offered by Kumpulan Akitek Sdn. Bhd., a prestigious architectural firm based in Kuala Lumpur.
An undergraduate student from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, UTM, Nur Ayunni Adnan, is joining a Student Exchange Program between UTM and Hanyang University in South Korea. The 6-month program which started from 27th August 2010 is funded under the Graduate Marketability Program 2010 by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia.
Nur Ayunni, who is among the pioneer group to receive the grant, is determined to gain as much knowledge and experience as possible particularly in architecture field during her stay overseas. UTM’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and Internationalization), Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd. Azraai Kassim is very supportive of the program and hopes that more UTM graduates will be selected to join such international exchange programs to expose them to the global, borderless world. Other graduate internationalization programs under plan by UTM include the Internship Abroad, One Semester Study Abroad and International Service Learning programs.
In conjunction with the celebration of the holy month, Ramadan, on 13th August 2010, the Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, UTM held its 2010 Iftar, successfully organized in collaboration with EARTH society. The Iftar was held to also inculcate the spirit of togetherness among the students and the landscape staff within the department and landscape community. The event started at 6.45 pm whereby all guests were gathered at Block B11 Gallery Hall. While waiting to break fast, Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Zin bin Kandar delivered a short ‘tazkirah’ regarding “Fasting and Ramadan”.
The Break Fast was initiated at 7.19 pm when all guests were served dates and ‘bubur lambuk’ (porridge) before the main course which is the awaited dish, Mak Jah’s Nasi Briyani, from Kempas. All students and Iftar’s Committee members worked hand in hand in making this event successful. The brisk but interesting event provided an insight regarding Malaysian culture and Muslim events for the international students. The delicious food and the events went smoothly as planned. After the break fast event came to an end, the men performed the Magrib’s prayer and the event ended at 8.30 pm.
Venue: Teluk Gorek, Penyabong, Johor Darul Takzim
Date: 29-31 July 2010
Theme: Indigenous
On 29-31 July 2010, the Department of Landscape Architecture from Faculty of Built Environment UTM with the cooperation of EARTH society hosted the 5th ESCAPE 2010 at Teluk Gorek, Endau, Johor Darul Takzim. All first year students and the seniors from second until final year participated in the 3 days 2 nights event.
The Head of Landscape Department, Associate Professor Dr. Ismail Said, launched the opening ceremony with a brief and interesting introduction especially for the first year students. The activities held on the first day were “Ice Breaking” whereby the first year students were required to introduce themselves and they were given a warm welcome by the whole department. On the second day, “Aerobic” as well as ‘pocho-pocho’ dances invigorated the morning session and the other activities held there after were “Heartscape” and “Naturescape” whereby all the participating teams working spirit and creativities were put to test. Fun and laughter filled the air when the students were required to present their artworks in a showcase. After the delightful lunch (white rice + salted fish + variety of ulams) the heart stomping event of ” Explorescape” was launched. Lecturers and students had to race against time in completing one task performing station upon another meaning exploring the whole bay. The events ended when team number nine declared their victory. “Sportscape” was cancelled due to the utter exhaustion but was replaced by a more awaited and refreshing activity, that was, swimming in the sea.
The night event was interesting when two senior students who did their industrial training in Shanghai happily shared their overseas experience with the rest of the department. The highlight of the night was “ Culturescape” when again every group was tested on their ability to work creatively in coming out with a performance within a short time given. The lecturers did not disappoint the students when their representative, Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Sarofil Abu Bakar performed a singing duet that night with an international student, Pan Mae Bao. Later, the lecturers staged a short entertaining drama portraying “Kasim Selamat”. The activities continued through the night even after midnight. The barbeque session was late and the lecturers were worn out with the day’s events. The students were left to enjoy the rest of the night.
No “Aerobics” was performed the final morning because all students were worn out from staying up late for the barbeque. The final day ended with the students’ questions and answers session, prize giving and closing ceremony. Quick clean-up chores were done around the site before a photo session took place by the beach. Due to a technical error the students and lecturers departed almost two hours late from the event venue and reached UTM at 6.00pm. In all, ESCAPE 2010 was successful and very memorable as the students had fun while gaining knowledge in this event.
On 20th May 2010, a group of students and staff from Fakultas Teknik, Departemen Pendidikan Nasional, Universitas Diponegoro has visited the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The group which consists of 61 students and 2 lecturers met with students and lecturers from the department for cultural exchanges and academic presentations. Universitas Dipenegoro presented on their studio project which relates to revitalisation of a residential area while students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia presented on their studio project which encompasses on Iskandar Malaysia Development Plan Review. The presentations were followed by discussions on both side on the differences in approaches and planning perspectives in their respective countries. The students from Universitas Diponegoro also performed cultural performances after the presentations. Earlier, they had visited the campus including the Sultanah Zanariah Library, the Sultan Ibrahim Chancellery Building, Student Union Building, Tropical Garden and other places along with UTM students. The program closed with a luncheon before they departed to Putrajaya to continue their academic visit in Malaysia.
The Bachelor of Quantity Surveying (Hons) and Bachelor of Science in Construction (Hons) run by the Department of Quantity Surveying were re-accredited for the term 2009 – 2013. Associate Prof. Sr. Dr. Fadhlin Abdullah on behalf of the Dean received the Certificate of Accreditation from Mr. Max Crofts, the President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in the ceremony held at the Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur on June 17th, 2010. Also present during the ceremony were RICS Malaysia Vice Chairman, Sr. Kwan Hock Chai, Associate Prof. Sr. Dr. Hjh Wan Maimun Wan Abdullah (ISM President) and UTM representative, Associate Prof. Sr. Dr. Maizon Hashim, Dr. Kherun Nita Ali and Mr. Zuhaili Mohamad Ramly.
During the ceremony, two of the second year students from the department, Miss Nur Farah Farhana Rasid and Mr. Chong Choon Kiat, received the Book Price Award while Miss Tan Fang Fang received the Best Paper Award for the 2nd International Surveying Conference for Undergraduates 2010 held at UTM on March 12th, 2010. Both recognition by the international organization such as RICS would contribute to the process of the internationalization of UTM as a ‘Research University’ and hopefully further enhance the perception of the public towards the programs offered by the department.
