Miri – 2 November 2020 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently with PCSS Consultancy Sdn. Bhd., a Sarawak-based project management solutions provider, for collaboration in academic development, student and staff advancement and project management-related research.

Signing for Curtin Malaysia was Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan on behalf of Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Simon Leunig, who participated via live link from Perth; while Professional Services Director Andy Tiong Meng Jun signed for PCSS Consultancy.

Also present was PCSS Consultancy’s Senior Sales & Operation Support Afreda Aleng, Principal Solutions Architect Mohamad Khairun Ishak and Sales Consultant Watson Brandah.

Others representing Curtin Malaysia were Chief Operating Officer Ir. Pieter Willem Pottas, Dean of Faculty of Engineering & Science Professor Tuong Thuy Vu, Senior Lecturer in Civil and Construction Engineering Dr. Wong Kwong Soon, Civil and Construction Engineering Programme Coordinator Ir. Meheron Selowara Joo and Marketing and Communications Manager Nicholas Leong.

In his opening speech, Professor Leunig remarked that as Curtin University’s largest global campus committed to excellence and innovation in teaching and research, Curtin Malaysia is pleased to enter into long-term collaboration with a leading project management solutions provider such as PCSS Consultancy.

Professor Leunig outlined that the MoU facilitates partnership and collaboration in seven key areas that will be beneficial to both parties: student placements and internships, staff development, alumni engagement, joint research and development, student sponsorship, project management course development, and student development.

“This MoU will facilitate significant collaboration that will be of great benefit to our organisations, allow us to explore further long-term opportunities, share experiences and create a knowledge exchange path between us, and most importantly, provide opportunities and career pathways for our students,” he said.

On the joint development of training or developmental programmes for PCSS Consultancy staff, including the undertaking of postgraduate programmes at Curtin Malaysia, Professor Leunig said that with its strengths in education, using modern technology-rich facilities and applying the latest learning and teaching pedagogies, Curtin Malaysia is well placed to support such an endeavour.

Similarly, its strengths in research and development (R&D), its excellent research facilities, including new ones being developed, will put it in good stead when it comes to proposed joint efforts in R&D.

In his speech, Tiong said PCSS Consultancy helps organisations realise greater profits through the implementation of project management best practice solutions. He said that as a Sarawak-based company, PCSS Consultancy is keen to partner with others in Sarawak to advance the state’s manpower development and digital economy.

It is with this in mind that the company is entering into a collaboration with Curtin Malaysia, which includes providing internship opportunities for its students, training of students and staff on use of PCSS Consultancy’s Primavera and Synchro 4D BIM software, as well as the development of project management courses for construction management and civil engineering, and support towards research projects related to project management.

In addition, he said PCSS Consultancy and Curtin Malaysia will jointly promote the use of modern digital tools and software for digitalisation in the construction industry in Sarawak.

“As a Sarawakian, I believe it is a good initiative to bring such technology back to Sarawak and I am glad Curtin Malaysia shares our vision to advance the construction industry in Sarawak,” Tiong remarked.

He said that is one reason he returned to Sarawak to introduce the project management integration system in the state 15 years ago. According to him, the construction industry in Sarawak had been lagging behind in the use of new technology for many years, despite huge technological advances globally, but that has now changed.

“In some ways, the current global pandemic is a blessing in disguise. It has made a lot of people realise the benefits of technology, including digital technology for the construction industry. I really look forward to our close collaboration over the next couple of years, to build a better construction industry in Sarawak,” he said.

Tiong added that, in addition to advancing knowledge and skills in digitalisation in the construction industry, especially in terms of project management, PCSS Consultancy is now extending its expertise to higher education institutions like Curtin Malaysia for teaching and research.

Meanwhile, Dr. Wong, who initiated the collaboration, suggested the collaboration could include PCSS Consultancy working closely with the Curtin Highway Infrastructure Research and Innovation (CHIRI) research hub and the Department Civil and Construction Engineering at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science to advance knowledge and skills for digitalisation in the construction industry, especially in relation to project management.

Miri – 9 January 2020 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently signed a software agreement with Cadline Network Limited in Budapest, Hungary, for sponsorship of ARCHLine.XP software developed by the company to Curtin Malaysia.

ARCHLine.XP, a professional architectural design software for BIM (Building Information Modelling), will be used for teaching and learning activities for Civil and Construction Engineering and Construction Management students of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science.

Representing Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski, Senior Lecturer Dr. Wong Kwong Soon of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering received 35 ARCHLine.XP education licences from Arthur Gan, Director of Computer Graphic Network, the local representative of Cadline Network Limited.

Gan also conducted an ARCHLine.XP introductory session for staff and students of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering.

BIM, an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure, has been integrated into the curriculum of Curtin’s Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Construction Engineering, especially in the unit related to drawing and surveying and the course’s integrated design project.

Dr. Wong commented that the introduction of BIM in the curriculum is timely as BIM is the latest game changer as a technology solution, and like any new technology, there is a great need for skilled manpower in this area. Naturally, young students of construction disciplines across the globe are interested in making a career out of it.

“For our civil and construction engineering graduates, mastery of BIM can be of great advantage as the AEC industry is going through a major transformation where BIM experts will be needed to lead, manage and cope with the transformation,” said Dr. Wong.

Curtin Malaysia recently hosted its inaugural 1^st Borneo Building Information Modelling (BIM) Symposium from 6 to 7 December 2019. Jointly organised by the university’s Curtin Highway Infrastructure Research and Innovation hub (CHIRI), Department Civil and Construction Engineering and student-run Curtin Civil Society (CCS) of Curtin Malaysia, the symposium brought together engineers, quantity surveyors, architects, researchers and academics to share and discuss their experiences in BIM and using building information in design and construction.

Curtin Malaysia offers Curtin University’s four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) in Civil and Construction Engineering which is a comprehensive combination of civil engineering and construction engineering. It is a professional and practically-orientated course that has extensive support and collaboration from industry players and is highly prized by graduates and respected by professional engineers.

It also offers a four-year Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons.) in Construction Management which is a management-oriented degree that prepares students for a range of professional roles in the building and infrastructure construction industry and is taught by a dedicated team of professionals with qualifications and experience in various construction-related disciplines.

Miri – 4 December 2019 – A delegation led by the organising chairperson of the upcoming 1^st Borneo Building Information Modelling (BIM) Symposium in Miri, Dr. Wong Kwong Soon, paid a courtesy visit on the mayor of Miri, Adam Yii Siew Sang recently.

Dr. Wong, who is a senior lecturer of civil and construction engineering at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), said the purpose of the visit was to update the mayor on preparations for the conference to be held at the university campus on 6 and 7 December 2019, as well as brief him on BIM and its use in the construction and post-construction of buildings and infrastructures.

The mayor said he appreciated the update and encouraged engineers, architects and quantity surveyors, including those in the Miri City Council, to join the symposium.

Jointly organised by the Curtin Highway Infrastructure Research and Innovation hub (CHIRI), Department Civil and Construction Engineering and student-run Curtin Civil Society (CCS) of Curtin Malaysia, the symposium is aimed at bringing together engineers, quantity surveyors, architects, researchers and academics to share and discuss their experiences in BIM.

Highlights of the symposium will include keynote speeches, workshops and case studies by experts from the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and industry practitioners from software company Bentley Systems and integrated project management consultancy solutions provider PCSS Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. There will also be oral presentations by academics and engineers on the latest developments in BIM both nationally and globally.

Participants in the symposium will receive 7.5 CPD points from the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), 6 CPD points from the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM) and 2 CPD points from the Board of Architects Malaysia (BAM), in addition to 20 CCD points from the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB).

To prepare the participants for the symposium, a pre-symposium BIM proficiency training session, jointly organised with CIDB and covering the concept and theory of BIM, will be held at Curtin Malaysia on 5 December 2019. All those who participate in the workshop will obtain 15 CCD points from CIDB.

Dr Wong (3rd left) and other organising committee members with Mayor Yii (5th left).

CIDB and Curtin Malaysia collaborating to organise BIM Proficiency Training in December

Miri – 29 October 2019 – The Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Curtin Highway Infrastructure Research and Innovation Hub (CHIRI) and Curtin Civil Society (CCS) of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) will be co-hosting a ‘CIDB BIM Proficiency Training: BIM Concept & Theory’ training course with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) on 5 December 2019.

The course, which will be held at the Faculty of Engineering and Science building at Curtin Malaysia, will be an ideal opportunity for architects, engineers, contractors, surveyors and others in this region to learn about Building Information Modelling (BIM) concept and theory.

BIM is modelling technology and an associated set of processes to produce, communicate and analyse information throughout construction project life cycles.

The course will also serve as a prelude training course for those intending to attend the 1^st Borneo Building Information Modelling (BIM) Symposium 2019 to be held at Curtin Malaysia from 6 to 7 December 2019. Participants of the course will receive certificates of attendance from BIM training provider myBIM Malaysia. They will also receive 15 CCD (Continuous Contractor Development) points for participating in the course.

Rofizlan Ahmad, Sharifuddin Umar and Azra Fakhiera Samsuddin of CIDB E-Construct Services Sdn. Bhd. (CIDBEC), the information technology and communications arm of CIDB, and Che Ahmad ‘Isyai Che Ahmad, Manager of the CIDB office in Miri, visited Curtin Malaysia recently to discuss the organising of the training course.

Hosting them was 1^st Borneo Building Information Modelling (BIM) Symposium 2019 organising chairman Dr. Wong Kwong Soon and organising committee members Ir. Meheron Selowara Joo, Dr. Vera Loo and Dr. Sharon Yee Jia Huey, as well as Associate Dean, Research and Development Professor Ramasamy Nagarajan; Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching Associate Professor Tang Fu Ee; and Head of the Department of Civil & Construction Engineering Associate Professor Muhammad Ekhlasur Rahman.

It was agreed that CIDB and Curtin Malaysia will work together to promote the training course, and to encourage Curtin Malaysia’s students to gain more knowledge in BIM, they would be afforded a special rate to attend.

During their visit, the visitors were taken on a tour of the facilities in Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science building, including its modern distributed learning and collaborative learning rooms, and the lecture theatre that will be used for the training course.

Those who wish more information on the training course and 1^st Borneo Building Information Modelling (BIM) Symposium 2019 can visit the symposium website at https://borneobimsymposium.curtin.edu.my/ or email the symposium secretariat at bimsecretariat@curtin.edu.my.

The symposium, which will be the first of its kind to be held in the region, is aimed at bringing together industry practitioners, engineers, researchers and academics to share and discuss their experiences in building information modelling and using building information in design and construction.

Dr Wong presenting souvenirs to Rofizlan, Sharifuddin and Azra Fakhiera of CIDBEC.