Curtin students visit engineering projects in Kuching
MIRI: Curtin University Malaysia environmental engineering and civil and construction engineering students visited key engineering projects and infrastructure in Kuching recently.
A press release said among the places the 30 students visited were the Kuching Barrage and Shiplock, Kuching Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant, and the Gala City construction site in Stampin.
At the Kuching Barrage and Shiplock, they learned about the barrage’s history, operations and maintenance, and how it is used in flood management.
They also got to see the shiplock in action, watching how river traffic on the Sarawak River navigate the lock.
At the Kuching Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant, students were briefed on the network, which operates using a gravity flow system.
While touring the plant facilities, they observed the overall wastewater treatment process and how eff luent from the treatment is discharged into constructed wetlands before being released into the Sarawak River.
“By observing its operations first- hand, I gained a much clearer understanding of the entire wastewater treatment process,” said environmental engineering student Lee Kek Kin.
At the Gala City construction site, students learned about the different architectural and structural requirements for an integrated commercial and residential development by the developer’s site staff and design consultants.
They were shown the street mall, shophouses and apartments, as well as the underground retention pond as the site is in a flood-prone area.
“I discovered that there can be many solutions to a design problem; it’s a matter of fi nding one that suits the purpose,” said final-year civil and construction engineering student Ron Malvina from the Seychelles.
Curtin Faculty of Engineering and Science Department of Civil and Construction Engineering head Assoc Prof Muhammad Ekhlasur Rahman said student learning at the university is not limited to classrooms and lecture theatres.
“Field trips and industry visits are regularly organised so students can gain exposure to industry practice and connect theories taught in the classroom to real-life applications,” he said.
Curtin Malaysia offers the Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering ( Honours), which equips students with integrated knowledge of multiple engineering fields such as chemical engineering, civil engineering, and construction engineering.
By observing its operations firsthand, I gained a much clearer understanding of the entire wastewater treatment process.
It also offers the Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Construction Engineering (Honours), a comprehensive combination of civil engineering and construction engineering.
Both courses are for four years and include the Engineering First Year ( EFY) in the first year, which helps students build a solid base of the fundamental concepts common to all areas of engineering.
“Both courses are professional and practically- orientated courses designed with extensive input from industry players, and job opportunities abound in both fields, both in Malaysia and overseas,” said Muhammad.
He added both qualifications also offer high job mobility and are highly prized by graduates and respected by professional engineers.
For more information, visit www. curtin.edu.my.
Lee Kek Kin, environmental engineering student