Meeting talent demands in building sector
THE Malaysia Economic Performance First Quarter 2021 report by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) stated that Malaysia’s economy registered a smaller decline of 0.5 per cent in the first quarter compared with the 3.4 per cent contraction in the preceding quarter.
The construction sector fell by 10.4 per cent year on year in the first quarter, improving from the 13.9 per cent contraction in the first quarter.
This may be attributed to the revival of major infrastructure projects, along with affordable housing projects, and much more.
Despite the disruption to the construction industry in Malaysia, brighter days are ahead with the Malaysian Government’s recently announced plans to boost the industry towards recovery, coupled with proactive measures to immunise workers in the sector.
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia’s Associate Head of School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS) Professor Satesh Narayana said: “The initiatives announced by the Government and proactive measures by industry players to protect their workers through the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme will expedite Malaysia’s economic recovery. This will lead to a creation of an abundance of jobs over the next few years, which would, in turn, create a high demand for graduates in the built environment arena, including quantity surveying and civil engineering.”
In addition, technology adoption will also catalyse the construction industry to employ
high-skilled talent that will help industry players move towards automation, mechanisation, and industrialised building systems with the aim of developing buildings that are safe, sustainable, environmentally friendly, and affordable.
“As soon as society normalises, one of the first industries to hit high gear will be the built environment, as development and progress need to continue,” added Professor Satesh.
“Therefore, in two to three years, anyone with a buildingrelated degree will be highly sought after as we continue our journey towards achieving the status of a fully developed country.”
Towards this, Heriot-Watt University is committed to developing graduates who are FutureMade – shaped for tomorrow’s work and equipped with the right abilities accompanied by the capacity to navigate the intricacies for the future of work.
Heriot-Watt graduates are highly employable and sought after by top global employers, with over 90 per cent in graduate-level jobs or further study within six months of graduation.
This is due to the University’s presence in 143 countries, and its high-quality British education with global study opportunities, which pave the way for worldclass teaching, and practical, leading-edge research.
Heriot-Watt University is ranked third (3rd) for building, and ninth (9th) for town and country planning landscape design in the UK, according to the 2021 Complete University Guide.In the 2021,The Times and The Sunday Times’ Good University Guide, Heriot-Watt remains first (1st) in Scotland for six consecutive years and second (2nd) in the UK for building.
BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying student,Komalah Selvamuthu Raja , speaks highly of the University’s quality of education: “It is the only international university in Malaysia offering a Quantity Surveying degree.
The BSc Real Estate programme offered by Henley in Malaysia carries the distinction of being one of the very few programmes with professional recognition in Malaysia (with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers Malaysia), the UK (with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and Singapore (with the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers).
In our School of the Built Environment, the BSc Quantity Surveying has a long and wellestablished track-record.
The School is ranked #3 in the UK for ‘Building’ in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021.
The BSc QS programme in Malaysia benefits from quad-accreditation and is recognised by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM) and the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS).
PAQS accreditation includes recognition from over 10 further professional bodies covering countries such as Australia, China, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand.
This makes the programme one of the most widely-accredited and offers a clear advantage to those with aspirations of developing an international career.
The Malaysia campus also offers a BSc Psychology and BSc Psychology with Professional Placement, both of which are accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
This year, the school celebrates 100 years of teaching and research in psychology and related disciplines at the University.
Studying psychology provides multiple career options. While some graduates pursue further study and training to become professional psychologists, many successfully find employment in related disciplines. Major employers of psychology graduates include, but are not limited to, hospitals, clinics, educational institutions, human resources departments, marketing and sales, social services, consultancy firms and advertising and media agencies.
The Malaysia campus of the University of Reading is the only international branch campus to offer a 3-year law degree which can be completed entirely in Malaysia.
The Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) is the same as that offered on the Reading UK campus.
Successful pursuit of the law degree at the Malaysia campus will qualify our graduates to pursue the Bar training course recognised by the Bar Standards Board UK with a view to qualifying as a barrister; or qualifies our graduates to pursue the Legal Practice Course ‘LPC’, with a view to qualifying as a solicitor by the Solicitors Regulation Authority UK.
Finally, students have ample opportunity to develop their soft skills in addition to academic skills, such as the ability to solve problems, think creatively, work in teams and communicate effectively.
These are all skills that employers value which are often missing in fresh graduates.
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