< Previous18 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #123 From the Desk of Tan Sri Sufri Haji Mhd Zin MBAM President How time flies that we are now in the year 2022. I hope that MBAM members will continue to stay safe and healthy. For this year, I hope that all members will continue to partake in the myriad of events organised by MBAM. To extend construction operating hours to increase productivity The construction industry welcomes the Selangor state government’s decision on 1 November 2021 to standardise the operating hours for construction sites within the state from 8am to 6pm on Mondays to Saturdays. Although the construction industry in Selangor was allowed to resume full operations since 18 October 2021 in line with the National Recovery Plan (NRP) Phase 4, most construction sites are keeping busy to max out their operations capacity to catch up with the time lost to ensure projects can be completed within the stipulated time in contracts. However, contractors are still finding it strenuous to keep up with all the delayed construction works within a limited timeframe. Therefore, MBAM would like to suggest to the Selangor state government to consider extending the construction operating hours to 7am until 7pm on Mondays to Fridays. This is because with the new normal, the daily procedures to scan for temperature and check-ins with MySejahtera before workers are allowed entry to sites are taking up a substantial amount of time. Towards the end of each working day, construction sites would also need to spend a fair amount of time to do housekeeping to ensure the safety of sites are being kept in check. MBAM also hopes that other state governments would consider the same implementation. With the standardisation to extend construction operating hours, it would allow the industry to be able to close in on better productivity. International Construction Transformation Conference (ICTC) 2021 – Forum 1 I would like to thank the Organising Committee of the International Construction Week (ICW) 2021 organised by Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB) for inviting me to be part of the ICTC Forum 1 that took place virtually on 9 November 2021. The theme title for the forum ‘How Construction Can Emerge Stronger after Corona Virus’ is timely to discuss how the industry can move forward in the year to come. With most sites now reopened, the focus has shifted towards how to operate again under the new normal. So, what is next? How can we cope with the disruption and uncertainty? It is my hope that all companies are diligently implementing COVID-19 safety procedures to keep sites safe and healthy. This has been priority number one. I hope that the Malaysian construction industry will be back stronger and better. Rehabilitated ex-convicts a source of quick labour A ready supply of workers is actually available within our midst; a group overlooked for obvious reasons. Here, I am talking about the pool of ex-convicts who have been rehabilitated. These inmates had received vocational training while serving their prison terms and were largely unable to secure jobs. Employers were worried about hiring them. The government’s initiative The Second Chances and Opportunities for People to Excel (SCOPE) programme to provide skill development training for former convicts is a laudable move. MBAM is glad to support the proposal to allow ex-convict’s records accessible only at the ministry level and the Immigration and Customs Departments and not to employers. Another pool of potential human resources is from the corps of retired armed forces veterans, some of whom are only in their 30s and 40s. They have specialised vocational skills that can be put to good use. My personal experience of hiring 25 ex-convicts in my construction firm has helped to reduce the dependency on foreign workers. Happy reading and stay safe! Yours sincerely, Tan Sri Sufri Haji Mhd Zin PSM, SSAP, DPTJ MBAM President “ I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy New Year! I hope 2022 will be a better year for our industry heading towards the road of recovery. ”photo: David McArthur, Parallax Photography PERI scaffolding technology and services for building construction, civil engineering and industrial construction engineering: PERI engineers the world over are working hard to provide you with efficient and cost-effective solutions for falsework, working scaffold, safety scaffold and access applications. Over 160 storage facilities and sales offices are tasked with ensuring material availability and delivery reliability on a global scale. Formwork Scaffolding Engineering www.perimalaysia.com PERI Scaffolding Solutions Worldwide You can safely rely on PERI Best services for our customer20 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #123 Cover Feature The MBAM Route to Success21 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #123 MBAM has been providing financial assistance to students for the past 17 years and continues to do so today. How has the MBAM scholarship impacted the lives of its recipients? What are some other ways the association can help undergraduates beyond the ongoing financial aid? Beneficiaries of the MBAM scholarship fund, now professionals working in their respective construction-related fields, share their experience and suggestions as well as advice to undergraduates majoring in construction-related fields. Cover Feature S ince 2004, MBAM has been awarding scholarships to assist deserving students so they may pursue their dream careers in the construction industry. To date, about RM3.1 million has been awarded to 163 recipients. This year, the scholarships awarded totalled RM165,000.00, which included a special award by council and affiliate members for a very poor student to further his tertiary education. In an ongoing effort to serve the construction industry better, MBAM probed deeper into the needs, challenges, aspirations and viewpoints of the younger generation looking to step foot into and ultimately succeed in their profession of choice in the construction industry. The following are the questions MBAM posed to ten beneficiaries of the MBAM scholarship fund. 1. Can you describe how the MBAM scholarship has helped you with your studies? 2. What advice would you like to give to undergraduates majoring in construction-related fields, especially to MBAM scholarship recipients? events. MBAM also helped me secure an internship placement at one of the MBAM member companies, providing me with relevant industry experience despite the limitations caused by the COVID-19 lockdown. My advice to undergraduates and MBAM scholarship recipients majoring in construction-related fields is to be open to learning whenever an opportunity arises. Do also participate actively in university activities that will enhance one’s leadership and management abilities, for instance, including oneself as a committee member of an activity, as it is especially relevant for interpersonal development. The knowledge obtained during our studies will only serve as a foundation to extrapolate further training in the industry, thus one must have a lifelong learning mindset. Also, never neglect your health. Remember to consistently exercise as it keeps your mind sharp and ready for critical thinking. MBAM, in my opinion, plays a decisive role by laying out the stage for construction industry players of all trades, from individuals to listed 3. In your opinion, how can MBAM help the undergraduates apart from providing them with scholarships? 4. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you and what did you do to overcome the challenges? 5. Finally, how do you see yourself in the next ten years? Do you see yourself giving back to society through MBAM? Goh Wang Siang Project Engineer, Mitrajaya Holdings Berhad Study major: Civil Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sabah Graduation year: 2021 The foremost benefit of being granted the MBAM scholarship for me is the alleviation of the financial burden on my family. On top of that, MBAM served as a platform for me to expand my network, allowing me the opportunity to meet peers as well as prominent individuals. It also gave me the opportunity to participate in talks, seminars and workshops MBAM actively organised, which later expanded to virtual Goh Wang SiangMohd Farhan Bin Mohammad Din Afiqah Othman Sureen Kumar A/L Subramaniam Teena Shangari22 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #123 Cover Feature stay focused without worrying about funding. It also helped me to further my professional training and certification goals, allowing me to begin a focused career in the construction industry. This scholarship has substantially helped me to accomplish my current goals of becoming a triumphant professional in the building construction technology field. On a bigger scale, it has notably contributed to raising my professional profile. My advice to undergraduates would be to surround oneself with industrial experts. Time and opportunity wait for no one. Be proactive. Never wait for things to happen. Just grab the right opportunity and act fast. Be assiduous as well as persistent. Try to change and accept the challenges by defeating your own fears. The ground training or internship provided by MBAM help undergraduates understand the industry better through first-hand experience. This gives them the right exposure to explore the industry on a bigger scale. MBAM provides such networking platforms by connecting people for their future growth, giving them access to relevant knowledge and experience. I had my career trajectory mapped out ever since I started working at MBAM. MBAM can surely help undergraduates, particularly to learn about construction-related matters and to gain more knowledge. I have been maintaining a hopeful outlook during the hard times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The truth is, COVID-19 has tossed all my plans out of the window. On the other hand, it made me realise the value of the small things in our lives that we used to take for granted, such as how vulnerable we all are, and how one tiny virus can stop the entire world in a moment. With social distancing, we now separate ourselves from other parts of society. This has made me feel disconnected from my friends. We are social beings. This unfortunate event has disconnected many people from society. However, we should be optimistic by hoping for the best, while being prepared for the worst. In 10 years, I think I would have a greying hairline plus a beard (I will be reaching 50 by then). When that time arrives, I hope to spread my wings in my role as much as possible. I love this industry and think it is the right choice for me in the long run. I plan to become a thought leader who has in-depth understanding of industry trends and techniques. I hope to have additional responsibilities and lead my company to its maximum potential by contributing to the best of my abilities. I want to make a bigger and more positive impact to my company and I will use my communication as well as leadership skills to make this happen. I surmise that one of the most effective ways of giving back to the industry and society would be giving your time because time is valuable and gifting it can make a world of difference in the lives of many, and of course, to be able to contribute back to the MBAM Education Fund Scholarship and to become actively involved in various MBAM committees. I am well aware that I must first establish a proper mindset in order to realise my goals in the next ten years. Smart goals are the ones we set with a positive mindset, especially since the future is unpredictable and conditions may change, such that a small difference in conditions may produce a very great difference in the end results. In the meantime, I want to do something today that my future self will thank me for. Afiqah Othman QAQC Engineer, Exomurni Sdn Bhd Study major: Construction Management, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Graduation year: 2019 I have been madly in love with construction and buildings since I was a kid. In my opinion, construction is unique – we are able to create stunning structures through a composition of materials. I believe that most of the applicants felt that financial assistance is a necessity for many college students, particularly those planning careers that require many years of education beyond the undergraduate level. Taking a long 13-hour bus ride from Kedah to UTM Skudai was a memorable moment for me as the ticket fee was equivalent to my two weeks’ worth of meals. In my opinion, MBAM scholarships benefitted the students because the companies, to grow together. From the context of individuals, especially undergraduates, MBAM provides a comfortable entry by slowly integrating undergraduates into the working environment and by organising coaching sessions in collaboration with government regulatory bodies for the betterment of undergraduates. In essence, MBAM is a wealthy resource for undergraduates to utilise throughout their career progressions. The pandemic lockdown has impacted me in a few ways. Most interactions had to be conducted virtually which, in my case, was actually beneficial as I do not have to travel far for lectures and gave me the flexibility to study and work anywhere. On the other hand, I missed out almost three semesters’ worth of physical interaction in the laboratory and workshops with my peers. Moving forward, I am learning new things everyday while working at Mitrajaya Holdings Berhad. It amazes me that the industry offers much more specialisation than what I initially perceived. In the next 10 years, I will concentrate on formwork and scaffolding design to gain recognition as a professional engineer. If able, I would like to give back to society through MBAM. I am grateful for all that the association had provided me. Mohd Farhan Bin Mohammad Din Manager, Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) Study major: Construction Management, Open University Malaysia Graduation year: 2016 Education is a crucial and one of the biggest parts of our lives as it opens up the mind, expands it and allows us to improve our lives in so many ways. I personally believe that education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. When I contemplate about my self-development and career advancement, pursuing studies is one of the things that I have always wanted to do. The MBAM scholarship gave me the opportunity to take on multiple construction-related disciplines and courses which had helped me to 23 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #123 Cover Feature The greatest impact COVID-19 had on me was in terms of my career growth. After graduating, I was working with a subsidiary of a Singapore oil and gas company in Penang as a project engineer to construct living quarters on a bunker vessel. I am passionate about being in the construction line and love being at the site. Unfortunately, I had to monitor the site, which was in Jurong Yard, online while being in Penang. Then one day, I received a job offer from an established construction company. At that time, COVID-19 was still in its early stages in Malaysia. I was offered a high pay and needed to revert on the offer before 17 March 2021, a day before MCO started in Malaysia. I took just three days to make the decision to tender my resignation. I was taking a risk and then later had to face its consequences. A month after accepting the job offer, I received a phone call from the company and was told that they had to retract the offer. My mind went blank. Was I going to secure a job during the pandemic? I lost my source of income, a good career platform just because of the pandemic. But I didn’t let the challenges stop me. I used my experience gained during my internship and knowledge in construction to help my friend build up his new company in Jitra, Kedah. We secured two tenders in the midst of the pandemic and I am so proud of it! That was the accomplishment of one of my wishes in giving back to the economy – something I promised during my MBAM scholarship interview with Chua Siow Leng and Loh Mei Ling. During my interview with the MBAM panellist, I made a promise to bring construction back to my hometown in Kedah Darul Aman. I believe that I am moving towards achieving that now. Throughout my studies, I was really impressed with my lecturers who were experienced industry players. Their lectures were creative, which helped us understand the subjects better. Now, I am accumulating as much experience as I can in the construction industry. In ten years, I see myself having my own material testing laboratory business while preparing myself to join the higher education industry as a lecturer, contributing to the learning and growth of our younger generation. I would instil in them, an appreciation for the construction industry while sharing real site situations with them, outside of what they learn from a text book! Thank you MBAM, for being part of my journey. Thank you so much! Sureen Kumar A/L Subramaniam Assistant Technical Coordinator, Shanghai Baoye Group Sdn Bhd Study major: Civil Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis Graduation year: 2018 The MBAM scholarship made a difference to my career path because it allowed me to pursue a degree in a field I was interested in and covered my college fees, which could have stood in the way of my career path. Being less stressed and not having to worry about college fees allowed me to focus on my studies and earn the credits. I also made some connections through MBAM, which helped me secure an internship placement easily. recipients didn’t need to worry about getting student loans and can focus on their careers instead. During my studies, I was always interested in signing up for extra courses pertaining to project management skills, such as learning how to monitor a project using Primavera and Microsoft Project or something new to the industry, like Revit BIM courses and QLASSIC. Such funds really helped me increase my educational knowledge without touching my savings. MBAM provides a good platform for us to perform in our industries. It provides not only financial support but also educational and career benefits. The best part of the MBAM scholarship is that one is entitled to an internship with only one of their members, most of which are listed and established companies. I did my six-month internship with Sunway Construction Berhad and had the best moments in my life. I was placed at Parcel F of a Putrajaya project involving the construction of 10 government office buildings. That was the ultimate experience for me, as I was placed in the QAQC department. I ended up extending my internship for an additional two months as I found it hard to move on. Till this day, I would say that QAQC is still a part of me! This is a great example of how MBAM has helped students get the best experience and prepare them for actual working environments. Undergoing an internship in an established company is important not just in making our resumes look good, but provides the opportunity for us to contribute to small and medium-sized companies later. Teh Yan TingYap Tat HongVikness KrisnanmoorthyYap Pei XinS’ng Yee Yun24 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #123 Cover Feature I would advise undergraduates to continue working hard and do the best they can. Know that at the completion of each course, you are one step closer to your goal and graduation. Keep looking for job openings in your field of study to ensure that you secure a position for when you finally complete your degree. Learn how to use some software, such as AutoCAD and MS projects. AutoCAD helps in studying and creating drawings, MS Project helps in project- planning while MS Office is the most basic software that everyone must know. If you know BIM and Staad Pro, it’s good and helpful in getting a better job. Apart from providing financial assistance through the scholarships, MBAM can further help undergraduates by encouraging them to join courses to improve themselves, especially in their soft skills and in the use of software such as Staadpro, BIM, Primavera and Microsoft Project. The organisation of symposiums where undergraduate students can ask the MBAM alumni career and construction-related questions would also be helpful. The COVID-19 situation is particularly stressful because it’s hard to predict how things will develop and our circumstances are changing rapidly. COVID-19 has caused disruptions to my usual routines and caused social isolation. However, working from home helped me create a clear distinction between work and downtime and strengthened my connections with family and friends, as we frequently communicate through video calls. Ten years from now, I see myself as a knowledgeable professional in a managerial role with in-depth knowledge of the industry and leadership capabilities. I look forward to helping undergraduates and pre- university students by encouraging them to join the construction industry and also to help them improve their skills before they start work, through MBAM. Teena Shangari Process Engineer, Maxter Glove Manufacturing Sdn Bhd Study major: Chemical Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Graduation year: 2019 First of all, a million thanks to MBAM for giving me this opportunity to express my gratitude towards the association. I am from a middle-class family and to be chosen as a recipient for the MBAM scholarship has helped me complete my four years of study successfully. The scholarship has helped to cover my tuition fees as well as my living expenses. I hope that all the upcoming scholars appreciate MBAM’s huge effort and would do well in their studies. Also, to not forget to contribute back to MBAM when they become successful later. It is my hope that MBAM would always help students like me, eager to succeed in their careers. Recently, we had to face a serious pandemic. COVID-19 had affected all of us. My advice to undergraduates is to never give up, no matter what challenges you may face. Forge ahead and put in the effort, you will see the results. In ten years, I see myself as someone in a position where I can help someone else, just as MBAM had helped me the past four years, while I was in university. I believe that I will be a part of the MBAM team, helping others. Thank you once again MBAM for brightening my dreams and for helping me become the person I am now. Teh Yan Ting Structural Engineer, G&P Penang Sdn Bhd Study major: Civil Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Graduation year: 2019 The MBAM scholarship has reduced my family’s financial burden. I grew up in a low-income family and worked hard to save money for all my academic fees. I spent much of my time working part- time to cover my education fees. Hence, I need to manage my time well to ensure that my academic performance would not be affected. The MBAM scholarship helped me achieve first-class honours in my degree as I was able to reduce time spent on part-time jobs and spent more time on my studies. Apart from providing scholarships to undergraduates, MBAM frequently organises construction-related webinars or seminars, where construction professionals share their valuable experience, tips, and knowledge. I encourage undergraduates who wish to embark on a career in the construction industry to attend them so they may enhance their knowledge. Most rural areas in Malaysia still lack public facilities and services, unlike the cities. I think that we should pay more attention to the rural areas to ensure a fair balance of different sectors. Hence, I hope undergraduates can research and raise awareness on the development of rural areas to improve the living quality of the rural community. There have been many uncertainties since the COVID-19 broke out as none of us have been through this situation before. It has been very tough for fresh graduates like me to find a job, as many companies were cutting down their manpower to save costs and reduce the impact on their businesses. Fresh graduates like me had to compete not only amongst our peers but also with others who were laid off or unemployed. When I first applied for jobs, I did not receive a single response to my applications. Luckily for me, after searching and applying for as many jobs as possible via different platforms, I finally got hired. I see myself leading a team and building special buildings that would make our country proud in ten years’ time. With the knowledge gained via MBAM, I hope to advance my skills and knowledge as well as contribute positively to our country’s economic growth while giving back to society. Yap Tat Hong Product Engineer, Micron Technology Study major: Electrical Engineering, University Sains Malaysia Graduation year: 2021 The MBAM scholarship helped me focus and allowed me to invest effort and time on my studies without worrying about the expenses. My advice to undergraduates is to explore as widely as possible in order to find the most suitable career paths for themselves before they graduate. I think that in addition to the scholarships offered to assist undergraduates, MBAM can consider running workshops, seminars or talks related to the construction field as these would increase their knowledge and understanding of the construction industry.25 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #123 The COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on the quality of my studies, as the pandemic prevented students from being able to attend classes physically. The duration of my course was also extended. However, despite being absent from the classroom, I continued to learn through self-study. I see myself as an engineer being in a managerial role in ten years’ time, leading a team of colleagues towards success. Vikness Krisnanmoorthy Project Engineer, Matrix Concept Holding Berhad Study major: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Graduation year: 2019 First of all, I would like to convey my thanks to MBAM for this golden opportunity. MBAM played a vital role in my life, supporting me through my studies and career. MBAM not only provided financial assistance for my education but also motivated me to compete and excel in my studies and in life. My advice for all undergraduates out there, especially those in the construction-related field, is to be more professional, versatile and courageous. Being able to withstand risks and criticism is important in this field so they may become accepting of both the positive and negative outcomes. This also helps one to identify and study problems that may arise and find solutions to overcome them in a professional manner. Apart from contributing financially to eligible candidates, I would like to humbly suggest that MBAM organise programmes or courses related to the construction industry, for example, safety and health campaigns, software courses and building information modelling (BIM) to provide undergraduates with early exposure to the construction industry. The courses would help them develop skills and knowledge and in turn, improve techniques, procedures and methods within the construction industry. The recent COVID-19 pandemic had badly affected our daily lives. Personally, it had affected me financially, mentally and physically. At work, projects that were assigned to me had to be stopped for a time in favour of everyone’s wellbeing and safety. This became a barrier to personal growth and put a lot of pressure on everyone. In such a situation, the ability to organise oneself comes in handy. It is important to have a positive attitude and the mindset that we would be able to take on any challenge thrown our way. In the coming ten years, I would like to sharpen my technical and management skills and increase my construction knowledge. I see myself working for a company in a prominent position in ten years’ time or having my own construction business. With such achievements and the knowledge gained from my experience, I would surely give back to society by joining MBAM in the future. Yap Pei Xin Project Coordinator, Northcroft Lim Perunding Sdn Bhd Study major: Quantity Surveying, University of Malaya Graduation year: 2020 First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to personally extend my thanks to all who have made contributions to the scholarship fund. I am eternally grateful for everything MBAM has done and for the opportunity they provided me and all the other scholars. With MBAM’s support, I was able to focus on my studies without the burden of financial obligations and had the opportunity to be involved in campus activities. MBAM’s assistance helped me graduate with first-class honours. The journey towards graduation may be tough sometimes, but will make one stronger in the longer run. So, my advice to undergraduates majoring in construction-related fields, especially to MBAM scholarship recipients, is to never give up. Don’t wait for a perfect opportunity. Instead, grab any opportunity and make it perfect. It is okay to make mistakes as long as you learn something from it. Apart from providing scholarship funds, MBAM can help undergraduates by organising workshops that expose the students to the construction field, such as site visits or BIM workshops. Besides that, as some of the scholars might be working part-time during their semester holidays, it would be good if they were given the chance to work in construction-related companies instead of having to wait for their internships to gain work experience. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my household income has been affected. However, we managed to pull through with the income from our jobs and by cutting down on some expenses. I am really grateful that I didn’t lose my job from this pandemic and was able to survive throughout the pandemic. In ten years, I see myself as a competent, high performing quantity surveyor who is able to deliver tasks in a timely manner and with high standards. It may or may not be monetary, but I hope to be able to use my experience or expertise to help others if I am capable. S’ng Yee Yun Test Engineer, Micron Semiconductor Asia Pte Ltd Study major: Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Graduation year: 2019 The MBAM scholarship has helped me a lot, especially in reducing my financial burden and allowing me to concentrate on my studies. I would like to encourage undergraduates majoring in construction-related fields to continue putting in effort in their studies and not to give up so that they are able to contribute to society through their professions one day. In my opinion, in addition to the financial assistance provided through MBAM scholarships, MBAM can help undergraduates further by providing practical knowledge and sharing sessions by industry experts so they have a better understanding of inter-communication in actual construction sites. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives and disrupted the usual way of connection between people. Due to the lockdown and restrictions, I have learnt to accept and adapt to new norms, e.g. participating in online instead of face-to- face meetings. I look forward to improving myself in my profession in the next 10 years and wish to contribute to society by sharing my experiences through MBAM. Cover Feature26 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #123 T he WBL initiative will increase a students’ active experiential learning in real work environments and hence, develop their 21 st century skills, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. Furthermore, the leveraging of a technology-enabled approach that is incorporated in WBL through blended learning will enable a more personalised learning to meet the objectives of producing holistic, talented, and balanced graduates (GGP: WBL, 2016). The rapid advancement of technology, including the internet of things (IoT), industry 4.0, and smart cities, revealed an over-abundant need for work-ready graduates. It is expected that a work-ready graduate is technically competent and possess personal and interpersonal skills acquired via the experiential learning incorporated into the curriculum. Hence, the WBL educational strategy helps to build the inner strength of polytechnic students to face the challenges of 21 st century learning and the demands of the 4 th Industrial Revolution. The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) Polytechnic’s WBL is designed as a well-structured on-the-job training programme that was developed together with industry partners to meet the training needs of the industry and to provide a real-life work environment. According to the Engineering Technology Programme Accreditation Standard by the Board of Engineers Malaysia, WBL is an approach that provide students with authentic context for learning and real- life work experiences in an engineering environment and essentially, the engineering environment must fulfil the aims and learning outcomes of the programme (BEM, 2020). According to the Guidelines to Good Practice: Work-Based Learning by Malaysian Qualifications Agency (2016), WBL is a subset of workplace learning. WBL refers specifically to the achievement of ‘planned learning outcomes’ derived from the experience of performing a work role or function. WBL differs from conventional education in that it involves conscious reflection on actual experience. That reflection on practice offers an advantage of providing a way in which learners can be supported in structuring their workplace experience to identify their learning from that experience. According to Fink, Rokkjaer & Schrey (2007), WBL is an approach which focuses upon the practical utility of learning and is therefore directly relevant to learners and their work environment. A WBL approach to learning acknowledges that learning can take place in a variety of situations and settings and is not restricted through the classroom or lecture theatre. All WBL programmes utilise a range of tools to aid and enhance guided learning activities. This ‘blended’ learning approach enables WBL programmes to be tailored to student needs and preferences, whilst still operating within an academic framework. This is also in line with the six (6) cores of the polytechnic strategic plan, namely (Jabatan Pendidikan Politeknik dan Kolej Komuniti, 2018): (1) produce quality TVET graduates, (2) strengthen responsive and sustainable governance, (3) enrich talent, (4) leading the education system through TVET4.0, (5) strengthen industry and community collaboration and (6) cultivate applied research and innovation. A successful collaboration between Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO) and Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) as WBL industry partners for the Bachelor in Civil Engineering Technology (BCT) programme had commenced since 2015 when the Notes of Collaboration (NOC) were signed on 9 December 2015. The then Vice President of MBAM, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Sufri bin Mhd Zin, and MBAM Education Committee had coordinated the participation of MBAM member companies in the WBL-BCT programme. This collaboration had been carried out through various jointly planned activities to increase the effectiveness of WBL implementation in the industry (Figure 1). Until 2021, a total of 20 public listed construction companies had participated in the WBL-BCT as follows: 1. Trans Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd 2. Sunway Construction Sdn Bhd 3. Bina Puri Sdn Bhd 4. Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd The Rainbow of PUO's WBL Programme with MBAM The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) (MEB 2015- 2025 HE) had identified a mismatch in the supply and demands of graduates, with employers reporting graduates of institutions of higher learning (IHL) lacking the requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes. Thus, an initiative by the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (DPCCE) known as Work-Based Learning (WBL) aspires to enhance the students’ learning experience by extending the industry’s collaboration in the design and delivery of technical education programmes. Special Feature27 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #123 5. MITC Global Bhd 6. Fajarbaru Builder Sdn Bhd 7. Mitrajaya Construction Sdn Bhd 8. YTL Construction Sdn Bhd 9. Ocned Water Technology Sdn Bhd 10. Mudajaya Construction Sdn Bhd 11. Premier Construction Sdn Bhd 12. Trans Elite Sdn Bhd 13. Bauer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd 14. CLCE Construction Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Chee Leong Construction & Engineering Sdn Bhd) 15. DMIA Group Sdn Bhd 16. Pembinaan Tetap Teguh Sdn Bhd 17. Matlamat Anggun Sdn Bhd 18. IJM Construction Sdn Bhd 19. Gamuda Berhad 20. Orange Beam Construction Sdn Bhd The WBL approach for BCT programme has been designed as a structured on- the-job training (OJT) programme with core discipline courses incorporated in the learning track for BCT Year 4. The WBL course design integrates theory and industrial practises in the workplace. WBL courses consists of four components: dependent learning, independent learning, industrial guidance and assessment, all of which contribute to the effective learning time and credits calculation (BEM, 2020). Through the experiential learning, students can further deepen their competencies in professional skills, transferable workplace skills as well as personal and inter-personal skills. BCT students were able to carry out training in several related project management practices within the construction projects and gained valuable experience on risk assessment and project delivery of the construction industry. The WBL is implemented in the final year of the programme, which is in the 7 th and 8 th semester, covering 20 weeks per semester. In total, students will be attached to the industry for 40 weeks or equivalent to 1600 hours of OJT. While attached to the company, these students will be assigned industrial tasks on-site based upon the agreed curriculum and supervised by their industry mentors. At the same time, students are required to register their courses online, and they will be given tasks accordingly, to be completed by the end of the semester. The WBL learning process in BCT require students to enrol in several courses while undergoing the OJT. These courses are monitored regularly and assessed directly by PUO lecturers, as well as by the industry mentors appointed for projects or work assigned at the workplace. There are three core discipline courses offered in the 7 th semester; Pre-Project, Technology & Innovation Management and Sustainable Construction Technology with a total of 17 credit hours. Meanwhile, in the 8th semester, two core discipline courses are offered: Project Management and Final Year Project totalling 17 credit hours. Primarily, the industry mentors will supervise all practical work while the PUO lecturers will assess the student’s academic achievement. Therefore, these students will be observed at their workplace by PUO lecturers from time to time, as scheduled in their learning process. Rapid changes in the civil engineering and construction environment brought about by technology has changed the employers’ needs for potential employees, thus it is important for IHL to work closely with the industry or stakeholders to better understand the latter’s needs and to produce work-ready graduates. PUO had built a good relationship with stakeholders, especially with MBAM, in the design and implementation of WBL curriculum and thus, the curriculum remains constantly relevant with the changes in technology and industrial requirements. Discussions are always carried out with MBAM Education Committee at the end of each academic session of WBL. Feedback from the industry will be used as input for continuous quality improvement in the BCT programme. This is important to ensure that the BCT programme produce engineering technology graduates who can fulfil the requisite knowledge and skillsets required of the 4 th Industrial Revolution (4IR). Partnerships between PUO and employers must go beyond research and development initiatives and technology transfer. Stronger partnerships and cooperation between IHL and industries related to the WBL programmes are important and need to be developed as WBL is considered as an effective tool to enhance graduate marketability. Special Feature FIGURE 1 Milestone Collaboration Between MBAM and PUO CEO Faculty Tan Sri Dato Sri Sufri bin Mhd Zain giving talk “ Best Practices on Sustainable Construction Industry Signing NOC with MBAM Participating companies (TRC, Sunway, Bina Puri, PPC, Premier Cons, MGB, Fajarbaru, Ocned, Trans Elite, YTL and Bauer) Best Practices during MCO Participating companies follows MKN SOP during student WBL at (TRC, Sunway, CLCE, IJM, PPT, YTL and Matrix) Student Placement WBL with participating companies (TRC, Sunway, Bina Puri, PPC, Premier Cons, MITC, Fajarbaru, Ocned, Mitrajaya, YTL and Mudajaya) Strategic Meeting • Signing NOC with MBAM and Partners Companies • Focus Group Dialogue 2020 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 Progress meeting Twice a year PUO present progress of WBL at participating Company Industry Advisory Council and Industry Advisory Panel Tan Sri Sufri was appointed as IAC and Datuk Astaman as IAPNext >