Construction Law (QSB 4414)

This module introduce and provide a basic understanding of principle of construction law. It also provides an overview of construction and contractual responsibilities of a Quantity Surveyor in the construction industry from the inception stage to the final account stage. It focus on the importance of a clear understanding of the organization and contract administration of quantity surveying practices and the legal and contractual procedures in relation to construction industry.

Besides, we are required to prepare a seminar presentation in tutorial section. For the group assignment, we attended a 2 days seminar of FIDIC Contract by Ms. Eugune Lip, director of Davis Langdon KPK in Singapore. Ms. Eugene Lip is a very experience people on FIDIC. She gave a clear explanation and easy for us to understand about the FIDIC Contract. On the second day we prepared a presentation of the answer from the question given by Ms. Engune Lip a day before. Actually, I attended Ms. Eugene Lip FIDIC Contract talk in Semester 5. At that moment, I still do not really understand about the FIDIC Contract. After attend the seminar 2 times, I believe I have enough understanding on this FIDIC Contract. 

Cost Value Engineering (QSB 4215)

This module introduce  the history, background, theories, concepts and principles of value engineering / value management in decision making process. The module also give an idea of unnecessary cost and cost cutting exercise in the cost planning and control stage. The module concludes with a series of discussion on the problem and constraint in the implementation stage based on some significant case studies.

Upon successful completion of this module, I able to identify the appropriate time to carry out Value Engineering throughout different construction phases, recognise and recall the contribution of the value engineering /value management in the development process, apply the value management to a value outcome in the decision making process and analyse the cost and value implications of project scope .and generate a Job-Plan for the implementation of Value Management workshop.

From group assignment, we learn how to implement the vm study into a project. The group as a VM team with a leader. The opinion or idea that brainstorming by the group member will be discussed and check the suitability to apply on the project. All the group members is very important in the team. 

Development Economic (QSB 4224)

This module introduce me, let me more understand on property development in the market. It is initiated with the introduction of the process in a property development and factors that influence the development process. The subject also covers various techniques of development appraisal and source of finance available. It is then concluded with the important of market research to the overall development process and its impact of research to the development.

Upon successful completion of this module, I able to calculate the developer’s budget (i.e. total development cost and gross development value) during the initial development process, execute the Cost-benefit Analysis in the early stage of investment proposal and valuation system to help on decision making during the feasibility stage and classify various source of finance available in the construction industry and to outline the requirement in a quality market research.

Research Dissertation (QSB 4924)

Research Dissertation is continuous module from the Research Methodology from previous semester. Besides, it also continue the research study from the previous semester. The title I selected is "Investing Opportunities of Green Building by Developers in Malaysia". In semester 5, we wrote introduction and literature review. This semester, we continues with research methodology, data analysis and conclusion. The most interesting part are preparing questionnaire and analysing the questionnaire from respondents. In additional, we also required to prepare research paper for lecturer to select the best paper to be presented in 2016. 

Project Management (QSB 4424)

Project management is a module which covered about roles, duties, responsibility of project manager, planning and budgeting for a  project, arrange the work schedule for a project, monitoring and controlling of a project, resources allocation and etc.

For group assignment, we are required to proposed a building on 1200m2 land based on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basic for 20 years. The proposed project are required to make minimum spend on the building and make maximum profit for the client. For individual assignment, we required to prepare a project work schedule including critical path, network diagram and gantt chart using Microsoft Project. I believe this module may useful and guiding me become a successful manager in the future. 

Measurement 5 (QSB3115)

This module taught by 2 lecturer - Mr. Simon Chee and Sr. Ramar.

Mr. Simon explain to us how to use MYCESMM on civil engineering works. Mr. Simon covered the RE wall installation, rail track measurement, earthworks measurement and prestress measurement.

Sr. Ramar introduced us the measurement for cold water installation, electrical installation, sanitary installation, fire protection and air conditioning installation.

In this semester, Sr. Ramar prepared assignment for us and Mr. Simon prepared mid term test for us.

Both of these civil engineering works and M&E works usually are not prepared and covered by consultant's QS. However, through out this module, I able to understand the way to measure and tender preparation of both civil engineering works and M&E works.

I believe this knowledge will be used in the future.

Professional Practice 2 (QSB 3614)

Professional Practice is a very interesting module. This module cover the work that I have been did during the internship period. Through out this module, it explain to me more detail of the work I did before. This module provide me an overview of professional and contractual responsibilities of a QS in the consultancy setup from the inception stage to the final account stage.

Our lecturer, Sr. Eddie also explain to us more detail on PAM FORM 2006 with & without quantities, Fidic form of contract and also JKR contract. Through out the period, i'm able to define the roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved in construction contracts in relation to particular clauses in the contract. Besides, I also able to explain the various construction contracts, limitations and constraints and define issues in interpreting the contract clauses of construction contract.

Sr. Eddie also let us prepare seminar for each topic and present during the tutorial class. The seminar improve our presentation skill, communication skill, teamwork and also the other soft skill. Besides, the group assignment also very interesting. The assignment give us some scenario happened in the actual practice and let us solve the scenario based on the experience and PAM form of contract.

Besides, I also attended the Fidic talk prepared by our university and CIPAA talk prepared by RICS. Both of the talk help me a lots.

Building Economic (QSB 3214)

In this module, I learned an overview and important of QS's role and responsibilities during the development process. I has been introduced to practical situations of the various method on controlling cost of the building in the design stage of a project.

The teaching objectives of the module are:

1.   To develop an awareness of the nature, content, and significance of cost control, cost planning and understand the roles of project teams towards fulfilling client needs.

2.   To develop awareness of the effect of design variables in obtaining an economical design and to appreciate the role of the quantity surveyor in pre- and post-contract stages.

Our lecturer, Ms. Azrina explain and teach us very well. She also guide us when we preparing the work for assignment. We required to prepare cost plan and tender report in the assignment.

Through out the period, I able to explain various of pre-tender estimating and able to produce an estimate at pre-tender stage, cost plan based on historical data and S-curce for financial planning to a proposed project.

Financial Management (QSB 3413/3414)

In this module, I learned some accounting and financing management in relation to construction project.

The teaching objective of the module are:

1. Understand the detail of financial management in relation to construction
2. To appraise capital investment proposal in the construction industry
3. Understand the managing of the business environment, the firm and the staff in the construction  organisation

I never studied accounting before therefore this module make me have a difficult period on study this module. I spend lots of time on this module. Fortunately, our lecturer, Mr. Lai prepared lots of exercises on each topic. 

During the lecture class, lecturer also explain a lots to us but sometime there are too many things teach in the same time its really hard to absorb all everything. We discussed all the exercise work during the tutorial class. Mr. Lai explain the question step by step, let me more understand to each question. 

I think is module is the only module make me spent lots of time on studying it. 

Research Methodology (QSB 3933)

Semester 5 is the 1st sem of Final Year, we need to start doing Thesis.

Module Teaching Objectives
1. To develop awareness of the current local and global issues in the construction industry.
2. To explore the approaches to research.
3. To demonstrate a systematic and orderly mind to produce a viable academic research.

This module is let us have more understanding on how to prepare the Chapter 1 - Research Proposal and Chapter 2 - Literature Review of the thesis.

First, we need identify the interested area for research and then the lecturer - Ms. Aishah distribute us to individual supervisor. My supervisor - Mr. Leong, lead me and guide me to the right way to prepare both research proposal and literature review.

Besides, Ms. Aishah also invite librarian to introduce and teach us how to do the references. 

Construction Quantity Surveying (MGT 60603)

From this module, I learned the role of contractor's QS and the understand the difference between  contractor's QS and consultant's QS.

During the commencement of the project, running the project and end of the project, contractor's QS prepare, involve and do more work compare to Consultant's QS. Contractor's QS need to take care of all the consultant and also the sub-contractors however as a consultant's QS do not need to pay too much attention on them.

Besides, I also have more understanding about the major Laws and Regulations of the Malaysia's construction industry involved such as

• Contract Act 1950
• Factories and Machinery Act 1967
• Real Property Gain Tax Act 1967
• Workmen's Compensation Act 1952
• Strata Titles Act 1985
• Employer Social Security Act
• Construction Industry Development Board Act 1994
• Construction Industry Payment & Adjudication Act 2012 (CIPAA 2012)
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration 1994 (OSHA 1994)
• Goods & Services Tax (GST)

In additional, I also have more understanding about Public Private Partnership (PPP) procurement route which adopted by the public sector to meet long term public sector needs such as highways, ports, power stations and etc.

The various form of PPP are:

• Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
• Build - Transfer (BT)
• Build - Lease - Transfer (BLT)
• Build - Transfer - Operate (BTO)
• Build - Operate - Transfer (BOT)

In this module, I feel that contractor's QS is much more challenging compare to consultant's QS.