UCTS first institution in East Malaysia to offer architecture

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The state-of-the-art green University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) has a conducive study environment for students.

The state-of-the-art green University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) has a conducive study environment for students.

SIBU: University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) is the first institution in East Malaysia to offer the Architecture programme at degree level, according to UCTS deputy vice-chancellor (Academic) Professor Dato Dr Sabarudin Mohd.

He said their Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Architecture is the pathway to becoming a professional architect.

“The architecture programme comprises part 1 and 2. What we are offering now is Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Architecture to fulfill the requirements of part 1 of the Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM).

“To practise as an architect, one needs to go through part 2 of LAM. However, to practise as a professional architect, one needs to go through part 3, where one is required to sit for LAM’s professional examination.

“The requirement is similar to that of Board of Engineers Malaysia, where graduates need to undergo training or work for three years before they can sit for the professional examination,” Sabarudin said recently.

UCTS will start offering part 2 from 2017.

“This is line with the university’s plan, where students following part 1 will graduate in 2016.

“It means these students can continue with part 2 of the programme, which will take two years,” Sabarudin said.

He said the entire duration from degree level to completing the professional examination to qualify as a professional architect would take about seven years.

Sabarudin said most students ere locals with some from Sabah.

“As for foreign students, we will start recruiting them for the 2016 intakes.”

The university currently has 1,300 students and 115 teaching staff.

“The student number should reach 2,000 by end of the year,” he said.