My name is Loh Ngak Leng, student ID 0300298, currently studying in Taylor's University Lakeside Campus. This is my third year and last year studying in Taylor's University.
Semester 6 is our last semester for our programmes Bachelor in Quantity Surveying (Honours). For this semester, we are undertaking 4 subjects namely Construction Law, Cost Value Engineering, Development Economics and Research Dissertation. As this semester is coming to an end, we gain knowledge on each of the subjects we taken this semester.
Construction Law
Mr. Lim Sek Cheon is the lecturer who teach us Construction Law, he is a very experienced and brilliant lecturer, he taught us many principles regarding law and share with us his working experience that makes every lectures exciting. During the assignment, we were assigned to prepare a contractor's submission for loss & expense claim due to termination of contract as a Quantity Surveyor.
From this assignment, we learned to assess whether the contractor is entitle to claim for his loss and expenses based on the substantiated document he submitted. Besides that, we also assess on his legal capacity. For example, whether or not did the contractor taken any steps to mitigate the loss or whether or not is the loss too remote to be claimed.
Apart from the learning outcome from assignment, we learned about contractual related knowledge, for example, breach of contract, negligence claims, law relating to payments, collateral contracts, dispute resolution and etc. After completed this subject, we are able to identify, explain and distinguish the various laws related to the construction industry including land law and construction statutes by demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the principles in law, conditions of contract and the applicable statutes.
Besides that, we gain skills on analysing, interpreting and applying this knowledge on the principles of law in administration of contracts and contractual claims including providing evidence of reasoned advice in relation to contractual claims and interpretation of any discrepancies of various contract documents.
Lastly, we are able to take appropriate methods of dispute resolution for different situations arising from construction contract.
Besides that, we gain skills on analysing, interpreting and applying this knowledge on the principles of law in administration of contracts and contractual claims including providing evidence of reasoned advice in relation to contractual claims and interpretation of any discrepancies of various contract documents.
Lastly, we are able to take appropriate methods of dispute resolution for different situations arising from construction contract.
Cost Value Engineering
Moving on to the next subject, Cost Value Engineering, our lecturer is Mr. Lee Wing Tey, he has taught us about the importance of Value Management and how we should apply it early in the construction stage.
Besides that, we were given an assignment to conduct a case study on implementing Value Management on the project, through this assignment, we learned to identify the unnecessary function and eliminates them which will reduce the cost of the project yet without sacrificing any necessary function.
Furthermore, we gain knowledge on preparing functional analysis, cost analysis and action plan. We can also recognise and recall the evolution process of the value engineering practice in construction, learned to identify the appropriate time to carry out Value Engineering, differentiate the unnecessary cost and cost cutting exercise, apply the value management to a value outcome in the decision making process, analyse the cost and value implications of project scope and etc.
I personally believe that Value Management will be practice in most projects throughout Malaysia in few years time as it is beneficial to the project owners or known as stakeholders.
Development Economics
The next subject will be Development Economics, Mr.Ho June Khai and Ms. Dianne Kok Hui Wei is the lecturer of this subject, in this subject we were given an assignment on preparing a financial appraisal and cash flow for a development. From this assignment, we learned how to use the residue method of Valuation and the steps on preparing a cash flow, the picture below shows the cash flow we prepared for our assignment.
Furthermore, from the lectures from Ms. Dianne, we learned the process of market analysis and also basic market research concepts. This knowledge can benefits us in the future if we are to venture into the development sector as we are able to analyse the market through its concepts.
Mr.Ho is the lecturer who is guiding us through our assignments, he has helped us on solving our queries and explaining to us the areas we do not understand. After completing this module, We learned to calculate the developer's budget during the initial development process, execute the cost-benefits analysis in the early stage of investment proposal and valuation system to help on decision making during the feasibility stage. Besides that, we know how to clarify various source of finance available in the construction industry.
This subject has helped me gain a lot of knowledge regarding development economics in the industry, which allows me to estimate and forecast a project's viability.
Research Dissertation
The last subject is Research Dissertation, this subject is regarding our thesis that we need to submit as a final year student which is guided by Miss Theong. Miss Theong has guide us throughout the entire process of preparing this research dissertation which is the introduction, literature review, methodology, data analysis and conclusion. Mr. Leong Boon Tik is my supervisor who gave me advice and suggestion on my progress of thesis, Mr. Leong is very knowledgeable and able to solve my problems and queries.
After I have completed this research for my topic which is " Ways to Increase the Acceptability of Green Building in Malaysia", I have learned that in order to conduct a successful research, clear objectives must be determined first thereby follow by deep review on the topic to find out the current issue. Last but not least, I also learned how to carry out survey or study in order to obtain the data I needed for my research.
Talk on Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012 "CIPAA".
Activities
During this semester, we have also attended a few talk that will benefits us in the future.
Career talk regarding Quantity Surveyors in Consultancy Practice.
Talk on Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012 "CIPAA".
Tracer Study
E-Portfolio
BIM Application in A Malaysian Company
Class Group Photo
This photo is taken during viva presentation, I would like to take this moment to thank all my friends and classmates who has helped me for the past 3 years and provided all the joy of learning together. Last but not least, I would like to express my deepest gratitude towards all Lecturers who teaches me before, I hope that I would be a successful Quantity Surveyor in the future.
