THE STERLING GROUP MALAYSIA TOUR 2008
MONDAY 17 - WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH 2008
1. PARTICIPANTSDr Richard H Scott (Durham, Sterling Group Chairman)
Dr Alan R Chambers (Southampton, Executive Committee)
Dr Sandy Anderson (Newcastle)
Dr Stuart M Holmes (Manchester)
Professor Ashok K Kochhar FREng (Aston)
Professor Omar K Matar (Imperial College London)
Mr K Moodley (Leeds)
Dr Daniel T H New (Liverpool)
Dr Mark J H Simmons (Birmingham)
Dr Neil Storey (Warwick)
Professor A Robin Wallace (Edinburgh)
2. INTRODUCTION
- As agreed at the 2007 Plenary Meeting of The Sterling Group, the tour this year was just to KL with no lectures being given in Singapore. As usual, it was timed to mesh with the British Council Education Fair. The tour party of 11 was smaller than last year (15) but of similar size to the tour parties in 2005 and 2006.
- 47 lectures were given at 17 venues. Four venues, UKM, UTAR, UKM and Uniten were new. The total attendance was about 2400. This was a reduction on last year's total of 4500 (with a bigger tour party) but similar to attendance levels of three/four years ago. Venues visited are listed in the Appendix.
- The shift from the almost entirely sixth form audiences traditionally associated with the KL presentations to a mix of sixth form, undergraduate and postgraduate audiences continues. Consequently, more emphasis was given to university visits this year. These, generally, had smaller but more specialised audiences which goes some way to explaining the drop in numbers. Of particular interest was the visit to UKM (see below).
- Ms Elisabeth Lee (Executive Director of Sunway University College) again hosted an informal reception for the tour party. Her generous hospitality is now something of an annual event. There were the customary "party challenges" which elicited hitherto unknown talents from the tour party.
4. UKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)
- Omar Matar and Richard Scott visited UKM and were made to feel particularly welcome.
- Staff at all levels, from the Director downwards, are very keen to develop links and collaborations of all types with SG members. There is funding available at UKM to initiate such collaborations and enquiries from SG members would be welcomed.
- In the first instance, contact should be made with Assoc. Prof. Dr Hafriza Burhanudeen, Director, Office of International Relations (pghpha@ukm.my). DrBurhanudeen will then liaise with the appropriate departments. UKM's website is at www.ukm.my.
5. IEM
- Ashok Kochhar gave a presentation on Higher Engineering Education in the UK to a meeting of IEM, accompanied by Richard Scott. The timing was particularly appropriate as it coincided with the start of IEM's Engineering Week.
- A presentation at IEM is now an established, and very welcome, annual event.
- The next IEM President will be Prof. Engr. Dato' Dr CHUAH Hean Teik, a long time supporter of the SG. Professor Chuah has recently moved from MMU to become President/CEO of UTAR (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman).
6. PEB
- Richard Scott made a brief visit to Singapore to meet Mr Chin Jen Chyi, Registrar of the PEB.
- The new route to registration (via Engineering Fundamentals and Professional Practice examinations) is becoming well established. More specialist areas for registration (e.g. Geotechnics) are likely to be introduced.
- This was, obviously, a shorter tour than in previous years due to the concentration on KL. The smaller tour party and increased number of university visits most likely contributed to the reduced attendance figures. However, the level of enthusiasm shown by the colleges was undiminished from previous years and this is an important consideration. Nevertheless, it must be noted that the decline in numbers was quite substantial.
- The trend towards undergraduate and postgraduate levels of activity seems likely to continue and this is being reflected in the lecture programme. Useful links are being established with universities.
- Relationships with the IEM and PEB remain excellent.
- Overall, the revised format of this year's tour was a success. As always the excellent co-operation of all members of the tour party was a significant factor in this. Particular thanks go to Alan Chambers for his hard work in organising the lecture programme.
Dr R.H. Scott
Chairman
18/04/08
APPENDIX
Institutions Visited
Alice Smith International School
Garden International School
HELP Institute
INTI College (Nilai)
INTI College (Subang Jaya)
Kolej Tuanku Ja'afar (KTJ)
Multimedia University (MMU)
Sunway University College
TAR College
Taylor's College (Petaling Jaya)
Taylor's College (Subang Jaya)
Kolej Mara Banting (KMB)
Kolej Bandar Utama (KBU)
Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) (new venue)
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Johor Campus (new venue)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) (new venue)
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) (new venue)
The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM)
Professional Engineers Board (PEB)
KYUEM, a regular destination on previous tours, was on holiday this year.