The said problems of LUCT are "management" deficiency, where there are an inadequate amount of staffs, and also about lecturers being instructed to respect the students as well as not to fail them at all cost. (There would certainly be lecturers who would hate this kind of rulings and will leave the place in sheer disagreement.)

In addition, the lecturers who have left LUCT may not necessarily be good lecturers.


The SABD lecturers over here at Taylors may not be having higher "academic" qualifications other than just a degree or just about 2 or 3 with a masters ; however, that certainly do not stop them from acting superior, high & mighty, having a full load of ego, and behaving as the best out there; full of "elitism" and such. (They WILL FAIL you if they want to.) (I would prefer lecturers with lower qualifications, but are good, humble, & generous with knowledge anytime; who will not give you trouble.)


If Taylors is truly a high ranking/reputable/renowned institution or (IPTA) that is heavily subsidized by the government, then by all means feel free to be as hard or brutal to the students as you desire; because students are not paying ridiculously high fees, and they are also going to be getting a fully accredited degree as well as a cert that WILL get them employed & guaranty their success in the future. (There is nothing for them to complain at all; even if they failed; as it is understandable.)


As for the matter regarding the LAM- PAM accreditation;

Private candidates will definitely have to sit for the LAM - PAM Part 1 & the Part 2 examinations in simultaneous order after completing both degrees in architecture; to be legible for "legal" work permit in this country of Malaysia. (However, you would not need to sit for the exams if you would be working/practicing this profession in oversea countries.)


Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Jul 4 2011, 02:02 AM

From what I know; the lecturers at LUCT are lenient. (Whether is that good or not is for one to decide.)

I have also paid a visit to LUCT as well, and the facilities looked "pretty good". (From my observation, perhaps the architecture & design facilities could even well be better than the "architecture & design facilities" in Taylor's new lakeside campus; which is unfortunately not that good in the first place IMHO...)

I do not know much about UCSI, although from what I know; it is certainly not a bad university for architecture.

Regards.

If one would to being into consideration about how much more Taylors is charging students comparing to LUCT, then whatever small deficiencies in-terms of management-qualities at LUCT; is far overshadowed IMO.

Secondly, facilities wise, it is exactly the same thing over here at Taylors SABD; there is no laser-cutting machines nor model-making tools provided at all; we are all required to get our own medias, tools, & equipments for the job.

Finally, for a lecturer who is lenient; it does not mean that the lecturer does not have the standard; in fact, a particular lenient lecturer could be very informative for your information, generous with knowledge/in imparting knowledge, responsible, dedicated, and also receptive to the student's needs/desires. (Really, very different from certain lecturers which I have came across before...)

For prospective students; if you should decide not to choose LUCT; then by all means choose UCSI.

(By the looks of it, Taylors is already reaching its staff - student population limit; the place is just plain overcrowded, and the studios are just busting during lectures without enough seats & even a space for standing; the remaining crowds just had to stand outside the studio with the doors wide open...)

Nevertheless, one is always completely free to make up his/her own mind. (It is still your choice.)

Regards.

Basically Taylors SABD have collected the "best student's works" of each Part 1 degree semester/year for the CAAEM visit.

There are also currently progress in acquiring "proper pin up boards", new drafting tables, and new chairs for the architecture studios. (Have been happening in the past few weeks.)


But, to be honest, the facilities of the other programs at this new Taylors Lakeside Campus is seriously not a joke at all (especially when comparing to our architecture facilities);

The design studios for the "art school" were all already having new drafting tables & chairs since the beginning of this new campus. (I was telling myself that our architecture studios should also be as new & clean as theirs...)

In addition, the studios of the new art school also provides the equipment, materials, and even the medias (stationary & drawing mediums) for the students to use, and also wash basins/sinks & other domestic amenities for the cleaning/washing up after the works. (Our architecture studios certainly had none of those at all.)

These art students also get to use the brand new & powerful Apple i-Macs in the new labs. (Wheres, we architecture students get to use the ancient systems & platforms...)


Our architecture facilities are also really nothing at all like the engineering facilities right down below our feets... These engineering students are literally having all of the equipments, tools, machinery, instruments, electronics, laboratories, & computers for whatever that they will ever need to perform/experiment/execute concerning their projects... (Our architecture side do not even have a single laser cutting machine unit... )

This is why I am actually in serious envy of the engineering & also the art students; who are all having such good facilities at their service... (They will never ever have the need to waste extra money on services outside to get a job/task performed; since everything that they will ever need for their projects are already in their laboratories, studios, & workshops, which they are all free to use at will... The materials could also be provided for as well...)

The school of hospitality & tourism also get to enjoy truly world class facilities such as those five-star hotel dining areas, as well as the fully serviced kitchens; which literally takes up an entire level... (I went exploring their facilities and ended up getting lost in their kitchen/factory lol...)

I don't think I should go on to the school of medicine, pharmacy, & mass-communication to talk about how good their facilities are as well; lol.

Moreover, our architecture fees are also the most expensive of all too...

(We Architects design such good building for you all; we brought into consideration every single aspects (social, functionality, program, & all...); but yet we are working in such (said by some: Deplorable) conditions; but yet we managed to churn out such good & thoughtful designs for the society out there; that will benefit them for life...)

Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Jul 29 2011, 02:36 AM

These are very basic materials which can be obtained at the conventional stationary outlets.

You can check out Vision Art at the Sunway Pyramid area, as well as the shops in P.J. Leisure Commercial Square (the old Taylors College).


BTW, which brand & type of cutter & blade combination are you guys using?

I am looking for one that is specifically good & effective (for model making).

Regards.

In this case (about repeatedly failing over & over again), I am more concerned as to the reason "why" the candidates did not/could not make it through the Part III examination... (Is there a particular reason?)

Normally what are the requirements to pass? (If you have any idea.)

Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Aug 4 2011, 09:55 PM

By being an architect, as well as being in a architecture course; expect to be multifaceted. (You are simply expected to be multidisciplinary.)

You are going to be a Master-Builder.

You will need to learn & understand the History of Architecture, Culture, & Civilization, as well as topics on Building Technology/Construction, Building Structures, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Drafting, Working Drawings, Project Management, other Management & Organization Topics, Professional Office Practice & Procedures, Building Codes, Uniform Building By Law (UBBL), Building Science/Services, Environmental Science, Environmental Sustainable Design (ESD/Green Design), Architectural Design Theories & Principles, Computer Applications (Architectural Graphics), Photography, Model Making, Architectural Design (The Design Studio), Theories of Urbanization & Planning, Interior Design, and many more...

But back in the history/olden days, an Architect is also expected to learn & understand Cosmology/Astronomy, Music, Painting, Sculpture/Sculpting/Carving, Drawing & expressing with the various mediums (Charcoal, Graphite, Pastels, Chalks, as such), Interior Design/Decoration, the Arts & Crafts, Fine Arts, and then on to Religion, Politics, as well as Structural & Civil Engineering - (Mainly in the period of The Industrial Revolution; being a Hard-Core non-simplified version; as the Architect was also required to be the Engineer as well...).

This is all the requirements it takes to become an "Architect".

Regards.


Edit: Just added a few more subjects that came to mind...

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Aug 18 2011, 01:31 AM

The "Design" aspect itself already covers a varied amount of topics & also demands knowledge from the following subjects (some from my previous post); such as, social psychology, environmental psychology, colors & form, materials & finishes, lighting quality & aesthetics, acoustic quality, quality of air & humidity, theories & principles of design, history, arts, culture, religion, politics, trends, as well as theories on urbanization & planning, ESD, UBBL, & probably more... (In order to design, one need to learn & understand these topics/subjects beforehand.) [All of these, + the needed skills to output & document your thoughts & product too...]

Then, topics on "Building Construction" alone will also require knowledge from; building structures (physics), facade, curtain-wall, roofing, decking, glass, metal, steel, timber, masonry/brickwork, & concrete construction methods/techniques. (+ having skills & knowledge in drafting, CAD, & UBBL as well.)

In the end, the "architect" will still need/require the knowledge from these said topics/subjects.

Finally, it is indeed true that both Design & Construction goes hand-in-hand. (Or rather, both should always be interlinked in architectural design IMHO.)

Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Aug 19 2011, 12:50 AM

In addition to tehtmc's post above, the course will be conducted in Japanese as you know it; as such, you might really want to think about it very properly... (Is language going to be a deterring issue?)

Architecture is a very extensive course as well (which also requires much communication, presentation, reading, & writing), as most in here can already attest to it. (You will have to learn everything, as well as present everything in Japanese.)

In addition, you will be "trained" to build in a Japanese context, you will learn about Japanese architecture history & Japanese Vernacular architecture, you will have to learn & understand their culture & practice, you will learn the building codes that is applicable to their building standard/laws, as well as learn about building technology & building science that is specific to their environment & context, and such...

This will then (give you a very big obstacle) should you decide to practice back in Malaysia later on; which will also require you to "pass" both the LAM - PAM Part 1 & Part 2 exams (which many have failed)... Then, there is also the issue of accreditation...

Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Sep 3 2011, 06:55 AM

Similarly, it did not take long for Taylors' fairly new Bachelor of Quantity Surveying program to have successfully obtain the accreditation from its local board.

Likewise, the Engineering programs at Taylors (+ most of the other programs as well); have all successfully obtained the accreditation from their respective local boards too.

However, it is only the Architecture program that is the one having trouble obtaining accreditation from LAM - PAM right now... (No matter how hard everyone seems to be trying...) I'm eagerly waiting to see the results; whether they will succeed, or not...

Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Sep 5 2011, 02:01 AM

Don't sweat on it; this is Architecture History 101 subject.

An Oculus is basically a historical feature of a building; it is commonly found as an opening in the marble Dome architecture of Ancient European Classical Architecture;

The feature usually accommodates a "mezzanine space" (surrounded by decorative wrought iron or marble balustrades) directly below the top of the marble Dome (in the interior facing side of the dome). In addition, a dome "lantern" or "Cupola" surrounded by colonnades (or multiple rows/clusters of stone columns) or windows, located "right at the top of the Dome" itself, and usually constructed with high quality marble stonework as well; this is also a common accommodating feature of the "Oculus". (Usually with carved out decorative marble stone stairways leading up/down from the mezzanine floor-way itself as well.) In St. Paul's Cathedral, England (being a huge Baroque architecture style building by itself), the space of the dome itself even contains a large-broad ornamented marble spiral stairway leading all the way up to a private library-gallery space above... (You can also find such similar features in other classical building types in Russia & other European countries such as in France & Italy just to name a few...)

Architecture History itself is a very interesting & fascinating subject indeed, and there is just lacking an adequate amount of books concerning the various topics in it; in greater-depth, notably in the libraries of colleges/universities. (Yet we also have many architecture students complaining & "questioning" the point/relevance of studying Western Architecture History in the very first place... Where there is also the lacking in emphasis on this particular subject in general.)

Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Sep 13 2011, 10:29 PM

Dear yuvanraj;

Studying in an IPTS (in general) involves a lot of money compared to an IPTA; especially when it comes to a course like Architecture. In this course, you will also generally be spending quite a lot of money on your materials, medias, & stationary as such (just like in an Art & Design course). So if money is an issue, then you may like to rule out the IPTS. However, if money is not an issue, then feel free to pursue this course in a private institution like Taylors University, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (also known as LUCT), UCSI (University), and Alfa College (formerly known as Aliff College).

However, just keep in mind that Taylors University no longer offers a Diploma in Architecture anymore. (You will go for their Part 1 Degree in Architecture instead.)

LUCT (Limkokwing University) offers a Diploma, Part 1 Degree, as well as the Part 2 Degree in Architecture as well. (None of the other IPTS offers the Part 2 Degree at the present, except for this particular private institution LUCT.)

Feel free to check out the respective official websites of these private institutions (IPTS) to get more information about their respective Architecture programs.

Next would be the issue of accreditation (for this country of Malaysia); where none of the private institutions (IPTS) have the accreditation status currently. (This could be an issue if you would like to practice Architecture in this country after completing the course, however, it will not be an issue if you practice this profession in oversea countries.)

The LAM - PAM accreditation does not apply to the Diploma programs.

The private institutions offers their respective foundation program for O-Level/SPM level students to gain entry into their respective architecture degree program without A-Levels/STPM level.

But all IPTA does not offer foundation programs (except UIAM/IIUM); where the STPM is required of Malaysian students, and the A-Levels from international students.



The IPTA (public government universities) are much more affordable compared to the IPTS, and both Part 1 & Part 2 Degrees are accredited by LAM - PAM. However, the big disadvantage is that the competition is very fierce, where it is very challenging to secure a place. (There are many students competing for a place; it can be as many as 3000+ students competing for just 30 places in just one intake alone, and there is only just one intake per-year compared to the multiple-intakes per-year of the private institutions.)

Finally, once you are accepted into an IPTA, you are also expected to perform consistently up to the mark (it is not going to be easy); where failing to perform up to the mark in a consistent manner will get you kicked out, and be replaced by another (more eligible) student. (The Society matters over an Individual in an IPTA.)

Just be informed that you will also need to stay out (away from home) if you are studying in an IPTA; this is because all of the IPTA campuses (except UM & UTM KL) are all located away from the main city, and situated in the more rural regions & suburbs; far away & isolated. In contrast, all of the private institutions (except LUCT) are located in the main city; close to your home. (Ultimately, it primarily depends on where you are staying as well, or the location of your home.) The IPTA also require all 1st year students to stay in the hostel of the campus, and use the public transportation system; not being allowed to use your own private vehicle (in the 1st year).

But, you will also "most likely" need to stay in the hostel too, at (Limkokwing University Cyberjaya) if you would like to study there; however, the big difference is that the new hostel building at LUCT is totally brand new right now, and the new rooms are also big, fully furnished, + with attached personal bathroom (as such, you do not have to share your room & toilet with anyone). (However, you will have to pay quite a significant amount for the good accommodation & services at LUCT...)

Similarly at Taylors University (if you ever have to stay in the hostel), everything is brand new & clean as well. The accommodation is great with options for single en-suite rooms with attached personal bathrooms (with no sharing with anyone at all); but as usual, you will have to pay for the good quality accommodation too. (In short, you will have to pay "quite a significant amount" for the otherwise much "better" accommodation facilities & services available at these private institutions; including SEGI University's new campus as well.) Taylors new "commercial building" offers all of the necessaries ever needed; which made it so convenient for the students staying in the hostel or even the new Hotel... (But things can be rather expensive in there...)

[These are primarily the pros & cons of studying in an IPTA or IPTS.]


Other basic information concerning Architecture can be found at the beginning of this thread.

Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Sep 14 2011, 04:44 AM