Recently we have conducted another intake interview session, this time for the degree course. Initially we had 3 centers, but at the last minute several parents from Sabah demanded us to conduct an interview center in Kota Kinabalu. Although the School do not entertain such matters as we always believe if YOU want to join our school, you'd do anything for it. But some people in the admin caved in, and this became one of the most expensive interviews ever.

Anyways,

This year, the number of applicants was very small: less than 1000. This is contrasting to the huge number of diploma applicants (over 4500). This means our pool of students to choose from is smaller, but that also means applicants this year have better chance of getting in as there are less people to compete with .

Despite the smaller number of applicants, this year we saw higher quality of students. Most of them are quite well prepared for the interviews, and most of them brought impressive portfolios and have given a lot of thought of joining architecture. So we were satisfied as the candidates are more mature and have some idea of what they're getting into. I personally have given some of them assurance that they will be offered a place (if they reject UM and USM's offer lol!). They were that good.

We just sat for the decision meeting yesterday evening. So we already have the final list, which will be sent to Unit Kemasukan Rekod on Monday, and forwarded to UPU by end of next week. But I don't know when UPU will announce the offers. Just to explain on the process:

i. First, the interviews take place. We assess the candidate's aptitude, drawing skills, communications and several other aspects that I cannot reveal.
ii. We then grade those criterias, and label "Amat Sesuai", "Sesuai" and "Tidak Sesuai".
iii. Then a master list is compiled including results from all four centers.
iv. Based on the grades given, we rank the candidates.
v. The "Amat Sesuai" candidates are put in the "First Intake" list.
vi. The "Sesuai" candidates are put in the "Reserve/Standby" list.
vii. The "Tidak Sesuai" candidates are dropped and will not be considered at all.
viii. The "First Intake" and "Reserve/Standby" list then is submitted to Unit Kemasukan Rekod.
ix. UKR will offer the First Intake a place, and if any should reject, the highest candidate in the Reserve/Standby list will be offered.
x. UKR will also process any appeals from the Reserve/Standby list, but will not entertain any from the Tidak Sesuai list.

This ought to give you some idea of how the system works. And that if you were not offered, doesn't mean your doors to UTM are closed entirely. We normally have 2nd or 3rd intakes, and it's absolutely possible to secure a place.

This year, we called about 180 candidates, and will be taking between 35-40 students. From the interviews, we had a large number of Amat Sesuai. However, a number of them also applied to USM architecture. So there's a big chance that they will be going for USM instead and leaving spots open. These are very good candidates and we were very impressed with them. Any school would love to have them, so I doubt USM would want to miss them. So if you think you have impressed us during the interviews but did not get any offer, do not despair. You might be in the Reserve/Standby list and all you need to do is appeal and wait for the spots to open up .

Wow, slightly more than the current 28~30 batch...Meriahnye

You mean you actually flew to KK to conduct the interviews?

i didnt, but my colleague did. he was first assigned to kuching for the interviews and went alone. then a few days before that, these parents complained and threatened to lodge ADUAN RAKYAT at TV3, so the UTM admins freaked out lol. so right after kuching, my colleague was sent to KK to conduct the interviews. alone. on a hari buruh weekend.

Haha. Think of it as a holiday....

Wanna ask, you grad from UK rite? Where is a good place to do interior Architecture in UK? Got a friend's son who don't have the aptitude to do full architecture but dad wants him in the field...

i know a few places that's popular amongst malaysians, but cant really say if they're good or not...

PM me the unis. I will look them up. If popular with Malaysian then at least he not so lonely there.

What does Interior Architecture involved?

Do UTM accept private STPM candidate? or usually private candidate has lower chances to get in?

try university of arts london chelsea or that college in manchester (i forgot the actual name). my wife studied architecture in de monfort, leicester, and most of her friends there are either studying interior design or medicine. dundee has quite a popular interior design course as well, but as far as i know, most malaysians there study medicine, not interior design.

as long as it's STPM, we dont differentiate between private and public candidates.

Just a question that came across my head right now;

If an IPTS would to be "accredited" in the near future, will you agree that Taylors' Part 1 equivalent program will be the very first one to succeed in satisfying the "standards" required by the accreditation? (BTW yeah, Taylors SABD is VERY confident in getting it by this coming July. )

Why do you think it WILL or it will not succeed in meeting the standards of the accreditation? (Other than the fact that the program is of course still relatively new.)

Looking forward to hear especially your opinion Dr. Azarimy.

Regards.

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: May 12 2011, 02:56 AM

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Added on May 12, 2011, 10:25 amLike many other things in Bolehland, accreditation is not just a matter of merit but depends on gomen policy. If not, how do you explain why the BArch from NUS, a world-class uni has not been accredited up to this day?

This post has been edited by tehtmc: May 12 2011, 10:25 AM

yes. i've discussed this matter quite thoroughly with one of the CAAEM member, and he agrees that taylor's at the moment is the closest IPTS to getting accreditation. and i wont be surprised if taylor would manage to get it this july. they had the preliminary visit by CAAEM, and they were quite satisfied, minus some issues that only would take a year or two to fix.

there are lots of other reasons why an IPTS did not get accreditation. two of the major issues common to all are:

i. lack of peer learning: there's little to no evidence that peer learning occurs in the school. and we're not talking about group works here. most students are just concerned about their own self, their own works and their own grades. look at any IPTAs and u will see a stark contrast in the community.

ii. lack of facilities. most of it is about dedicated studio. in IPTAs, studio is assigned to the students, but in IPTS, the student is assigned to the studio. students share the studio with other students according to the schedule. if it's not their time, they have to go out. just like u use a classroom. LAM requires the student to have their own studio for use throughout the semester and not be shared by those not a part of their group/unit.

others like the lack of computing facilities are quite common. one IPTS actually tried to "mask" a bunch of computers into a lab just to fulfill this requirement. but when the committee checked with the students, they told them that the lab was just "assembled" 4 days before the visit. so this practically cheating the students.



so it's not impossible to achieve accreditation. UTM just finished its accreditation now. i can tell u that they are extremely objective. it's as scary as the audit system.

UTM Accreditation is finally over. We are waiting for the official announcements of the results, but the panel have indicated the good news. It is now just a matter of formalities on the good news.

@Azarimy,
Besides Taylor's, are there any other IPTS that are up for accreditation this year? When will the results be out?

May i ask which IPTS will be the best to study architecture?
I heard taylor will get accreditation soon..

im currently doing form6, i went to some tuition classes and i was like very hard ;S

Should i juz start with private foundation course? but then i will miss out LAM accreditation later..

Any comment about UTAR architecture?

i dont think any other are due this year. but i dont have the schedule .

results are normally known during the exit meeting (between the school and the panel on the final day of the visit). they will inform whether it's ok or not. then they will have to return and write a full report, which holds the formal, official results.

correction, taylor is due for an accreditation visit soon. dont count ur eggs before it hatches .

Are you saying that Taylor's is the only IPTS to apply for LAM accreditation this year? What about accreditation visits to other IPTS's by LAM?

I would like to know, how are we able to find out the results of the LAM accreditation? Such as success and failure of an institution of obtaining LAM accreditation. Is the info available in the LAM website?

You mean this one?

http://www.lam.gov.my/List/Malaysia.htm

Hi, I'm currently participating in a foreign exchange program and I will only be back to Malaysia in early July.

I probably missed every local U offers for architecture.

so I was wondering whether :

1) Is there any way for me to appeal for local U?

2) What would you recommend me to do in order to enroll into the field of architecture in the next following 10 years? (either study locally or overseas)

3) Is there a possiblity for me to study and get an Cambridge A-level from HELP university and enroll into UTM or UIAM after that? (or maybe overseas with scholarship)

Thank you very much.

This post has been edited by lancer193: May 15 2011, 04:38 AM