my senior went to scotland for her part 2 architecture...in differ, he said that doing architecture there is easier than in our university...

having studied in malaysia for a full degree, and later spending a few years studying about UK's system, i'd say, malaysian architectural syllabus is dead more difficult than the UK's counterparts. one of the reason is that the system that we use is severely outdated, where mostly are governed by the practitioners on what they want and how they want it.

however, it is to my understanding that UiTM is using a slightly different system, which i'm not so sure about. UTM used elaboration from the bauhaus (german i think) and ecole de beaux art (french), which also used in the UK. USM expanded this into their own specialization. UIA follows UTM's template, but geared it towards islamic architecture. UM took UK's system directly, so if u wanna feel the british system, u dont have to look further than UM.

i have no idea about UPM or UKM, coz they're still new, and have not had any graduates yet. all private colleges offering architecture course used australian curriculum, which is an expansion of the british curriculum.

well... to put long story short...

UM staff is made up of a lot of ex-UTM lecturers and graduates. in 1995 when they setup the school, it was already geared for RIBA accreditation, not PAM. part of RIBA's requirement is the intakes must be from A-levels/STPM, hence UM immediately have that in mind when they setup the school. UTM only started the new curriculum in 2003, so we have about 3-4 years to go for RIBA accreditation.

but it doesnt really matter to most archi students. PAM's Part 1 & 2 is already recognized as RIBA equivalent. if u have part 1 and u want to continue to further overseas, u can just do so no problem. but if u want to WORK in the UK, that's where it matters.

UTM still have the vast experience, resources and tradition in architecture education. only when the staff joined UM, that isnt something anybody can do about. UM is a new school, so it's easy to implement/apply new stuff. UTM on the other, have too many old schoolers that i just need to get rid off . dont tell anyone!

ofcourse i know saari. he used to be my tutor, my mentor, my boss and now a colleague. he's here in sheffield now, doing a 1 year out-programme for his PhD in sheffield hallam university, studying about british housing system. i used to work in karya budi, which now has shifted near KLCC, not jalan ipoh anymore. he's my first experience of people speaking english in STRONG kelantanese dialect.