I don't see how the so-called 'architectural engineer' can take on the role of the civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers all rolled into one for a building project. There has been no such precedent and I don't think the Board of Engineer would allow it.
As a comparison, BEM does not allow graduates of 'electrical & electronic engineering' to be registered as 'electrical engineer', which goes to show to how strict they are.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 1 2011, 09:29 PM

Umm, but I heard that Bachelor position needs STPM.
Means if I don't take STPM, I can't reach Bachelor huh?

STPM only if you are planning to apply for the degree programmes at the IPTA's.

u can take the longer route via SPM > diploma > degree.
alternatively:

i. matrics will get u into IPTA faster than STPM.
ii. A-levels, SAM and other external pre-u will get u into IPTS or overseas degree instead.

Cause I am either taking STPM or heading for Diploma if you mean it still can reach to the final stand without taking STPM.

I don't really aiming for an expensive one but I am aiming for a legit like UM or any local. Furthermore, I am paying for my own study (Though, I am studying full time).


*EDIT: No matrics, no A-level- Just PURELY SPM>STPM>Diploma (Ignore this if you mean STPM = skipping Diploma)>Bachelor>Degree OR SPM>Diploma>Bachelor>Degree.

This post has been edited by yen2009: Feb 1 2011, 10:35 PM

just so we are clear, when u say "local universities", it includes IPTAs and IPTS, both public and private schools. i guess what u wanted to say is u're going the IPTA path.

so if u plan to study in an IPTA, here are the routes available to u from SPM:

i. SPM > STPM > 1st bachelor (part 1) > 2nd bachelor or 1st masters (part 2).
ii. SPM > diploma > 1st bachelor (part 1) > 2nd bachelor or 1st masters (part 2).
iii. SPM > polytechnic diploma >1st bachelor (part 1) > 2nd bachelor or 1st masters (part 2).
iv. SPM > matriculation > 1st bachelor (part 1) > 2nd bachelor or 1st masters (part 2).

Cause the local universities websites are very messy, link errors, points even going against of your guide. Perhaps I should consult academic counselors soon.

if u find anything contradictory, do inform me. sometimes universities make new rulings that i'm not aware of.

It's too late for those who have completed SPM to apply for matriculation at this time, no?
I take it that yen is a non-bumi. I recommend STPM since there are a lot more choices of public unis offering architecture these days.

@azarimy: Will try my best if I see any weird and confusing points, so far no. But I really hate the link errors (Maybe the websites / school is offline). Especially the link of 'Programme Offered' and information about the programmes.

@tehtmc: Yea, I am not a bumi. Not really planning for matric. The years of study is random between one year and two years right? My friend got 2 years.

This post has been edited by yen2009: Feb 2 2011, 08:41 PM

Guys, I think I need your humble opinion. I've been using Autocad, Rhino, Sketchup, 3dsmax, Photoshop and Illustrator as my execution tools since forever, but it seems that nowadays there's quite a few companies have started using BIM softwares such as Archicad and Revit here in Malaysia.

Do you think it's worth my time to actually learn this software?

The good thing about it is that I think it will of course open up the opportunities when applying for jobs, less errors in drawings, instantaneous schedules, floor calculations, volumes, elevations, sections and 3D. Some claims that it is much faster compared to drawing conventionally in Autocad.

My concern is that I'm scared it won't make that much of a difference for the time sacrificed to learn the software. Tools are still tools. The end product should be the same no matter what we use. I'm currently working literally from sunrise to the next sunrise My only freetime is during weekends.

What's your take on this? BIM yes, no? Pros and cons?

i know quite a lot of people would disagree with me now, but i believe that BIM is the way of the future. one of the biggest advantage is that, nowadays GBI (green building index) is quickly gaining momentum, and BIM provides the fastest way to empirically prove that ur building complies to GBI.

BIM applications arent just for drafting. it's a technical assistant without the ability to b**** behind ur back . so basically if u are able to master it, it will turn u into one efficient entity: ability to produce the work that usually take 2-3 persons a week could be done under 3 days ALONE. which means firms wont have to pay for TAs and still produce the same amount of work, if not twice as fast!

in UTM we're drafting the new 3+2 masters programme, and we've already integrated a whole set of components dedicated for BIM. heck, they even sent me to get certified with REVIT in order to teach the future students.

if u're interested, go to ATC UTM website, there's a professional certificate training which u could take and get certified with REVIT. and i'll be teaching them. the course take 3 days typically. not sure what's the fees like.

I have tons of BIM applications literally, learned & used all; but nothing really special actually. Lots of work are still needed to be put in most notably in the aspect of getting everything head shot precise (BIM is really unforgiving when it comes to making any mistakes in the 1st place), and then the touch-up procedure after that, which could be really troublesome. Not knowing how to perform a certain task in a complicated software environment like this can really get you stuck in the ditch, such as during the need to perform specific modifications/amendments & such.

Generally, for those who are already quick & good at modeling & drafting with easy to use software like SketchUp-Pro/3Ds Max & AutoCAD, then going over to BIM would definitely become a deteriorating/frustrating process instead. However, if you are determine to learn & pick up BIM by attending courses & practicing it, then you will soon be able to gain the benefit/productivity from BIM. (However, you do need to "un-learn & re-learn"; because like it or not, the different process of thought & execution that BIM requires will naturally be conflicting to how you normally thought & executed your work previously; that is if you have been through the traditional architecture course as a student & been working in the manner to get work done.)

In addition, also bear in mind that BIM is also very much procedure based as opposed to the usual, and there are certainly boundaries, rules, & limits which you must conform. (Most of the time, you'll find yourself wrestling with the software, not to mention an incredibly rigid/stubborn BIM one.)

BTW, results from Revit & other BIM software seems to be rather disappointing for the rather cheap & "plastic-appearance" in fully rendered works; even after turning up the quality to the maximum. Heck, even the rendered quality from the very old & ancient 3Ds MAX 7 software, and only just using scan-line rendering, is producing far more impressive results by magnitudes. (It might not be an ideal comparison though, as a BIM software do not normally come with good rendering engines like those in 3Ds Max.)

Regards.

i believe i've mentioned this before. if u're looking for beautiful end product, BIM is not gonna fulfill ur needs. this is exactly the problem i had when i tried to explain BIM to my colleagues. and architects are used to object modeling, but they draw lines to represent them. BIM will come naturally eventually, as the architect knows a wall is a wall, and the software knows it too. this is contrast to other 3D modeling software, as a "wall object" rotated flat on the horizon will be interpreted as a floor instead.

i dont recommend learning BIM off hand. u should at least do it by the book, and cover the main components. family modeling, for example, is often overlooked in REVIT. people just complain that they cant change certain behaviours or characteristics, whereas it's all about figuring out where it's located and how to tweak it. heck, i've done a full timber construction, something not done often in REVIT.

master the software. dont let it tell u what u cant do.

I have to agree that BIM softwares are not meant to render beautiful images. They lack the tools to bring out the artist in you As they claimed them self it's more towards the documentation phase of the project.

I've made my decision though, I'm gonna start learning BIM softwares. Besides time, there's nothing else to lose. Extra knowledge will give extra advantages

cheers

Is Taylor a Malaysian government officially recognized college?
Let's talk about Bachelor first.

Cause some uni is 'officially recognized' by other governement but the government don't.

depends on what u understand by recognized. our government do recognize taylor's courses via MQA. but our architecture professional body LAM do not.

and please be aware that some college/unis do a partnership programme with a foreign university, which means they will get recognized from THAT foreign university alone and not necessarily the relative government. this was the case with LUCT a couple of years back, where their diploma could get into curtin, but not any other australian universities.

which is why the diploma is being phased out (if not already), and LUCT is offering local part 1 and 2 instead.

The simple answer is 'no'.
What really matters is that you have to be registered with the Board of Architects (LAM) to practice architecture in Malaysia.
None of the degrees from the IPTS's is registrable with the Board at the moment.

This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 5 2011, 02:42 PM

Although it is true that IPTS like Taylors or LUCT are not accredited by LAM, but it does not mean that the architecture program of these institutions are substandard in any way. In fact they are good, which is why prominent universities in the UK/Australia accepts & places students in advance standing. (P.S., lecturers in these IPTS are often graduates from renowned oversea universities + experience in the profession overseas as well.) Cannot possibly be bad isn't it?

IPTAs on the other hand also offer a very good quality level of architecture education and being accredited by LAM as well. However, competition is always very fierce/challenging in both the entry-process & then later on in the course itself as well.

Just an interesting observation though;

Architecture students in IPTS spend their late nights in studio doing what they would like to show-off (literally) to the world tomorrow (that kind of feel-good, excited, & boastful feeling), and there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of, because they know that they are the ones in power, and the lecturers would never ever dare to fail them nor give them bad grades; or else they could easily voice out their opinions & take legal action from higher authorities. (Students are treated as highly respected clients/boss.)

On the other hand, the environment in the IPTAs tend to be far less forgiving by nature. There are many others queuing up & competing for a place. If one do not perform consistently up to the mark, then one is simply rejected & substituted. Unlike in IPTS, students in IPTA are at the mercy of the lecturers/institution itself and do not have much say when anything falls out of their favor. (It is a realistic world & environment in there.) - "Society is more important than individual." -

In IPTS, - "Individuals tend to be treated more importantly (in priority) over whatever society is around" - (Whether this is good/bad is for you to figure out your own preference. )

Regards.

that's one way to look at it. it still does not hide the fact that even after numerous tries, none of the IPTS have ever achieved accreditation up to now. LAM have considerably raised the bar, and even IPTAs are struggling to keep up.

the whole "student is more in power in IPTS compared to IPTAs" arent exactly true either. the problem with a self-centered student living in an environment where nobody could tell u wrong is extremely dangerous. we call it the god-complex. and i've seen these before when i visited LUCT as an external examiner.

things that are considerably wrong were let go whereas in IPTAs it's an easy fail. one student deliberately tried to defend her 7m cantilevered floor which was impossible to construct, and nobody told her that. i requested her to produce the proof when she told me i was wrong. she quoted this design and that design, but none was ever substantiated. she almost stormed out of the presentation simply bcoz she couldnt convince the jury. mind u, i wasnt alone as there was another australian guy (forgot his name) there with me and he completely agreed. and yet she got a B+ despite both of us failing her!

god-complex is very common in architecture. and an environment where student is always right to me is stupid. u cant learn from being right all the time. design is about process and experiments, and it's about figuring out which ones that works and which is not.

and bear in mind, during the accreditation process, LAM always look at the lower achieving students. if the student passed where he/she should've failed in other schools, LAM will rule against accrediting the school. they dont really care about top quality, it's the minimum standard that they're concerned about!