Miri – 4 April 2023 – First-year engineering students of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently learned insider tips on winning engineering and construction tenders from Ir. Tian Fung Wang, a seasoned professional engineer.
The guest lecture was in relation to the students’ Engineering Foundations: Principles, Design and Communication (INDE1001) unit of their Engineering First Year (EFY) course.
Tian shared his vast industry experience and expertise on the topic, beginning with an introduction to the concept of tendering and its importance in the engineering and construction industry. He also highlighted the key stages in the tendering process, including pre-qualification, invitation to tender, and bid evaluation.
This was followed by an introduction to the various rules and regulations governing the tendering process such as the standard bidding documents, bidding procedures, and the legal framework for tendering. Tian emphasised the importance of following these rules and regulations to ensure a fair and transparent tendering process.
In addition to the technical aspects of tendering, the students were given a brief overview of project management. Tian highlighted the importance of effective project management in ensuring successful project delivery. He also shared his personal experiences and insights on project management, including the challenges and opportunities that come with managing complex engineering and construction projects.
The guest lecture ended with a lively Q&A session where the students had the opportunity to ask Tian questions about the tendering process and project management.
The students were grateful for the opportunity to learn from a seasoned professional engineer and gain a deeper understanding of the tendering process. One of the students, Muhammad Iman Zulkifli, said “I learned a lot from the guest lecture. For instance, it is important for bidders to be creative in their tender bids to stand out from the rest. Instead of using just illustrations and text, they can use 3D model videos, which is more engaging.”
He added that tendering is an important aspect of the engineering and construction industry and learning about it in the early stages will give students a thorough understanding of the process and requirements later on in their studies and in their future careers.
Fellow student Haziq Drahman also found the guest lecture very informative and relevant to their Engineering Foundations unit.
“Ir. Tian shared very valuable pieces of information based on his decades of experience. This included bureaucracy in the corporate sector, cost and team management, international projects involving international regulations and how businesses deal with them.
Ir Tian sharing his industry expertise with the EFY students.
“Due to his vast experience, he was also able share insights from the perspectives of the contractor, consultant and client, for a multi-faceted view of the tendering process,” said Haziq.
Unit lecturer Abdul Hamid Abdullah said Tian’s guest lecture was a valuable learning experience for the EFY students as it gave them a practical understanding of the tendering process and its rules, as well as a glimpse into the world of project management.
“The students walked away with an appreciation for the importance of following the rules and regulations governing the tendering process and a deeper understanding of the engineering and construction industry as a whole,” said Abdul Hamid.
Head of the EFY programme, Dr. Tan Yee Yong, meanwhile, said the EFY, which is a common first year for students of various engineering disciplines, is crucial to all new engineering students at Curtin Malaysia. It equips them with the fundamental technical and essential personal skills to pursue the engineering majors of their choice in their subsequent years of study.
Essentially, they learn to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and information technology to solve engineering problems; and use technology to facilitate various science and engineering tasks. They also learn to communicate effectively, acquire teamwork skills, and adopt a continuous learning mindset.
In addition, the students can rely on a variety of academic services and support mechanisms such as such as academic advice, clinics and workshops, and awareness programmes designed to facilitate student success.
For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit www.curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or Tik-Tok.
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Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia)
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