A team of UTAR students and lecturers attended the Novus Youth Arena Malaysia Convention 2016 held on 14 to 15 October 2016 at the Construction Industry Development Board Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur. The event was organised by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIBD) and Chartered Institute of Buildings Malaysia (CIOBM). The fourth instalment of this annual event sought to bring together all the undergraduates and young professionals of the built environment, encompassing construction management, quantity surveying, technical vocational trades, architecture and engineering.
The twenty eight UTAR students from the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT)’s Department of Construction Management were accompanied by Senior Lecturer Ar Tan Seong Yeow and Dr Olanweraju Abdullateef Ashola.
The VIPs for the event included CIOBM President Sr Ong Bok Siong, CIOBM Principal Gan Hock Leong, and National Physical Planning Division Director Rokibah Abdul Latiff, representing Deputy Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government YB Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique.
Day One was officiated by Sr Ong, ceremonially opened by Rokibah, and was followed by a technical talk by Gan titled “Sustainable Construction and the CIOB Carbon Action Plan 2050”. During the ice-breaking session, the participants were encouraged to develop self-confidence and shed their shyness through various games. The afternoon session required the participants from various universities to form groups and foster teamwork for a treasure hunt game called “In search of excellence in construction and the built environment”.
The night consisted of Talent Time presentations from the participants. Their creative, talented and humourous performances of songs and dances were rewarded with uproarious laughter from the audience.
The activities for the second day continued with the NOVUS Youth Arena 2016 Forum, headlined by a talk titled “Success Never By Chance” addressed by CIBD Malaysia’s Department of Construction Personnel Senior General Manager Mohd Nazli Ahmad Mahyadin.
Other speakers at the forum included Principal Architect of T&T Architect YBhg Dato’ Kiat Tung, Managing Director of Ken Holdings Bhd Sam Tan, Executive Director of Crest Builders Bhd YBhg Datuk Gerald Goh Wan Yong, Managing Director of Crest Builders Bhd Eric Yong Shang Ming, President of Bintang Kencana Group YBhg Dato Hj Ahmad Raziff Abu Bakar, Director of Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA) YBhg Datuk Prof Sundra Rajoo, President of KLIA Premier Holdings Sdn Bhd YBhg Tan Sri Dr Ir Jamilus Hussein, Managing Director G&P Consulting Group YBhg Dato’ Ir Dr Gue See Sew, Director of Veritas Design Group David Mizan Hashim, and Managing Director of Impetus Alliance Advisors YBhg Datuk Seri Michael K C Yam.
The common thread of all these talks was the ingredients for success, especially, the ability to quickly grasp golden opportunities, being adaptable, lifelong learning skills, good interpersonal skills and raising individual personality visibility. The major advice delivered by the speakers to the audience were to start honing their entrepreneurial skills and to always have a positive outlook and ideas before making a decision.
This event was a beneficial activity for exposing the younger generations to the inner workings of the industry. The event also demonstrated the critical values and habits that are essential to gaining success in the built environment field.
From left: Yip, Ong, Rokibah and Nazli delivering their talks
The audience listening attentively
UTAR students posing for a photo
The UTAR lecturers and participants at the end of the event
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