The spirit of Christmas resonates vibrantly within the halls of Kolej Laila Taib as 73 industrious students partake in a spirited Christmas tree decoration competition. Over the past fortnight, under the guidance of seven dedicated lecturers, these students have tirelessly labored, turning ordinary trees into dazzling works of art. From the twinkle of lights to the shimmer of ornaments and the artistry of handmade decorations, each tree stands as a testament to the students’ creativity and unwavering dedication to the holiday season.
This inclusive competition, open to students from every department, has sparked immense interest and enthusiasm across the school. Collaborating in teams, students have pooled their imaginative prowess, resulting in a diverse and impressive array of Christmas trees, each boasting its unique allure.
The eagerly awaited voting phase is now underway, inviting the entire school community – students, faculty, and staff – to cast their votes for their preferred tree via online platforms and social media. The announcement of winners is scheduled for a special ceremony on Tuesday, December 26th, 2023, where laurels in the form of prizes and certificates await the victors.
Beyond a mere decorating contest, this Christmas Tree Decoration Competition stands as a splendid showcase for students to exhibit their creative finesse, foster the holiday spirit, and spread joy across the school community. It serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of teamwork and collaboration in fostering shared jubilation.
We extend a warm invitation to all to visit the school and witness firsthand the adorned trees. We are certain that the ingenuity and skill displayed by our students will leave a lasting impression!
“Architecture is the thoughtful making of space” – Louis I. Kahn.
The department of Architecture and Interior Architecture organized an educational trip to the city of Kuala Lumpur on the 16th to 20th of November 2023. It’s indeed a fruitful and wonderful experience, with a bunch of 14 students and 5 lecturers participated in the trip which provide the opportunity to explore and witness some historical architecture as well as aesthetic interior design.
The first destination was Tamarind Square, which is the reinvention of the traditional Malaysian shop-office, modern-day mall and the Asian village square located around the neighbourhoods in Cyberjaya. With the themed of industrial-meets-natural lifestyle hub, a unique retail and office development that’s set within a green oasis, it is a home to a plethora of aesthetic cafes, as well as photo-worthy spots and a 24-hour bookstore, that beautifully marries the best features of the past and the present – naturally draws the community together. Next, the students went on to visit to IKEA Cheras Mall. Students able to discover the latest home furnishing products, design trends and materials.
On the 2nd day, we paid a courtesy visit to UCSI, School of Architecture and Built Environment. The visitation was started off with a short introduction on their bachelor degree programmes presented by the Head of Programme (Architecture), Mr. James Lim and Ms. Cassy Lim, Head of Programme (Interior Architecture), followed by a Q&A session. Later, Asst. Prof. Dr. Allen Lau took us around the campus and visited their studios and workshop. In the afternoon, we visited ‘Concrete House’ designed by OTCQ Design Studio and were warmly greeted by an architect couple, Ar. Oscar Tan and Ar. Cheryl Quan. The initial idea exploration of the ‘Concrete House’ is a transformation of an old residential settlement location in Petaling Jaya neighbourhood. By taking the advantage of existing courtyard with additional skylight at roof top, the 120 feet long house able to penetrate ample of natural daylight and natural ventilation. Meanwhile, the lush greenery around the residential is designed intentionally to give shading to East-West facing elevations, keeping the house cool in our local tropical climate.
For the next few days, the students visited REXKL, a historic iconic cinema located in downtown KL which rejuvenated into a creative community hub. The venue reincarnated into a space for events, theatre, exhibitions, performances, library facilities, workshops, retail and F&B. Moving on our next destination, the Bamboo Hills, is a hip and modern dining destination with chill vibes and relaxing atmosphere. Students able to acquire the uniqueness of different design approaches in each restaurant inspired by the botanical, and discover the harmony of culture and tradition as well as capture the lush greenery within the surrounding context.
Apart from that, we also visited a few commercial shopping mall, such as Midvalley Megamall, Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall, The Gardens Mall, Lalaport Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC), Genting Highland Premium Outlets and SkyAvenue, Genting Highlands. For instance, the LaLaport BBCC is a new Japanese-oriented lifestyle shopping mall to offer shoppers a fresh experience. The most impressive feature of the mall is the rooftop garden which provides a large open space and stunning view across the KL skyline. We ended our trip at Genting Highlands, where we explored the SkyAvenue Complex First World Hotel and the Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park.
It’s a wrap and an eye-opener for the students to learn and gain the most out from the educational trip. Stay tune for the next trip!
Approaching the end of Year 2023, yet another milestone is achieved by Kolej Laila Taib.
On this memorable day of November 8th, 2023, Kolej Laila Taib (KLT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), offering to the Accounting students a Dual Diploma Programme. This MoU not only brings value to the students but also a recognition of the quality of Kolej Laila Taib’s Diploma in Accounting programme.
Through this MoU, students of Diploma in Accounting from KLT will be eligible to obtain a Diploma in Accounting and Business awarded by ACCA, upon their graduation from Kolej Laila Taib. With this, Accounting students from KLT will graduate with two Diplomas, one from Kolej Laila Taib, and another from ACCA.
Representing Maritime Southeast Asia, ACCA, Ms. Jane Chiong, the Education Relationships Lead, talked to the students on the history of ACCA and the benefits of obtaining the Diploma in Accounting and Business (DiAB). ACCA is recognised in 181 countries worldwide, hence, holding a Diploma awarded by ACCA gets one to more opportunities than one can imagine. Apart from that, with the Dual Diploma programme, graduates’ employability upon their graduation is greatly enhanced. It is also the intentions of ACCA to develop the business acumen skills among the students, making them a more valuable and outstanding individual.
Talented and capable human capital is of great essence in achieving Sarawak’s Aspiration by 2030. With the collaboration between ACCA and KLT, the College is now more confident than ever in producing the necessary human capital to fulfil the aspiration of Sarawak.
Sibu, October 05, 2023 – In a significant stride towards promoting academic excellence and industry collaboration, Kolej Laila Taib Sibu and SiES Engineers Sdn Bhd have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The momentous agreement is set to pave the way for a multifaceted partnership that encompasses student internships, academic visits, and the organization of joint seminars, workshops, and conferences. This collaboration promises to enrich the educational experience for students while bridging the gap between academia and industry.
One of the key pillars of this partnership is the provision of student internship placements at SiES Engineers. This strategic collaboration opens doors for Kolej Laila Taib Sibu’s aspiring engineers and professionals to gain real-world experience in their chosen fields. These internships will empower students with hands-on skills, exposure to industry best practices, and the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to practical situations. It not only enhances their employability but also enriches their academic journey, setting them on a path to becoming well-rounded, industry-ready graduates.
Academic visits are another vital facet of this partnership, fostering knowledge exchange between the two institutions. Students and faculty members from Kolej Laila Taib Sibu will have the chance to visit SiES Engineers, gaining insights into cutting-edge technologies, innovative projects, and the latest industry trends. These visits will serve as a catalyst for inspiration, igniting the passion for engineering and motivating students to explore new frontiers of knowledge.
The collaboration’s dimension involves the organization of joint seminars, workshops, and conferences. These events will serve as platforms for intellectual discourse, where experts from both Kolej Laila Taib Sibu and SiES Engineers come together to discuss emerging issues, share engineering findings, and explore innovative solutions to industry challenges. Such gatherings not only foster collaboration but also elevate the standards of education and knowledge in the field of engineering.
In conclusion, the MoU between Kolej Laila Taib Sibu and SiES Engineers Sdn Bhd marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of academic excellence and industry engagement. It promises to be a win-win situation, benefiting students, college and the industry alike. This collaboration underscores the importance of forging strong bonds between academia and industry to nurture the next generation of engineers and drive innovation forward. As the partnership unfolds, it is poised to leave a lasting impact on the educational landscape of Sibu and beyond, ushering in a new era of collaboration and excellence.
The Borneo Collaborative Design Workshop (BCDW) is being conducted in conjunction with the International Heritage and Cultural Conservation Conference (InHERIT 2023). A three-day remarkable initiative workshop was hosted by the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS).
Participating in this workshop were architecture schools from various universities and institutions across Borneo, including the University of Malaysia, Sarawak (UNIMAS), Universitas Tanjungpura (UNTAN), Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Sabah Institute of Art (SIA), and Kolej Laila Taib (KLT). This marked the first workshop involving six institutions from three Borneo nations.
“Architecture is the learned game, correct & magnificent, of forms assembled in the light.” –Le Corbusier (Architect)
The 34th Architectural Student Workshop 2023, with the theme “REWIND” was hosted by UCSI University, the School of Architecture and Built Environment. The workshop was held from the 8th – 11th August 2023 at the magnificent Resort Taman Eko Rimba Komanwel (RTERK) situated in Rawang, Selangor, Malaysia.
For the past 33 years, the annual event has serves as a platform and opportunity for all architectural students from both public and private higher institution in Malaysia to gather together. The aims of the workshop is to convene, interact, fostering the growth of meaningful relationships and the development of a collaborative architectural community.
For this year, the department of Architecture from Kolej Laila Taib was cordially invited by the host to join the workshop with the 16 universities. The Architectural Students Association, ASA, has sent a team of 15 architecture students and 2 advisors to participate in the main competitions, such as the Society Rebuild, Recurring Memories and Wreath of Rivalry. Other sub competitions also includes Record of Nomads and Alchemy of Light.
Furthermore, it is also the first time in the history of architectural workshop that being held at the nature park through a camping theme compared to previous workshops which are organized at various university campus. Participants not only learned to install the tents and foster a cooperative team spirit among themselves, but also express their thought, opinions and interaction in each activity modules by expressing their creativity.
Last but not least, the annual event provides a lot of inputs and create an eye-opener for our students to expose their skillset, motivate self-independence and cultivate team spirit among themselves.
See you next year in KAMPAR, host by UTAR in 2024!!!
‘The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page’ – Saint Augustine
So, travel we go!
It was an eventful July for the Business Management and Accounting students of Kolej Laila Taib. 43 of them ventured to Kuala Lumpur from 24th to 28th July with 6 of their departmental lecturers.
This trip was organized for the students as part of their coursework where they were required to perform observations which will later be reported in their assignments. To make the trip more educational, corporate visits were also arranged for the students. They had the opportunity to visit Vitagen Malaysia, Ajinomoto (M) Berhad and Bank Negara Museum and Art Gallery.
Students were able to see in person the operations of a factory and the production line of Vitagen and Ajinomoto from the filling process to the packing process. These were usually something that they had to imagine or visualize but this visit opened their eyes to the real production. Students also had the opportunity to observe real examples of the diversification strategy where corporations like Vitagen and Ajinomoto diversified their product lines to more than one product.
It was also an interesting visit to Bank Negara Museum and Art Gallery. The gallery effectively used interactive displays to teach visitors on trading, e-payment, savings, history of Bank Negara and etc. There were also plenty of information on economy and finances which were really a great eye opener.
An educational trip with a big group of students will bring the best out of the students. Throughout the trip, students got to show off their leadership ability in taking care of those assigned under their wings. They also got to learn the value of cooperation, patience, and punctuality. Most importantly, the trip brought the students closer to each other and with the lecturers, from being practical strangers to friends forever.
All in all, the trip not only enhanced the students’ knowledge of the theories and concepts they learn in class, but they also gained a lot on the individual level and most importantly, friendship. Educational trips as such are highly essential and should be encouraged. It is the hope of the Department of Business Management that more trips like this will be organized in the future for the benefits of the students.
On 14th July 2023, a group of 30 students and 6 lecturers from KLT QS, CE & EE departments visited an apartment development along Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Sibu. The developer of this project is Sendayan Group of Companies, and the main contractor Zellcom Sdn. Bhd. The site visit aims to expose students to actual construction process. Mr. Ting, the project director, and Mr. Alex Tiong, the site engineer lead the site visitation.
According to Mr. Ting, this project commenced since October 2022, and is expected to be completed by end of September 2024. There are two blocks of 10-storey apartments, 115 units for each apartment. This project provides Sri Pertiwi affordable houses which aimed at those Sarawak family where the household income falls between RM 4000-RM10,000.
The apartment is using transferred beams and shear wall system instead of load bearing wall system. This design will greatly reduce the usage of columns and provides more space. On the other hand, Mr Ting stressed that resources such as time and labour is reduced abundantly by using reinforced concrete wall as it requires less labour and can be completed in shorter time. This project also applies plastic formwork instead of plywood formwork which allow longer life span and smoother surface of the concrete wall.
At the same time, Mr. Alex Tiong also showed the safety measures that being implemented on sites, such as temporary staircase to higher level, temporary handrail along the in-progress staircase, and also the temporary railing support for workers on top of the wall.
It was a beneficial experience that all participants learn different type of construction methodology and able to witness the actual site activities.
A courtesy visitation organised by Miri College Community (KKM) to the Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture, Kolej Laila Taib (KLT) was held successfully on the 23rd of June 2023. The objective of the visitation was an essential part of the benchmarking session and exchange of knowledge between the two colleges. The Director of Studies, Mr. Wong Xuan Yuan started the sharing session on the establishment and introduction of Kolej Laila Taib, followed by the diploma programmes offered by the college.
Throughout the meeting, both colleges highlighted the importance of the certificate and diploma programme, especially after the release of the SPM result. Consequently, the significance of the diploma programmes as the feeder for students to further their studies at the university level is also being emphasized. According to one of the lecturers from Miri College Community, Ms Norayushafira, for the past few years, KKM produced a lot of excellent and quality students who enrolled in KLT for both diploma programmes and received good feedback and job application from the industry practitioner. Also, the next agenda discussed was concerning further collaborations between the two colleges in years to come and underlined the importance of industry engagement for lecturers and students.
A group of 47 students from Kolej Laila Taib had perform their community services in several community centre which located in Sibu area. The students were divided into 6 groups, each group involve of around seven to eight persons. Each group had to perform their community services in community centre for two days.
The first group of students were going to conduct their community service at Tempat Transit Gelandangan (TTG) Sibu. TTG Sibu is a place that provided temporary shelter for homeless persons. According to the students, they perform cleaning works for the first day. They do housekeeping for the surrounding area. Some of them were responsible to sweep and mop the floor inside the room. The next day, they also provided some arts and crafts activities like drawing and painting on paper for the homeless person to join.
Second group of students had chosen to perform their community services at Sibu Animal Rescue Society. Sibu Animal Rescue Society is a non-governmental organization which is dedicated to animal rescue missions and adoptions. They take unwanted, abandoned, injured, abused, or stray cats and dogs from the street and find a suitable permanent home for them. Their organization is run by volunteers who are willing to sacrifice their time and put in efforts to change the fate of these poor animals. The students were helping to do housekeeping works by cleaning up the dog cage in order to keep the area clean and hygienic.
Next, the third group of students were visiting St. Joseph’s Mission Animation Centre which located at Sentosa, Sibu. They were doing housekeeping works at the garden by throwing away the rubbish and dead leaves. Some of them were sweeping and mopping the floor inside the building.
Another group of students were choosing to perform their community service at Rumah Seri Kenangan which located at Batu 13, Jalan Ulu Oya, Sibu. Rumah Seri Kenangan is a place that provided shelter for the elders. The elders were normally with age of 60 years old and above. For the first day visiting the community centre, students were preparing some refreshments for the elders. Besides that, they also provided small art activities and spending time to talk with the elders. Some of the students were bringing board games and playing together with the elders. The elders were very happy to have someone who accompany them.
Some of the students were spending their time at Sibu Spinal Cord Injury Association. This association has therefore served a good purpose in helping those who have suffered from spinal cord injuries. The majority of the members here had became partially paralysed after accidents, while 20 per cent of them suffered viral infections. The students were helping them to do some cleaning works. They were helping the association to clean up for the room, wiping for glass window, throwing away the rubbish, sweeping and mopping the floor and so on.
The last group of students were going to the Sibu Agape Centre. Sibu Agape Centre is the association for children with special needs. The students were helping them to do housekeeping works. They were sweeping and mopping for the corridor. Furthermore, they also help to clean up the rooms and office.
As conclusion, this is a very memorable moment for Kolej Laila Taib’s students to involve in the community services. Besides, students who participated had also enjoyed and valued for their work during their community services. Lastly, they were also willing to spend their time to help the community in future.
