The development of a curriculum framework for the National Dual Training System (NDTS) in Malaysia

Curriculum is one of the most important elements in the Technical Education and Vocational Training system. Nonetheless, the existing National Occupational Skill Standard (NOSS)-based curriculum was found incapable of playing this role for its approach had created issue of workers being produced not meeting the needs of the industry or mismatch. In addressing the issue, the Malaysian government has decided to implement the National Dual Training System (NDTS) in 2005. The development of the NDTS curriculum was started in 2004, with the help of industry experts and skilled workers and guided by overseas consultants. However, the development of the NDTS curriculums was very time consuming. This has resulted in a serious scarcity in the number of curriculum. Worse still, the completed curriculums have been found inadequate that discouraged industry participation in the training programmes. Study showed that it stemmed from the absence of a good framework for the curriculum development in the country. Thus, it is paramount to make the needed NDTS curriculum framework available. The study adopted the qualitative research approach and the data collection methods were interviews, document reviews and observations. The existing practices of the NDTS curriculum development were investigated and analysed to unveil the actual way of developing the curriculum. The findings were benchmarked against the practices applied by developed countries to evaluate whether the NDTS curriculum development processes were in line with theirs in terms of dual training concept, work process analysis and establishment of working team. Ultimately, the study came up with a curriculum development framework to benefit all parties involved in training especially the curriculum developers to produce good curriculums within a reasonable time frame

Composite foundations on Malaysian soft clay soil: applications of innovative techniques

An innovative technique of electro osmosis coupled with vertical surcharge loading to accelerate the consolidation and stiffen Kaolin (China Clay Grade E) was investigated in this study. The geotechnical properties of this China Clay Kaolin Grade E and the design of electro osmotic consolidation chamber are discussed together with an explanation of the procedural concept of the electro osmotic consolidation chamber (i.e., the preparation of the apparatus and the clay sample, assembling of the electro osmotic consolidation chamber; and the experimental work). The plastic limit, liquid limit and plasticity index were 35%, 53% and 18% respectively. Therefore, China Clay Kaolin Grade E is classified as MH soil, and it is predominantly a silt with high plasticity. The specific gravity of the soil is 2.65. To ensure the kaolin is saturated, all samples were prepared in a similar manner with deaired water to produce a slurry at 150% of the liquid limit (initial moisture content of 79.5%). The electro osmotic consolidation chamber was cylindrical and consisted of the body, the base and the top cap. The body and the base of the chamber were constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube with a wall thickness of 10.9 mm, 345 mm high and 251 mm inner diameter. The electro osmotic consolidation chamber was assembled together with a 45 mm thick flange and collar. The top cap of this chamber was based on that of a Rowe cell of similar diameter. Twenty one tests were performed in this study with an applied voltage and one test was a control test. The test samples in the twenty one tests were all consolidated to three different phases. In Phases 1 and 2, the samples were consolidated at 15 kPa while in the Phase 3, 50 kPa was used. The electro osmotic process was only performed during Phase 2. The time of treatment, numbers of electrodes, the arrangement of electrodes, and the applied voltages were investigated in these tests. Results from these tests indicated that the China Clay Kaolin Grade E in a 79.5% slurry form responded well to electro osmotic treatment and that electro osmotic process increased the overall stiffness of the soil as indicated by the reduced relative settlement in Phase 3 with a pressure of 50kPa. The water content around the anodes was less than that at the cathode creating zones of higher average constrained stiffness. The tests demonstrated that the longer the time of treatment, the greater the numbers of anodes, the shorter distance between the electrodes and the higher the applied voltages associated with electro osmosis increased the average stiffness of the soil mass confirming the concept of an electro osmotic pile. Keywords: electro osmotic merged vertical loading and electro osmotic, consolidation, electro osmotic consolidation chamber, stiffening

Cooperative learning in process dynamics & control course for undergraduate chemical engineering students

titute in the country, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is aggressively encouraging teaching staff to enhance teaching and learning to produce graduates who are relevant in today’s highly competitive world. To achieve this goal, grassroots awareness and training campaign, followed by encouragements are rigorously made. Active learning techniques, especially the Cooperative Learning (CL) and Problem Based Learning (PBL) are currently being promoted across all disciplines as well as levels of studies. This effort which was initiated by a group of enthusiastic teaching staff received a welcome endorsement from the highest level of university administrative key personnel. A special task force called CL-PBL Support Group was then set up to facilitate the promotion of CL and PBL practices across the board. At implementation level, faculty-based core groups were set up and trained to acquire and apply the necessary knowledge and teaching skills pertaining to these active learning approaches. This paper describes strategies and efforts to convince and encourage the implementation of active learning techniques among teaching staff and administrators, especially those in the engineering and engineering-related faculties. Training and support provided to academic staff are also discussed. Finally, factors that influence the success of university-wide implementation will be included

Promoting active learning in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia: A bottom-up, top-down approach

Being a leading technological higher education institute in the country, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) is aggressively encouraging teaching staff to enhance teaching and learning to produce graduates who are relevant in today’s highly competitive world. To achieve this goal, grassroots awareness and training campaign, followed by encouragements are rigorously made. Active learning techniques, especially the Cooperative Learning (CL) and Problem Based Learning (PBL) are currently being promoted across all disciplines as well as levels of studies. This effort which was initiated by a group of enthusiastic teaching staff received a welcome endorsement from the highest level of university administrative key personnel. A special task force called CL-PBL Support Group was then set up to facilitate the promotion of CL and PBL practices across the board. At implementation level, faculty-based core groups were set up and trained to acquire and apply the necessary knowledge and teaching skills pertaining to these active learning approaches. This paper describes strategies and efforts to convince and encourage the implementation of active learning techniques among teaching staff and administrators, especially those in the engineering and engineering-related faculties. Training and support provided to academic staff are also discussed. Finally, factors that influence the success of university-wide implementation will be included

Preparation and characterization of cogon grass natural fiber as a concrete filler for gamma radiation shielding

Concrete is a combination of cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and water. Concrete has a high shielding potential against gamma radiation from radioactive source. Concretes having a higher attenuation coefficient may be produced by varying the additives of various specific densities to increase the shielding performance. This study uses a cogon grass fiber, an invasive and unwanted grass due to their ability to grow, and disrupt desirable vegetation efficiently as a reinforcement material mixed into the concrete composite to observe its performance in radiation shielding. Natural fiber is known to have a tolerance to post splitting, high energy absorption and increased fatigue resistance of cement-based composites. Cogon grass fibers are use with different percentages of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% fiber content with four different thicknesses. In this study, the chemical and physical properties of cogon grass were characterized by the hydrolysis process (Chesson Method) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), respectively. The effect of different percentage of cogon grass fiber in concrete with different thickness to linear attenuation coefficient, the difference of linear attenuation coefficient value between lead concrete and cogon grass fiber concrete and half value layer (HVL) were also investigated. The possibility of using cogon grass natural fiber as a block of concrete for gamma radiation shielding was also evaluated based on the results obtained in this study. The results show that the hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin content of raw cogon grass fiber were 27.60%, 36.62% and 6.11%, respectively. AFM micrograph of cogon grass showed a blocky and rough surface. The calculated linear attenuation coefficient of cogon grass fiber showed an increase with the increase of fiber content and thickness. However, lead concrete showed a higher attenuation coefficient and lower HVL value compared to cogon grass fiber. Despite that, cogon grass fiber concrete may have the potential to be used as shielding material with some improvement

The Impact of increase in energy prices on sectoral costs of production of the Malaysian economy

This paper examines the impact of an increase in the petroleum price on the sectoral costs of production. Three components of costs of production, which comprise domestic materials, imported input, and labour have been identified. By using the input-output model, different scenarios of the petroleum price changes on sectoral costs of production were stimulated. The simulation results indicated that the fishing, forestry, and logging product, electricity and gas, cement, lime and plaster, and transport sectors are mostly affected by the increase in petroleum price. These sectors are expected to show large impact on costs of production as a result of petroleum price increase because these industries highly consume petroleum products as an intermediate input in their production process

Software Development And Time Series Analysis Of Keetch-Byram Drought Indexs At Kudat, Sabah

Forest fire has causes ecosystem disturbances and cause air pollution. In order to reduce the impact there is a need to have an early warning system for fire prevention controlling measures. One of the early warning systems is Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI). A study has been conducted t develop and use the software to analyse temporal variations in Kudat, Sabah. The KBDI daily values where then model and forecast using Autoregressive Moving Average Model (ARMA). The software was developed using Microsoft Visual Basic Version 6.0 with Microsoft Excel (*.xls) supported format with 3 column entry for dates, rainfall and maksimum temperature. Data from Kudat, Sabah were used to calculate the KBDI using the software. The daily KBDI were then analysed using ARMA in the PEST software. The results showed that the mean percentage error is very high because of the error of prediction given in May, July, August and September, calculated the value of 50.04%, 44.69%,44.08 and 61.35% respectively but other months has given in small prediction error, range from 3% to 40%. An error is occurred because of the averaged measurement and the El-Nino phenomenon. Previous studies on the model which related to weather prediction given a problem in accuracy when El-Nino occurred. To reduce an error of prediction model caused by El-Nino, it is suggested to add more data in current calculatio

Pemantauan dan penilaian retak lesu ke atas talian paip gas dengan menggunakan teknologi pancaran akustik

Fenomena kegagalan lesu dalam talian paip gas sewajarnya dikesan sejak peringkat awal lagi kerana akibatnya yang sangat buruk, dan aplikasi teknologi pancaran akustik dijangka sesuai untuk tujuan mi. Objektif utama projek mi adalah untuk mengkaji korelasi antara isyarat pancaran akustik dengan peringkat-peringkat tertentu dalam mekanisme lesu bagi keluli talian paip API 5L X70 yang jarang ditemui sebelum mi. Bagi mencapai objektif tersebut, ujian makmal telah dilakukan dan dibahagikan kepada dua bahagian iaitu ujian tegangan dan ujian lesu. Ketika ujian lesu, spesimen dikenakan tegasan berkitar balikan sepenuhnya dengan frekuensi bebanan 5Hz dan amplitud tegasan sebanyak 65%, 60%, 58% dan 53% daripada tegasan muktamad. Isyarat pancaran akustik turut dicerap daripada kedua-dua bahagian ujian tersebut. Selain ujian makmal, ujian lapangan turut dilakukan dengan mencerap isyarat pancaran akustik daripada bahagian simpang talian paip gas yang sedang beroperasi untuk tujuan perbandingan. Berdasarkan keputusan ujian tegangan yang dilakukan terhadap keluli API 5L X70, didapati bahawa nilai tegasan alah, tegasan muktamad clan terikan keseluruhan yang dicatatkan masing-masing adalah 637.8 MPa, 706.5 MPa, dan 0.246 mmlmm. Hasil kajian korelasi isyarat pancaran akustik dengan lengkung tegasan-terikan bagi keluli API 5L X70 telah menunjukkan bahawa aktiviti pancaran akustik sangat aktif pada ubah bentuk e1astik. Korelasi isyarat pancaran akustik dengan ujian lesu bagi spesimen yang dikenakan tegasan amplitud yang berlainan telah menunjukkan bahawa trend taburan aktiviti pancaran akustik yang dicerap dapat dibahagikan kepada tiga peringkat. Ketiga-tiga peringkat mi sangat dipengaruhi oleh fenomena pengerasan berkitar dan perlembutan berkitar yang berlaku semasa beban berkitar dikenakan. Analisis ciri-ciri pancaran akustik bagi isyarat-isyarat yang terjana pada ketiga - tiga peringkat di dalam mekanisme lesu menunjukkan bahawa nilai frekuensi dominan bagi isyarat-isyarat domain frekuensi daripada mekanisme lesu dengan operasi sebenar talian paip telah menunjukkan perbezaan. Nilai frekuensi dominan yang dicatatkan pada peringkat kedua dan ketiga dalam mekanisme lesu masing-masing berada pada julat antara 314 kHz hingga 364 kHz, dan 312 kHz hingga 380 kHz. Manakala nilai frekuensi dominan bagi isyarat domain frekuensi daripada ujian lapangan berjulat antara 50.05kHz hingga 68.36 kHz. Namun, perbandingan nilai frekuensi dominan bagi isyarat-isyarat yang dicerap pada ketiga-tiga peringkat semasa mekanisme lesu tidak menunjukkan perbezaan yang jelas. Keputusan analisis parameter statistik bagi isyarat-isyarat domain masa pancaran akustik daripada ujian lesu dan ujian lapangan menunjukkan bahawa nilai kurtosis hanya dapat memberikan perbezaan antara isyarat yang dicerap daripada ujian lapangan dan peringkat retak sahaja. Oleh itu analisis komponen utama telah diaplikasikan dan analisis mi ditemui berupaya untuk membezakan isyarat-isyarat domain frekuensi daripada ketiga-tiga peringkat semasa mekanisme lesu dan operasi sebenar talian paip gas. Modifikasi persembahan keputusan analisis komponen utama dengan mengaplikasikan plot dendrogram telah menunjukkan perbezaan kelompok isyarat pancaran akusfik daripada peringkat yang berbeza dengan lebih jelas. Isyarat pancaran akustik yang dicerap daripada lapangan turut berada pada kelompok yang sangat berbeza daripada kelompok isyarat-isyarat daripada mekanisme lesu. Secara keseluruhannya, dapat dirumuskan bahawa korelasi isyarat pancaran akustik dengan mekanisme lesu dapat dijadikan panduan di dalam memantau dan menilai fenomena lesu dalam talian paip semasa operasi

Identifying green spaces in Kuala Lumpur using higher resolution satellite imagery

There is a growing need for municipal councils to map and to monitor the extent and condition of urban green spaces, as one measure of the overall sustainability of a city. In this study, we identify the information about urban green spaces that can be obtained from satellite imagery. This research which is based in the city of Kuala Lumpur tests the ability of IKONOS higher resolution satellite imagery in identifying the different types and the different functions provided by green spaces using both automated methods and manual methods of visual interpretation. Both these methods were found to produce a map of green space for the entire city area that was 70% accurate when validated against ground surveys. In cases where higher resolution satellite imagery exists, we show how it can produce a variety of enhanced information which may enable city planners to monitor green space more regularly and to evaluate consistently which areas of green space within the city ought to be protected in order to maintain its benefits for the city populatio