Wawasan Open University (WOU) took another step forward in strengthening academia–industry collaboration with its inaugural Builders Expert Talk, held on 6 October 2025 at its main campus in Penang.

Co-organised with the Penang Master Builders (PMB) and supported by Mega Jati Academy and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia, the event marked WOU’s first industry talk dedicated to construction professionals.

Themed “Seismic-Ready Buildings: Smarter, Safer, Stronger,” the session gathered more than 50 participants — including engineers, builders, technologists, and industry representatives as well as academics and students from WOU — to explore how Malaysia can strengthen its preparedness for seismic risks.

Prof Yap highlights that WOU is committed to bridging academic learning with practical, real-world applications, while also offering continuous learning opportunities that provide direct benefits to industry professionals.

In his welcome remarks, Prof Ts Yap Eng Hwa, WOU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), said the collaboration reflects the University’s growing role in supporting professional learning and workforce development across key industries.

“This event reinforces WOU’s position as a trusted knowledge partner to industry,” Prof Yap said. “By collaborating with organisations such as PMB, CIDB, and Mega Jati Academy, we aim to bridge academic learning with real-world applications and provide continuous learning opportunities that directly benefit industry practitioners.”

He noted that the theme was particularly timely given the recent tremors in Segamat, Johor, and the collapse of an unfinished high-rise in Bangkok following a powerful earthquake earlier this year.

“While Malaysia is not traditionally considered earthquake-prone, these incidents are reminders that seismic risks can and do reach our shores,” Prof Yap cautioned. “We need to embed resilience, smart technologies and stricter safety measures into every aspect of design and construction practice.”

The session featured two distinguished speakers — Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Noor Sheena Herayani Harith, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Ir Ts Heng Lee Sun, Project Director at HLS Pro Construction Sdn Bhd. Their presentations covered seismic risk mitigation in Malaysian construction, hazard mapping, national seismic provisions, and proactive construction management strategies for earthquake resilience and post-disaster recovery.

The event also qualified participants for CIDB’s Contractor Continuous Development (CCD) points and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points from the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT).

Prof Yap also commended WOU’s Construction Management cluster under the School of Technology and Engineering Science (STE) for initiating the collaboration with PMB.

“This event sets the stage for more industry-focused learning initiatives to come,” he said. “Our goal is to build a skilled, future-ready workforce that can drive Malaysia’s construction sector towards safer, smarter, and more sustainable growth.”

Seminar attended by engineers, consultants, developers, and specialists in security, building management, and automation systems