I am no expert on students’ culture at our architecture department. I am talking about the learning culture rather. I believe that we need to create a togetherness, in terms of vision for the school. As much as you want to get your vision across (to your head of department or dean or peers), there is in existence a vision of what the students perceive the school to be.
One of an important element is the winning mentality. The hunger for success and the drive to excellence. What is in students minds? What and how do they see this school evolve.
In UTM Skudai recently one of the design thesis student won an international competition. (Link) UTM has been striving to win comptetions since way back then. So I am not surprise about them winning a big competition like this.
