TAR UMT Graduate Wins RISM Gold Medal as Best Quantity Surveying Student

Hard work, precision and perseverance culminated in national recognition for TAR UMT’s Bachelor of Quantity Surveying (Hons) graduate, Lim Jing Ru. Jing Ru was honoured with the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) Annual Gold Medal Award for Best Student 2026 – Quantity Surveying Best Student Award on 26 June 2026.

"I was truly honoured and surprised when I received the news. This recognition reflects not only the hard work and dedication I put into my studies, but also the guidance and support I received throughout my academic journey. I thank my faculty and lecturers for seeing my potentials and helping me develop them well, leading to my recommendation for the award," said Jing Ru.

Jing Ru who hails from Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan (SMJK) Chong Hwa and is a TAR UMT Merit Scholarship recipient, constantly challenged herself to deepen her understanding beyond the classroom. One of her most memorable experiences was attending different tutorial groups by coordinating with tutors' schedules, enabling her to learn from different teaching approaches and gain a broader perspective on the subject matter.

Another highlight of her university journey was visiting the construction site of TAR UMT Arena. Witnessing the project under construction allowed her to connect classroom theories with real-world practices, reinforcing her understanding of construction technology, cost management and project execution through first-hand industry exposure.

Her passion for embracing the future of the profession was reflected in her Final Year Project titled ‘Assessing the Impacts of Digital Technologies on the Emerging Roles of the Quantity Surveying Profession in Malaysia.’ The research explored how technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital quantity surveying tools are reshaping the traditional role of quantity surveyors.

"My findings showed that these technologies can significantly improve accuracy, efficiency and collaboration throughout a project's life cycle. More importantly, I found that the role of quantity surveyors is evolving beyond traditional measurement and cost preparation to becoming strategic advisors who contribute to better decision-making across every stage of a project. At the same time, my research revealed that although many industry professionals recognise the benefits of digital technologies, their adoption is still at a developing stage. This highlights the gap between awareness and practical implementation, and reinforces the need for future quantity surveyors to continuously upskill and embrace lifelong learning to remain relevant in an evolving industry,” she mentioned.

"Beyond my research, my internship gave me the opportunity to see these concepts in practice. During my internship in the Contract Department of a property developer, I assisted with a mixed-use development in Seri Kembangan, where I gained first-hand exposure to contract administration. After completing my internship, I continued with the company and supported the Sales Administration team, where I learned about the sales administration cycle, documentation processes, purchaser records and coordination with solicitors and purchasers. These experiences helped me understand how contract administration and sales administration work hand in hand to ensure the successful delivery of a development from project completion to handover," she said.

In addition to Jing Ru’s achievement, TAR UMT’s Professor PMgr Sr Ts Dr Ting Kien Hwa from the Department of Real Estate, FOBE, received the RISM Excellence Award 2026: Outstanding Writer in Property and Construction Award Category A – RISM Member for his article, ‘Building Adaptation – The Way Forward.’