HISTORY: THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF HBP

Envisioned and crafted in 1972 as a holistic school entrusted with nation building and national development, the School of Housing, Building and Planning (HBP), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) opened its doors to the first batch of enrolled students in 1973. 50 years on, HBP has matured into a multi-disciplinary built environment institution that seamlessly entwines 7 fields of study into one comprehensive learning and teaching experience that is strong in fundamentals but mercurial in adapting to change, innovation and dynamism.

HBP’s beginnings started when the Professors O.H. Koenigsberger and T.A. Marcus were tasked by the then Vice Chancellor of USM, Professor Tan Sri Datuk Hamzah Sendut to propose and develop the makings of a new school of studies with a direct role in national development. This was at a time when Malaysia was embarking on its own roadmap to economic and social development through the five-year Malaysia Plans. USM understood that the underpinnings of a truly developed nation would be its infrastructure, and thus, this new school would be to provide and train the needed expertise, knowledge and skill within the built environment and construction sectors. 

HBP was designed to cater to the growing need for ethical and well rounded built environment professionals and it is in this vein, the unique identity of HBP was forged: an integrated multi-disciplinary built environment based program that creates graduates with vision, creativity, innovation, and more importantly, passion. Using USM’s broad based learning environment, HBP incorporates the infusion of all necessary academic essentials that allow HBP to traverse the vast spectrum of the built environment in capturing the zeitgeist that will ensure HBP to be eternally relevant. 

HBP now offers undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Architecture, Building Engineering Technology, Building Surveying, Construction Project Management, Interior Architecture, Quantity Surveying, and Urban & Regional Planning which are all accredited with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) as well as with local and global professional bodies of the various disciplines such as the Malaysian Institute of Architects, Boards of Architects Malaysia, Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia, Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors, Board of Engineers Malaysia, Malaysian Institute of Planners, Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE). While these 7 programs form the main structure of HBP, fields of study such as landscape architecture, tourism development and project management are also offered as postgraduate programs.

HBP prides itself in striking a balance between academic, research, consultancy and engagement endeavours and has steadily maintained a reciprocal interaction with industry and community partners, as HBP firmly believes in progressing development through collaboration. The undergraduate and postgraduate studies in HBP are embedded with an academic vigour that stems and benefits from research and consultancy with the aim of improving our communities, be it in the local stage or a far-reaching global one. 

With a past steeped in national development and a present that sees HBP being recognized as one of the top built environment schools in the country, the future lies ahead with HBP striving to nurture a sustainable built environment through holistic higher education, in finding that harmony between progress and prosperity. Built on 50 years of experience, effort and achievement, HBP intends to steer itself as a premier built environment school that is not only unique but brimming with fusion and flair.