TAR UMT Graduate Honoured With RISM Gold Medal in Quantity Surveying
This prestigious honour highlights Lim Jing Ru’s academic excellence and industry readiness.
Published 18 Aug 2026
A willingness to go beyond the classroom has paid off for Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) graduate Lim Jing Ru, who recently received national recognition for her achievements in quantity surveying. She was awarded the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) Annual Gold Medal Award for Best Student 2026 in the Quantity Surveying category, a prestigious honour that highlights both academic excellence and industry readiness.
Reflecting on the achievement, Jing Ru commented, "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 potential and helping me develop it well, leading to my recommendation for the award."
Jing Run had a very proactive approach throughout her journey of pursuing a Bachelor of Quantity Surveying (Hons). Rather than sticking to a single class format, she attended multiple tutorial groups while coordinating with different tutors to experience a variety of teaching styles. This allowed her to build a deeper and more well-rounded understanding of her field.
Jing Ru also made the effort to connect theory with real-world practice. A standout moment during her studies was visiting the construction site of the iconic TAR UMT Arena. Seeing a project in progress helped her better understand how concepts like cost management, construction technology and project execution come together in a real-life development.
Her forward-thinking mindset was further demonstrated in her Final Year Project, which explored how digital technologies are transforming the quantity surveying profession in Malaysia. Her research examined how emerging technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), artificial intelligence and cloud computing are reshaping traditional roles within the industry.
She shared, "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."
Commenting as well on how her internship played a part in giving her valuable industry exposure, 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."
Her accomplishments highlight how academic support, hands-on experience and a forward-looking mindset can come together to prepare students to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.
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Amelia Ho
Always wandering, always wondering.
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