Short courses, seminars and conferences provide platforms for researchers, engineers and academicians to meet and share ideas, achievements as well as experiences through the presentation of papers and discussion. These events are important to promote and encourage the application of new techniques to practitioners as well as enhancing the knowledge of engineers with the current requirements of analysis, design and construction of any civil engineering project. Seminars and conferences also function as a platform to recommend any appropriate remedial action for the implementation and enforcement of policies related to civil engineering fields.

Furthermore, seminars and conferences provide opportunities to market Faculty expertise in the fields of structural engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering and hydraulic and hydrology engineering. Realising the importance of these factors, the Faculty has set up various working committees to organise conferences related to civil engineering fields. The working committees are normally represented by members of the academic and clerical staff. In the early 80’s, the seminars, short courses and conferences were organised by the respective departments in the Faculty. However, in the 90’s, most of the seminars are organised by the Faculty’s Centres of Excellence such as the Steel Technology Centre (STC),  the Institute of Environmental and Water Resource Management (IEWRM), the Coastal and Offshore Engineering Institute (COEI) and the Construction Technology and Management Centre (CTMC).

The major conferences organised by the Department of Structures and Materials are the Regional Conference on Computer Applications in Civil Engineering (RCCACE) and the Asia Pacific Conference on Structural and Construction Engineering (APSEC).

The Department of Geotechnics and Transportation organises a bi-annual Regional Seminar on Geotechnical Engineering in Tropical Regions (GEOTROPIKA).

The Department of Hydraulics and Hydrology organises Symposium on Urban Planning and Storm Water Management and Basic Courses on Evaluation of Water Resources which is sponsored by UNESCO.

The Department of Environmental Engineering organises a series of conferences such as the National Seminar on Environmental Control & Technology (ENVIROTECH), National Seminar on Water and Wastewater Management and National Seminar on Advances in Environmental Control Technology.

These seminars and major conferences are normally well attended by participants from within the country as well as from overseas such as Japan, Korea, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

Besides organising seminars and conferences, the Faculty has also managed to organise many short courses for in-house training as well as for training civil engineers from various government departments in Malaysia. These courses are normally conducted by distinguished professors from overseas such as United Kingdom, United States of America, Italy and Japan. In addition, the Faculty has also successfully conducted many courses to increase the awareness of civil engineering contractors on the current requirements and issues in civil engineering in Malaysia. These seminars and short courses are usually co-organised with other professional institutions such as the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM). The Faculty has also received many support from various organisations such as the Malaysian Airline System (MAS), the Johor Corporation, PLUS and many others  who sponsored the seminars.

The Faculty is committed to providing continuing education, training and informative knowledge by organising more seminars, conferences  and short courses in the future.  The Faculty believes that such approaches are effective in creating awareness amongst engineers and those involved in civil engineering projects, enhancing relations between industry and university as well as promoting Faculty expertise.