REDUCTIONISM IN OUTCOME-BASED EDUCATION (OBE) IN MALAYSIAN ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION.
This article is an abridged version of an academic paper of the same title. The whole paper can be downloaded here , Zaky Jaafar Understanding Reductionism and Outcome-Based Education in Malaysian Architectural Education Architecture is a fascinating discipline that requires a blend of creativity, technical skill, social understanding, and environmental awareness. As students progress, they learn to synthesize ideas from various fields to create built environments that are functional, beautiful, and contextually relevant. However, recent changes in educational approaches—particularly in Malaysia—are raising concerns about whether this holistic nature is being compromised. In recent years, Malaysian higher education has shifted towards a framework called Outcome-Based Education (OBE). This approach emphasizes clearly defined learning outcomes, or skills and knowledge that students are expected to demonstrate at the end of their studies. Governments and accreditation bodies see OBE...