Mahmud bin Mohd Jusan is an Associate Professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He received his Diploma in Architecture from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1982; B.Arch (Hons) from Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom in 1986; Postgraduate Diploma in Architecture from the same university in 1987; M.Sc. (Concrete Technology, Contruction and Management) from Dundee University in 1991; and Ph.D from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2007. He joined Universiti Teknologi as an academic staff in 1983.  Besides teaching, Mahmud has been entrusted to undertake administrative posts; as Head of Department of Architecture, Head of Department of External Program, and currently as Postgraduate Coordinator of Faculty of Built Environment. For architectural education of the country, Mahmud had served as a member of the Council of Accreditation of Architectural Education Malaysia (CAAEM), under the Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM) from 1999 to 2002. Currently he is a member of CAAEM’s (LAM) Accreditation and Validation Panel to evaluate national as well as international architectural programmes. From 2011 to 2014 Mahmud was a Member of the Council of Head of Architectural School (COHAS), an official representative for Malaysian schools of architecture  in the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). Mahmud has  also been appointed as a Member of the Selection Committee for the National Academic Award, Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. In publication, Mahmud has been contributing as a reviewer as well as a member of editorial boards for national as well as international publishers and conference organizers. As an academician, Mahmud is actively involved in research activities. His main interest is in the field of user cantered architecture particularly in exploring theories and concepts of the congruence between man and his environment. Currently he is an Associate Research Fellow for Center of Built-Environment in the Malay World (KALAM), ISIIC, UTM. He has written books and book chapters, and several articles in refereed journals on the theories. He has produced several working papers presented in both national and international conferences. Apart from being an academician, Mahmud is also a self-taught water-colourist, interested in exploring the hidden forces in the natural and man made environment. 

 Architectural Education My experiences as 1) a member of the Council of Architectural Accreditation and Education Malaysia – Board of Architect, Malaysia), 2) a member of the Council of Heads of Architecture Schools (COHAS)  3) an external examiner to schools of architecture, 4) a head of school of architecture, 5) a Manager of Part-Time education, 6) a head of architectural projects, and 7)  a lecturer, have equipped me with a comprehensive pedagogical knowledge in architectural education. therefore my interests in architectural education are 1) planning of new architectural programs, 2) managing the running of architectural program, 3) evaluating architecture and other related programs, and 4) managing Part-Time programs. Research: Human Behaviour and Architectural Design Currently, I am exploring a concept known as “Person Environment Congruence (PEC)” which is the ultimate goal of every creation of our built-environment. The concept suggests that the success or effectiveness of any built-environment depends on how much it fits expectations of the end user/s. Only when PEC is achieved, sustainability of the built-environment can be ensured. Most of my publications center on this concept, and all my postgraduate students are working within the framework of this concept. User Centered Housing The main application of PEC concept is currently on developing user centered housing. I am working on three important components conceptualized as being essential in achieving PEC in housing, i.e. a) Systematic understanding of Person – Environment Relationship, b) Development of Appropriate User Participation Programs, and c) Strategies for flexible housing design. Involvement in art activities I am also self-taught artist, interested in exploring the hidden forces in the natural and man made environment. My art works are inspired/driven by man-environment relationship based on my research works on human behavior, my personal experiences living in a rural village, and my academic studies on urban environment of Malaysia. Most of my paintings are attempting to explore the reality of the natural and man-made environment that is the existence of genius loci or the spirit of places in them. The “spirits” are at work, organizing and monitoring, but they are often unrealized by almost all of us. They are there in the setting, often visible and real. It is the spirit that makes the environment alive and meaningful. Only the meanings of the places are perceived and may exist in abstract forms. It is the spirit that makes us attached to the places. The development of the concept was initially inspired by Paul Klee’s line works, which were interpreted by the author of “Design of the Cities”, Edmund Bacon. He argues that “Orders” that exist in our environment are not necessarily realized, felt or discovered. But they are at work all the time. They exist in various forms. They may directly or indirectly be interpreted, or explained.. Nothing is left unorganized by the “order” because “Yang tiada itu ada” (the nonexistent actually exists). I later developed a conceptual expression using pen lines and patches of colours to resemble a chaotic situation, hoping that the organizing forces can be perceived by observers. Just like how one may perceive a forest environment which is full of different artistic elements such as lines, colors, textures, and what not. Only when we critically analyze the setting will we be able to recognize the spirit of the place. It is the same way as when we observe our urban environment. It is not an easy task to realize the important forces that make our places meaningful and valuable to us. Therefore many of us – including those who are regarded as our scholars – are willing to disregard or even to destroy them.