Change perception towards engineering - Ts. Rozainah Ibrahim

PEKAN, 27 June 2021 - Pursuing an engineering programme at an institution of higher learning (IPT) does not mean the students will become engineers only.

Some graduates ventured into businesses related to the engineering field until they managed to shoulder greater responsibilities with a lucrative salary.

Is it true that engineering is a rewarding and fun profession because it also has a huge impact on the world?
Many questions hover for school leavers who are still hesitant to choose this field.

In fact, lately, the mainstream media has been actively discussing a career as an engineer as a scam.

According to an alumnus of B. Eng. (Hons) Civil Engineering (2010) and Diploma in Civil Engineering (2007), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Ts. Rozainah Ibrahim, a career as an engineer is not a scam.

“Engineering is very broad and has various opportunities and potentials to be explored.

“An engineering degree not only provides knowledge to be a great engineer but also to be a manager, businessman and entrepreneur.

“Although I graduated in Civil Engineering, I now serve as the Head of Business and Corporate Development at CIDB IBS Sdn. Bhd.,” she said.

She further explained that students should be more open-minded and look at a broader perspective and not just focus on the post alone but also the field.

“The career path as an engineer is extensive and depends on ourselves to design it, but it must be in line with attitude, skills and soft skills.

“Fresh graduates must have passion and should not be too choosy, especially with the current world situation,” she said.

An alumnus of B. Eng. (Hons) Chemical Engineering (2018) who is now a Process Engineer, Sivanesh Kumar a/l Anpalagam said, although the salary received by engineers has not changed much over the past 20 years, at an average of between RM2,200 and RM2,500, it is worth it in the difficult circumstances of getting a job in the current economic situation.

“The industry in Malaysia is more likely to outsource labours who are not demanding compared to locals.

“However, the engineering field is very pertinent for students who want to continue their studies because of the many career opportunities, and UMP provides adequate related courses,” said Sivanesh, who works at Malay Sino Chemical Industries Sdn. Bhd.

Meanwhile, an alumnus of the B. Eng. (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (2008), Mohd Hazaruddin Muhammad, currently the Reliability and Asset Management Manager of BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn. Bhd., advised the graduates to accept any job offer despite the relatively low salary to gain experience.

“If you want to get a higher salary, you can find a new job, but you must have a clear direction and focus and plan for a certain period.

“It is important to ensure that you are skilled and experienced in certain fields as the best value for yourselves,” he said.

In addition, students must obtain a good cumulative grade point average (CGPA) to keep up during interview sessions.

Students should also improve their abilities through skills improvement programmes or new skills available at the university or government agencies to improve knowledge.

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders who will continue their studies should not be afraid to try something new, but one must be interested in exploring new areas.

The online Sesi Santai Siri Ke-5 titled ‘Engineering Career Is a Scam’ was organised by the Centre for Alumni Relations and Graduate Employability in collaboration with the UMP Alumni Association through the UMP Malaysia Facebook page to discuss in more detail the hot issues that are gaining attention within the community.

It was moderated by Mohd Nazarni Che Isa, who is a UMP alumnus and part-time lecturer at UMP.

By: Siti Nurfarmy Ibrahim, Corporate Communication Unit, The Office of The Vice-Chancellor (PNC)
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology