UniKL MICET provides world class laboratories
AS the first and biggest chemical engineering institute in Malaysia, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology (UniKL MICET) plays a crucial role in generating skilled workers in the field of chemical and bioengineering in this country.
Most industries in Malaysia require workers with the ability to handle chemical engineeringrelated equipment or machineries compared to graduates who major in theoretical design.
According to Associate Professor Dr RuzainahAli@ Jaafar, the Dean of UniKL MICET: “Many students do not want to enrol in the chemical and bioengineering fields due to the worry of not being able to secure a job as the oil and gas sector has now started to limit recruitment of new employees. However, students do not realise that chemical and bioengineering is still a highly-sought after field in the industry as its scope is not limited to only one sector – the oil and gas sector.”
Dr Ruzainah further added that the graduates in this field have promising career opportunities. Among the industries that offer jobs for this field are manufacturing, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, industrial chemical, consultation, and research, other than the oil and gas sector.
To prove this, the employability of UniKL MICET graduates is very commendable with 87 per cent of them obtaining employment six months after graduation.
She continued that UniKL MICET graduates are sought after by employers as they are exposed to the use of real machines or equipment used in the industry during their studies.
Therefore, graduates would not have any problem handling machineries immediately after starting their job as they do not have to undergo trainings in operating the industrial equipment.
“All students from diploma or bachelor programmes are exposed to the skills of handling chemical engineering equipment and they have the opportunity to use the equipment to conduct analysis and experiments related to their assignments,” said Dr Ruzainah.
The equipment provided by UniKL MICET is of industrial scale, as this institute emphasises on practical approach and every student in UniKL MICET has the basic knowledge in chemical and bioengineering along with their specialisation, which can be polymer, process, food, bioprocess or environment.
She explained that in the effort to produce graduates who are required by the industry, UniKL MICET has taken the initiative to provide complete and up-to-date facilities and equipment in the chemical and bioengineering field.
UniKL MICET has more than 43 laboratories including chemical analysis lab, chemical technology lab, preparatory lab, polymer analysis and testing lab, rubber processing lab, food processing and analysis lab, chemical product testing and analysis lab, computer lab, water treatment lab, air pollution control lab, environmental science lab and Pilot Plant.
The Dean informed that UniKL MICET is also a World First Next Generation 3D Design Solution for Chemical Plants training centre that uses the Plant Design Management System (PDMS) and 3D design software.
“It is even more impressive, as the 3D design software is the first of its kind in the world to be used in teaching and learning in a university”, she highlighted.
The 3D design software can be applied for the oil and gas, petrochemical and marine industries.
Dr. Ruzainah also revealed that the facilities could be used to train 60 students at a time, with 30 for PDMS and another 30 for 3D design.
She is positive that the establishment of the centre will no doubt improve the marketability of the institute’s graduates by enhancing their professional skills.
The software will be utilised by the undergraduates when they take up the Plant Design 1 and Plant Design 2 subjects where they will design chemical plants by applying the theories learned.
With these facilities, UniKL MICET students will get the exposure to the latest and modern software in designing chemical plants, thus producing graduates that meet the industry’s requirements, coupled with the capabilities and competencies to seek employment in the global market.
Now after almost 16 years in operation, UniKL MICET has produced more than 4,000 graduates in chemical and bioengineering technology who are employees in various industrial sectors.
For more information call 06551 2000 or email; asimi@unikl. edu.my