Making experiences count
STUDENTS of engineering and architecture obtain the foundational knowledge and practice of these fields. What does this mean in terms of their options for the workforce and how do their studies relate to their professional life?
Many assume that graduating with a degree in a particular field limits you to a future in that industry.
What it equips you with, however, are skills that are transferable to a variety of job positions.
Here are what some professionals have to say.
Having the right foundation
Aileen Chew graduated from Taylor’s University with a BSc (Hons) in Architecture with LAM Part 1 by Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia, fully expectant that the course would be a rough ride.
That did not mean that burning the midnight oil was easy to accept but Chew believed the course suited her artistic and nerdy personality.
She saw it as a opportunity to design big and beautiful buildings incorporating intelligent designs.
Having worked as an assistant architect for just under a year, Chew’s job entails liasing with clients, consultants and suppliers and doing production work that involves revising drawings, designing and presenting layouts.
Chew believes her degree has equipped her with the knowledge and skills needed to grow in the industry.
Although the more practical subjects came later, she believes that having started out with a focus on the design process and science gave her the design acumen she needed.
“Design acumen takes time to acquire and perfect, so it makes sense to introduce that very early on. It provides a good foundation for reading and evaluating your consultants’ data,” she says.
Chew sees the market as being a good stage for fresh graduates as once an interview is carried out, employers are keen to get them started as the turnover for fresh graduates is quite high.
Courses usually include an internship period that can last between two and six months depending on the institution.
He used to believe that it was a specialised and niche area of study but it turned out to involve many aspects of other engineering fields such as chemical engineering and mechanical engineering.
In addition, Yap and his coursemates thought that the future of engineers lay in laboratories and involved a large amount of research.
However, since starting work, Yap has gained different perspectives on what an engineering degree can offer him.
One of the skills he found transferable was its analytical and problem-solving skills that he picked up during the course.
As such, Yap believes there is always a chance to branch out into different industries such as finance, banking, sales, oil and gas service engineering and civil engineering.
Yap now works in the sales department of a construction company, drawing on his knowledge from his course and also learning new skills on the job.
Yap believes that continuous professional development is important for engineers. “Continuous professional development in this field is important because advancements in construction, new mindsets and methods of operation as well as knowledge of new products are essential to continue being the forerunner in the industry,” he says.
Before graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Material and Manufacturing Engineering degree from University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Matthias Yap expected his engineering course to be textbook-oriented and involves studies of many technical aspects of materials and its manufacturing process.
Lee Sheng Yi graduated with a Bachelor of Environments, majoring in architecture, and has recently obtained a Master of Architecture from The University of Melbourne.
Lee expected her undergraduate degree to give her specific direction for her career but found it in her master’s programme instead. She believed that architects were just people who designed buildings, but in fact learned that they can see the future in many forms and design systems and create stories.
Additionally, she has also been inspired by people who have branched out into areas such as hospitality and art and seeks to explore options in other fields for her future as well.
Lee says that to become a registered architect, one requires a degree and master’s qualification as your educational qualification is a reflection of your capabilities. She adds that continuous professional development is also important for the field.
“Architects need to continuously be aware of their surroundings. This includes people, culture, technology and changes to the environment as we are designing for the world and to advance in our field,” she says.