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HAD always wanted to be involved in the aviation industry but I did not meet the minimum age requirement for a pilot training programme run by a local airline,” says Kerk Zhen Xiong.

While Nilai University (Nilai U) at that time had just launched its Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programme, Kerk’s family was insistent that he pursue a degree instead.

As a result, Kerk enrolled in an IT degree programme at a different university.

After four years of studying, Kerk dropped out of his course because he did not find interest in the subjects of his programme.

“Despite having spent all that money, I did not want to continue pursuing an IT degree as I wanted to pursue something that I was passionate about,” he says.

Kerk decided to tell his family that he wished to enrol in Nilai U’s Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programme. Though he first faced disapproval for dropping out of his degree, he was eventually given the opportunity to pursue the diploma programme by his parents.

Initially, Kerk found it difficult to adjust being around fresh school-leavers who were younger than him.

“I needed to work hard from the start and realised that I could not afford to be unfocused if I wanted to be successful in my studies here. I got to know some of the lecturers in the department well and credit them for steering me in the right direction and encouraging me to pursue the topup degree following the diploma programme,” he says.

At that time, Nilai U administrators had been in talks with Kingston University, the United Kingdom, about offering students the option to earn an internationally recognised degree in this niche field.

Nilai U offers an advanced diploma for students. According to the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), to qualify for an advanced diploma, students have to complete a year of post-diploma studies.

In addition, Kingston University recognises that Nilai U’s diploma programme’s syllabus prepares students for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Category B examinations, which is equivalent to Kingston University’s first two years syllabus of its degree programme.

Hence, a year of post-diploma study allows students who have completed the diploma programme to further gain an advanced diploma from Nilai U as well as a BSc (Hons) in Aircraft Engineering from Kingston University.

For Kerk, pursuing this degree is a dream come true and he has consistently scored good grades in both the diploma and top-up degree programme.

“In today’s ultra-competitive job market, I can see why a degree is the minimum qualification that one should aim for. Having this degree is my passport to supervisory and management positions in the future,” he says.

“Of course, EASA certification is the most important qualification for me to gain but having the BSc (Hons) in Aircraft Engineering strengthens my future career prospects.”

Kerk believes that students who are naturally inquisitive with analytical minds flourish in this programme, which is designed to encourage students to think on their feet and provide solutions to hypothetical scenarios.

“The diploma is designed to prepare students to be technicians and students need to memorise and apply many formulae. The BSc (Hons) in Aircraft Engineering exposes students to more in-depth information and teaches them to analyse data,” he says.

Kerk adds that the affordability of the one-year top-up programme made it easy for him to make a decision to pursue it.

“This was my passion from the start and I intend to ace my exams and graduate with an internationally recognised British degree. It will fast track my aviation career and possibly open up greater opportunities in the

future.”

For more information, call 06-850 2308 or 07-226 2336 or visit

www.nilai.edu.my Kerk Zhen Xiong, student of Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering at Nilai U.