Engineering paths less trodden
“YOU cannot be wrong if you stay on the mainstream,” says Prof Ir Dr Ramesh Singh, head of Department of Mechanical Engineering in University Malaya, who advises undergraduates to go for the traditional or mainstream courses – mechanical, electrical and electronic, civil, and chemical engineering.
Furthermore, he believes that passion is the most important element required to succeed in this field.
“Once you have the passion for engineering, the sky is the limit,” he adds.
Malaysia is evolving into a developed country where there is a need to build more structures and buildings. Due to this, there is an increased demand for engineers in the job market.
However, Ir Ashari Mohd Yakub, executive director of the Board of Engineers Malaysia ( BEM), encourages engineers to be wellrounded individuals to cater to the increase of job opportunities for engineers.
Listed below are a few unusual engineering courses that you can consider:
Environmental engineering
If you are concerned with protecting the environment from harmful human activities, environmental engineering is the right choice for you.
Becoming an environmental engineer allows you to be equipped with an understanding of civil and chemical engineering. You will also have the ability to design suitable methods to protect and manage natural resources.
The course teaches you modern engineering practices so that, upon graduating, you will have the potential to contribute to various fields such as water treatment and waste management planning for domestic and industrial activities.
Malaysia is in the midst of becoming a highly industrialised country. Therefore, there is a high demand for environmental engineers to fill various job positions such as environmental enforcement officer, public health engineer and environmental entrepreneur.
If you wish to pursue environmental engineering, Curtin University Sarawak and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman ( UTAR) offer this course.
Biomedical engineering
Having evolved into a vibrant field in Malaysia, biomedical engineering is often associated with clinical engineering or the maintenance of medical equipment.
If you have a strong interest in engineering and medicine, biomedical engineering should be given consideration.
Working closely with healthcare professionals, engineers in this field use advanced technologies to come up with solutions to improve healthcare.
Biomedical engineers also train medical professionals to use advanced medical technologies properly and efficiently.
The Malaysian Government aims to make the country a regional contract manufacturing hub for medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
There is, therefore, a significant demand for biomedical engineers in Malaysia for careers such as biomedical engineer and biomedical equipment technician.
Two prominent local institutions that offer this course are Universiti Malaya and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Mechatronics
Nowadays, most daily appliances are products of mechatronics, which is a combination of mechanical moving parts and electronics.
To pursue this course, it is necessary for you to show strong interest in the fundamentals of integrating mechanical, electrical, electronics, computer science and control theory. You will also be exposed to designing automated machines.
This course is available for interested undergraduates at Monash University Malaysia, Asia Pacific University, UCSI University, MAHSA University, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College and The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.
“People with this qualification will be able to find jobs in almost all engineering- related industries, including manufacturing, medical, automation and more,” says Assoc Prof Edwin Tan, discipline head ( mechatronics) of Monash University Malaysia.
If you are interested in robotics as well as mechatronics, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus offers Bachelor of Engineering ( Robotics & Mechatronics)/ Bachelor of Computer Science.
This is a double degree and graduates obtain two certificates upon course completion – Bachelor of Engineering ( Robotics & Mechatronics) and Bachelor of Computer Science.
Having a background in mechatronics as well as computer science may well give you an advantage in the job market.
Aerospace engineering
The primary field of engineering that focuses on the development of aircraft and spacecraft, aerospace engineering is separated into two distinct branches: aeronautics engineering and astronautics engineering.
Formerly known as aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering is closely linked with aerodynamics, aerospace material and aircraft stability.
Astronautics engineering is the study and application of orbit mechanics, space environment and rocket propulsion. This field is frequently, though incorrectly, referred to as rocket science.
Effective this year, University of Southampton is offering a twinning programme for this course. Students are advised to study the first two years in Malaysia before studying in its