Soaring to greater heights
WOMEN in aircraft maintenance engineering? The idea would have raised a fair number of eyebrows many decades ago.
Over the centuries, remarkable women like Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie and Harriet Quimby have changed the course of history.
In addition, the Malaysian education system, which provides equal education opportunities to all its citizens, has encouraged more women to venture into the field of aviation and engineering in the last few decades.
At Nilai University, six young women from the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programme courageously pursued a course that would most likely lead to a male-dominated profession: aircraft maintenance engineering.
Jamie Goh Yi Lian, a second-year Aircraft Maintenance Engineering diploma student, says she prefers a technically challenging job and cannot see herself working in a desk-bound post.
“I have a knack for solving technical problems, so this may be the best future career path for me,” she says.
While her coursemates Rinisha Nehru Thiaku and Elma Emily Young have always wanted to pursue a degree in engineering, both were inspired by their uncles to enrol in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programme.
Kow Yoong Huei, a first-year Diploma of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering student, shared the same curiosity.
On the other hand, Wan Kah Mun, a second-year student who heard about Nilai University’s established reputation in providing this course, says: “I visited Nilai University to find out more about this course and it seemed interesting, so I enrolled in it.”
It does not sway the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programmes offered by Nilai University to single-gender preference. With equal merits, students from both the science and non-science stream may enrol in these programmes.
SPM students should meet the following entry requirements: three credits in English, Mathematics and Physics or Science; a pass in Bahasa Malaysia and a pass in History.
They should also be medically fit and have excellent eyesight and hearing, with no colour blindness or hearing impairment.
Goh advises that when choosing an educational institution to pursue this course, students should ensure that it has industry recognition.
The lecturers should also have diverse experience in maintaining a variety of aircraft, be it commercial or military.
The Diploma and Advanced Diploma with a top-up UK degree from Kingston University offer students the flexibility to either pursue a career as a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer or move on quickly to supervisory and management roles.
Furthermore, according to the Malaysia Quality Assurance, the Advanced Diploma in Aircraft Engineering Technology is equivalent to a general bachelor’s degree from any other public universities in Malaysia.
Inspiring education and enriching lives
Nilai University offers seven types of scholarships. Among them are:
1) The High Achiever’s Scholarship provides a full tuition fee waiver to students who have received excellent scores.
2) Sports Focus Centre – Fencing Award; Extra Curriculum and Sports Excellence Award
3) The Extra Curriculum and Sports Excellence Award rewards secondary school-leavers who have regular and consistent achievement in sports (national and state representative/players only)
4) Merit Scholarship
Students who are interested in applying for any of the scholarships offered can make an appointment with any of Nilai University’s education counsellors for more details.
Nilai University offers both business- and science-based degrees and is open every day except on weekends and public holidays.
To make an appointment, call 06-850 2308, log on to www.nilai.edu.my or visit the university’s campus in Nilai.