Developing skilled human capital
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 bio engineering in the country.
Most industries in Malaysia require workers with the ability to handle chemical engineering-related equipment or machineries compared to graduates who major in theoretical design.
According to Associate Professor Dr Ruzainah Ali@ Jaafar, the dean of UniKL MICET, “Many students do not want to enrol in the chemical and bio engineering 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 bio engineering 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 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 commendable with 87% of them obtaining employment six months after graduation.
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 bio engineering technology who are employees in various industrial sectors.