THE STAR, TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2019
COURSE FOCUS
Reaching for well-planned heights
By NGEH CHEE YEN
MALAYSIA’S population continues
to increase by the year, putting a
strain on the country’s housing
market. As more and more people
make their way to urban centres in
search of better opportunities, the
demand for housing keeps
growing, and shows no sign of
stopping.
While civil engineers take up
only one part of the responsibilities
in the urban planning process,
their focus on sustainability and
safety play a large role in ensuring
the success of the plan in the long
run.
Shared responsibilities
Prof Khu Soon-Thiam, head of
civil engineering and deputy head
of advanced engineering platform
at Monash University Malaysia,
describes the current relevance of
town planning in civil engineering
degree programmes in Malaysia.
“While most universities with
civil engineering programmes
recognise the importance of town
planning in urban development, it
is quite rare for conventional civil
engineering programmes to
extensively cover town planning
subjects such as urban design,
spatial planning systems and
strategic planning.
“Such topics are generally
covered in other university
programmes, such as architecture
and built environment degrees, or
more extensively in specialised
master’s degree programmes on
urban planning.
“Civil engineering programmes
tend to cover technically focused
subjects, which will prepare
engineers to work in a planning
organisation, such as sustainable
development, traffic systems,
environmental impact assessment,
construction practices and
management.
“This way, civil engineers will be
able to effectively communicate
with architects and town planners
during both the conceptual and
detailed design stages of their
projects. Thus, even though I think
it is not essential for civil
engineering programmes to
include specific town planning
subjects in the curriculum, some
technically focused subjects
mentioned above, if included,
could facilitate better construction
planning and management,” he
explains.
Civil engineering graduates should always keep up to date on the latest
developments in the industry.
Playing the right roles
As such, the role of a civil
engineer is crucial to the process
of urban planning and town
building, as their contribution
and responsibilities ensure an
overall healthy working
environment and the smooth
running of development projects.
Assoc Prof Mohd Nasir Hussin,
dean of Faculty of Engineering,
Science and Technology at
Infrastructure University Kuala
Lumpur, says civil engineers
should have the ability to use the
latest software and understand
engineering and structural details
to ensure projects run smoothly.
“The civil engineer should be
capable of using relevant
software and understand the
software’s interpretation of data
to achieve economical and safe
structure design. He should also
possess a large amount of
practical engineering knowledge.”
Reaching new heights
What is concerning is that there
is the conception that there is a
glut in the job market, as Malaysia
produces more and more
engineers. In January, a local
website published an article
based on the Randstad report,
titled Construction, property
sector likely to see retrenchments
in 2019, which points to the
current downturn of the
construction and property sectors
as a matter of concern for civil
engineers.
However, Prof Khu disagrees,
saying, “There is a widespread
misconception that civil
engineering graduates will not
be able to find jobs as the
construction industry is not doing
well. I would like to stress that it
is normal in the construction
industry to experience a seven- to
10-year cycle from peak to slow
activities.
“However, since the Malaysian
economy is still strong, I do not
expect that we are anywhere near
the low end of this cycle. The
temporary suspension of various
major construction projects are
merely that; a temporary
suspension. I expect this to be
lifted within the next six to 12
months.”
Prof Nasir is enthusiastic about
the advances made in civil
engineering technology and the
bright future of the field.
“Civil engineering, especially in
the field of construction project
management, will have a bright
future with the application of
artificial intelligence embedded in
Building Information Modelling
(BIM).
“BIM is a set of digital tools that
can manage a construction
project’s effectiveness. Building
information models are files
which can be extracted,
exchanged or networked to
support the decision-making
process regarding a building or
other built asset. Generally,
computer tools and fundamental
knowledge of civil engineering
field must always come together
to overcome future challenges in
the construction industry.
Prof Nasir also sees a great
need to embed sustainable
practices in civil engineering, as
the world moves towards more
concerted conservation and
rehabilitation efforts. He says that
civil engineering graduates must
consider environmental impact
assessments as an important tool
Keeping with the times
In Malaysia and countries
around the world, universities
offering civil engineering
undergraduate degree
programmes are, more often
than not, accredited by
international accreditation
bodies.
According to Prof Khu Soon-
Thiam, head of civil engineering
and deputy head of advanced
engineering platform at
Monash University Malaysia,
“Such accreditation is necessary
to ensure that the engineering
programme remains relevant to
the needs of the industry and
that graduates have the
necessary skills required by
said industry.”
Assoc Prof Mohd Nasir
Hussin, dean of Faculty of
Engineering, Science and
Technology at Infrastructure
University Kuala Lumpur
(IUKL), agrees with this
sentiment.
“Fresh graduates must take
the initiative to obtain
professional certifications to
compete in the national and
international job markets. For
practising civil engineers, it is
encouraged to upgrade their
knowledge in line with current
demand by updating
themselves on the latest
technology in the industry.
“Professional recognition,
such as by the Board of
Engineers Malaysia and
Institute of Engineers Malaysia,
in the decision-making process.
Therefore, as responsible
citizens of this country, it is up to
civil engineers to engineer
structures in a way that takes
care of the environment while
still ensuring a great quality of
life for all.
are necessary to building ethics
and professionalism in our civil
engineers.”
Sharpening the skill sets
Both professors also note
that fresh civil engineer
graduates may be lacking
in some aspects of their
knowledge. In the case of
skill sets, Prof Nasir says, “Most
fresh graduates cannot produce
good engineering drawings.
Therefore, I encourage them to
take appropriate short courses
on design drawings.”
Prof Khu sees a need for civil
engineering students to better
understand the overall civil
engineering industry.
“They may not be as well
versed in design codes and
practices because of a lack of
practice rather than lack of
knowledge. One of the areas
where many of our graduates
still lag behind is the broad
awareness of how civil
engineering interacts with
other engineering fields in
practice.
“They must be equipped with
the necessary communication
skills (such as presentation and
sketching) and fundamental
technical skills (such as
knowing how their design
impacts other projects) in order
to work more effectively within
a major construction project,”
he says.
2 Engineering & Architecture
Preparing grads for successful careers
ALMOST five years ago, Shivank Sharma
moved across the continent from his home
in India to Malaysia. Shivank begun his new
life as a student at University of
Southampton Malaysia (UoSM). He had
enrolled in the MEng Electrical and
Electronic Engineering programme and
remembered feeling anxious about moving
to Malaysia.
He soon realised, however, that the
transition was smooth as can be thanks to
the friendly and helpful staff and lecturers
who had taken him under their wing. In no
time at all, Shivank found himself fully
immersed in an amazing learning
experience. Today, he serves as a data
science consultant under Deloitte’s risk
analytics division in the United Kingdom.
The University of Southampton is a world-
class British university that is ranked among
the top 100 universities in the world in the
QS World University
Rankings 2019.
With a rich
Fong is a proud alumnus of UoSM, having graduated with an MEng Mechanical Engineering
specialising in aerospace engineering in 2016.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2019
history spanning 150 years, the university
has seen more than 200,000 graduates
achieve their dreams. The Malaysia
campus is tucked away in the state-of-the-
art Educity Iskandar complex in Johor.
With more than 92% of its students
attaining jobs or enrolling in further study
within six months of graduation, success
stories such as Shivank’s are far from rare.
Jeremy Fong, who is a control engineer
with Rolls-Royce in the UK, remembers the
key role University of Southampton played
with his application.
“I found out about Rolls-Royce through
the IT, Science and Engineering Fair held
by the university’s Careers and
Employability Service. Also, I had my
curriculum vitae examined by a
practitioner at the university’s drop-in
service and attended a mock assessment
centre to help me in my preparation for
Rolls-Royce’s assessment centre.”
Fong had pursued an MEng in
Mechanical Engineering, graduating in
2016. Just like Shivank, Fong spent the first Shivank is employed with Deloitte in the UK after graduating with a MEng Electrical and
two years of his degree at UoSM before Electronic Engineering.
completing the remaining two years in the
UK. UoSM’s programmes run on a 2+2 with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, and MEng in
basis, with students receiving a says, “I chose UoSM as it was affordable Mechanical Engineering. Each
top-notch British compared with direct admissions to the UK undergraduate programme offers a variety
education at only 60% campus, and UoSM provides the same quality of specialisations that were designed to meet
of the cost. of education as the UK campus. Besides, the the demands of various industries and trends
Stephanie Sook student-teacher ratio was outstanding.” for future development.
Fung Teow, who Sook, who is a design engineer for CCW To join the ranks of these successful
also graduated Associates Pte Ltd in Singapore, fondly graduates and learn more about UoSM’s
recalls how the culture and environment programmes and scholarships, visit the
between both campuses were incredibly campus. Applications for all programmes are
similar. In fact, adapting was so easy for her free of charge, so take the opportunity to
that she ended up in the top 10% of her experience an education unlike any other.
cohort. Students who register before Mar 29 get an
UoSM offers a range of engineering early bird discount.
programmes, including Engineering
Foundation Year, MEng in Aeronautics and n For more information, call 07-560 2560 or
Astronautics, MEng in Electrical and visit www.southampton.edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2019 Engineering & Architecture 3

Forging industry collaborations

BEING industry-relevant is an
important aspect that is highly
valued by employers when they
evaluate graduates seeking
employment. This is an area
Tunku Abdul Rahman University
College (TAR UC) has
emphasised, especially in its
engineering and information
and communication technology
programmes, for close to 50
years.
TAR UC has established an
industry collaboration with
Penang-based Hotayi Electronic
that was formalised on Mar 30
last year. Hotayi is a leading
global electronics manufacturing
services company, providing a
wide range of manufacturing
solutions and services through
“smart” manufacturing.
This collaboration paves the
way for staff and students from
the Faculty of Engineering and
Technology (FOET) and Faculty
of Computing and Information
Technology (FOCS) to assist
Hotayi in integrating automation
and data exchange into Hotayi’s
current manufacturing system,
hence developing an Industry 4.0
manufacturing system in its
factory.
Following the collaboration,
FOET and FOCS students will
have the opportunity to work on
industry-oriented projects
relevant to this partnership,
including automated production
simulation, machine and process
data analytics using artificial
intelligence, image processing,
product data analytics and parts
supply chain automation. In
addition, TAR UC students are
given internship opportunities at
Hotayi’s factory.
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Mechatronic final-year student
Chang Qi Tat, who completed his
internship with Hotayi in May
last year, says, “I was assigned to
the test department, where my
main task was to assist the
technicians and engineers in
maintaining the machines for
quality control. Thanks to the
programming knowledge I gained
during my degree programme, I
was able to assist in configuring
the programming for the
machines at Hotayi to ensure
proper function.”
FOET dean Dr Chew Khoon
Hee shared his views on how this
collaboration will benefit TAR UC
students, saying, “Industry-
relevant collaborations have
always been TAR UC’s goal, to
ensure we develop graduates
who are employment-ready. We
are pleased to have Hotayi
collaborating with us, which will
provide invaluable opportunities
for our students to gain hands-on
experience and be involved in
cutting-edge industry projects.
Such opportunities will give
students an edge over their peers
and widen their understanding and
knowledge of the latest technology.” Being industry-relevant
Senior IT manager at Hotayi Yeoh
Shin Chian works closely with the
is an important aspect
team from TAR UC. “Since our that is highly valued by
collaboration with TAR UC was
officiated, we have been quite
employers when they
pleased with the progress of the six evaluate graduates
ongoing final-year projects.
Although these are long-term
seeking employment.
projects, we have seen positive
results even at the early stages.
“This gives us confidence that our scholarships for academic merit are
collaboration with TAR UC will yield available from TAR UC for eligible
the results we are looking for as we students.
embrace Industry 4.0 in our factory
operations. This is also one of the n Find out more about TAR UC’s
reasons that encourages Hotayi to programmes at its Open Day, which is
further strengthen its cooperation being held until Apr 14 at its Kuala
with TAR UC by having additional Lumpur main campus and branch
projects with the institution, with campuses in Penang, Perak, Johor,
one of the projects being a Pahang and Sabah. Alternatively, visit
postgraduate project,” says Yeoh. www.tarc.edu.my or TAR UC’s booth at
Sibling discounts and attractive all major education fairs.

Yeoh Shin Chian (far left, with laptop) in discussion with TAR UC staff
and students on the TAR UC-Hotayi collaboration final-year projects.

Creating liveable
cities without
sacrificing history
CHANCES are, if you have ever
played SimCity growing up,
you’ve had a taste of town
planning. In the game, players
are exposed to a rather
simplistic view of town planning
and its impact on (virtual)
citizens. In real life, however,
town planning is a more
intricate process involving
multiple fields, including
engineering, science,
architecture, design, politics and
economics.
With more and more people
flocking to cities and
urbanisation not showing any
signs of stopping, planning is
more crucial than ever to meet
the needs of an ever-increasing
population. The creation of a
town should at least attempt to
satisfy the housing,
infrastructure, environment,
education, healthcare, economy,
safety and culture needs of their
citizens.
Cities who have succeeded in
fulfilling those areas mark
themselves as the top cities in
the world in terms of liveability
and quality of life for its citizens.
Where old and new
coexist
Often, town planning must
accommodate already bustling
settlements, with distinct charm
and traditions that planners
have to carefully work around.
One such city is Vienna, where
art and culture are the soul of
the city. Deemed the most
liveable city in 2018 by
magazine The Economist’s
Intelligence Unit, the town
boasts a rich artistic heritage yet
does not sacrifice modernity.
Vienna’s efforts to preserve its
historic sites and landmarks give
it a distinctive identity.
Also in Europe, town planners
in Copenhagen understood that
cities are for people, not cars.
They worked around pre-
existing narrow medieval streets
to convert Copenhagen into a
pedestrian-friendly town.
Cycling is the encouraged mode
of transportation. As well as a
large number of pedestrian-only
streets, the city also has
pedestrian-priority ones, where
pedestrians and cyclists have
right of way over cars.
Nature and mankind
British scientist Jacob
Bronowski once said, “Man
masters nature not by force, but
by understanding.”
When planning a town, the
natural terrain, climate of the
area and proximity to food and
water must be taken into
consideration. Town planning
for a mountainous region will
differ from town planning for a
seaside area.
A notable example of
planning that respects nature is
> TURN TO PAGE 4
4 Engineering & Architecture
> FROM PAGE 3
Singapore. Against all odds, the city-
state has managed to become a city
that has successfully married
greenery with skyscrapers.
Its semi-self-sufficient divisions
contain a mix of residential,
industrial and commercial buildings,
reducing dependency on the central
area. Singapore also has excellent
public transit systems, allowing for
fluid intracity movement.
Designed for humans
Towns and cities should revolve
around its citizens, rather than the
other way around. People are
increasingly opting for mixed-use
development areas to settle down, as
their commercial, housing and
leisure needs can be fulfilled within
walking distance.
An example of a city that
successfully blends all three is
Chandigarh. Famous for its
architecture and landscape,
Chandigarh has become a symbol of
planned urbanism in India. It was
planned by Swiss architect Le
Corbusier, with the human anatomy
Copenhagen's town
planners worked to
convert the city into a
pedestrian-friendly
zone, and cycling is the
encouraged mode of
transportation.
Citizen-centric design
in mind.
The city’s head serves as the state
capitol, its heart is its city centre, its
stomach is its commercial area, its
arms are the university and
industrial zones, its lungs are the
green valleys and open spaces and
its arteries are its network of roads.
The bottom line is that town
planning is complex and requires
broad knowledge, not just of civil
engineering, but also an
understanding of the people who
live in it. It is a collaboration of
professionals from different fields, as
well as its citizens.
Town planning is more complex
than is apparent on the surface.
Broad knowledge beyond the scope
of civil engineering is needed.
Planners must also be sensitive to
the dynamic needs of the people as
ultimately, it is a space created for
them. Up for the challenge? Armed
with the right knowledge, you could
be the town planner of tomorrow.
Discover
landscape
architecture
ARCHITECTURE is the process of
planning, designing and
constructing physical structures.
Thus, an architect is a person
who designs structures such as
houses, apartment complexes,
shopping centres, office buildings
and factories. In addition to
considering the exteriors of these
buildings, architects ensure these
buildings are safe, functional,
economical and suit the needs of
the people who use them.
However, architecture is not
only limited to buildings. If you
are more interested in the
development of outdoor areas
such as parks, backyards,
recreational facilities and open
spaces, landscape architecture is
the course for you.
How can you benefit your
community as a landscape
architect? You can, for example,
encourage the creation of
healthier cities by creating more
comfortable neighbourhoods and
outdoor spaces, so that people
can spend their time outside to
work out, escape from the stress
of everyday life or simply
breathe fresh air.
Ensuring a sustainable
environment
Infrastructure University
Kuala Lumpur’s (IUKL) Faculty of
Architecture & Built
Environment offers the Diploma
in Landscape Architecture and
Bachelor of Landscape
Architecture. These programmes
provide students with the
necessary know-how in
planning, designing, managing
and executing aspects of
landscape architecture, both in
man-made and natural outdoor
environments.
You will be prepared with the
requisite practical skills,
understanding and creativity to
ensure a sustainable
environment and learn
creatively via lectures,
workshops, project site visits, lab
work, field trips and seminars.
Practising creativity
Students will have the
IUKL participated in the wall painting, floral fashion show and garden
sculpture competitions at Kuala Lumpur Orchid & Bonsai Show 2017.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2019
Landscape
architecture has
an increasingly
important role
now in addition to
frequently being
practised by many
design professionals
and technical
experts.
opportunity to be involved in
major landscape architecture
competitions and events. IUKL
students won a gold medal in the
university garden competition at
Royal Floria Putrajaya 2015,
silver and bronze medals at
Royal Floria Putrajaya 2016, and
first place in the Floral Fashion
Show category at the Kuala
Lumpur Orchid & Bonsai Show
2017.
These competitions will help
you build practical skills and
gain hands-on experience, which
will be useful in your career.
Though this may be a
demanding profession, it can
also be interesting. Because of its
creative nature, your career will
not be monotonous and you will
gain much experience in the
field.
If you are interested in design
and are sensitive to the quality
of outdoor environments, you
may be drawn to this
programme. In addition, good
drawing skills are essential. Bear
in mind that in dealing with
outdoor space, you have to be
creative, innovative and effective
as you will not only create
spaces that are pleasant to the
eye, but also an environment
that is safe and sustainable.
n To figure out which field of
study is best for you, book a free
counselling session with IUKL.
Call 1800 88 STUDY (78839),
email inquiry@iukl.edu.my or
visit www.iukl.edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2019 Engineering & Architecture 5

Getting ready for Industry 4.0

THE ongoing Fourth Industrial
Revolution (Industry 4.0) has not
only transformed industries and
businesses, but also higher
education systems worldwide. It
is inevitable that some
traditional jobs will become
obsolete while new, more
technology-driven jobs will
emerge.
This new paradigm means
that the current workforce
needs to learn new skills, in
line with current and future
industrial needs. Thus, it is
imperative that higher education
providers ensure their curricula
change to meet this demand and
produce graduates with the right
skills and qualifications.
According to studymalaysia.
com, many countries around the
world use occupational shortage
lists as a tool to identify and
monitor critical skills and
occupations that are in need.
The Critical Occupations List
(COL) shows occupations that
are skilled, sought after and
strategic across 18 sectors in
Malaysia.
This means that students can
plan their educational paths to
gain the right skills, education
and experience to increase their
chances of getting hired in the
industry of their choice and
embark in their dream career by
focusing on jobs in the COL list.
The majority of jobs in the COL
list is in engineering.
SEGi University’s Faculty of
Engineering & The Built
Environment (FOEBE) has been
producing industry-relevant
graduates, and, in view of
Industry 4.0, continues to update
the programmes offered to its
engineering students and
collaborate with industry leaders
to ensure its graduates are
Industry 4.0 engineers.
The faculty focuses on a
student-centred environment.
Students are provided with
opportunities to interact and
work with industry partners on
their assignments and projects
and have access to advanced
laboratories and workshops
with essential tools to develop
their engineering skills. The
engineering programmes are
delivered using applied
methodologies at state-of-the-art
engineering facilities, ensuring
SEGi University’s engineering
students have all the advantages
and opportunities to develop a
successful career in the
engineering field.
“Programmes offered at
SEGi University, from foundation
to postgraduate level, are well
rounded, meticulously planned
and equivalent to other
prestigious international
universities,” says FOEBE dean
Dr Chia Chee Meng.
Dr Chia adds that SEGi
University offers quality
education in engineering based
on industry-relevant scenarios and
outcomes. SEGi developed its degree
programmes in partnership with
industries so that graduates are well
prepared for changes in the job
market and the current Industry 4.0
revolution.
“The collaborations and
partnerships with industry partners
are intended to not only create
academic cooperation, but also
opportunities and exposure given to
SEGi’s engineering students to
prepare them for the real
engineering world. This will ensure
students immerse themselves in
real-life job experience. From these
experiences, they also get to apply
problem-solving skills to identify,
analyse and solve problems, shaping
them into future-ready graduates
who can impact the industry of their
choice.”
FOEBE offers an impressive range
of engineering disciplines, such as;
l Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
in Mechanical Engineering
l Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
in Electronic & Electrical
Engineering
l Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
in Civil Engineering
l Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
in Chemical Engineering
l Bachelor of Science (Hons)
Quantity Surveying
l Bachelor of Science (Hons)
Architecture
l Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Interior
Architecture
l Foundation in Science
l Foundation in Arts
SEGi University has built strong
global industry linkages and
partnerships with well-known
companies such as Cidb, Ecoworld,
Bauer, Top Glove, Daikin and Bahru
Stainless. In addition, the
engineering programmes offered by
SEGi University are fully accredited
by the Malaysian Qualifications
Agency and Board of Engineers
Malaysia, which is a signatory to the
Washington Accord, making SEGi
engineering graduates more
employable and able to practise
engineering at an international level.
SEGi also works with some of the
most prestigious universities in the
United Kingdom, such as Cardiff
University, Swansea University,
University of Greenwich, University
of Central Lancashire and
University of Sunderland, to develop
a knowledge-rich curriculum for its
dual-award and double-degree
engineering programmes.
n For more details on engineering
programmes at SEGi University,
speak to its counsellors during the
Open Day until Mar 31 or at The Star
Education Fair on Apr 6 and 7 at
Sunway Convention Centre.
Alternatively, call 03-6145 1777,
WhatsApp 011-1210 6389 or visit
www.segi.edu.my

SEGi University offers quality education in engineering based on

industry-relevant scenarios and outcomes, and aims to produce
engineering graduates who will make a mark in their fields.

Is there a solution
to urban sprawl?
AS a city dweller, just thinking
about heavy traffic whenever
you want to go somewhere
leaves you with a headache, yet
this is the reality of many
Malaysian urbanites. The root of
this traffic congestion and many
more issues is urban sprawl, a
phenomenon that has been
attracting much attention as it is
gaining recognition as a global
threat.
Urban sprawl includes poor
repartition of land for industrial,
housing and commercial use
and inefficient transit systems
within a city, causing
developments to expand beyond
city borders and rapidly engulf
surrounding areas.
Unfortunately, it is, more often
than not, a disorganised affair –
think haphazard roads,
disorganised water pipes,
tangles of electric cables and an
unhealthy dependency on cars
to get around. In other words:
messy town planning.
A prime example is the urban
decay of Detroit in the United
States. Because its infrastructure
fell into disrepair over time, the
city’s borders started bleeding
outwards as a result of people
moving into better, newer
buildings at its peripheries.
Ultimately, housing in the city
centre became deserted as the
urban sprawl occurred without
a growth in population.
Its transit system was poorly
thought out, which made
intracity and intercity
movement difficult. The city is
also facing a shrinking
population as residents find no
incentive to stay, further
deepening the city’s revenue
drain.
Aside from the economic and
environmental problems that
urban sprawl causes, it also has
a ripple effect on societal issues.
Contrary to what you may think,
lack of housing within the city is
not the sole reason for the
occurrence of urban sprawl.
Case in point: suburban areas
are gaining ground in Malaysia
even though the country is
facing an oversupply of high-end
properties in its city centres.
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6 Engineering & Architecture
Creating creative
and critical thinkers
THE role of the engineer is presently
redefined by the rapid and very
much disruptive emergence of the
Fourth Industrial Revolution, asserts
Prof Anthony Guo, Head of School
of Engineering at Monash
University Malaysia. Prof Guo is
doing everything he can to ensure
engineering graduates are equipped
with the necessary skills they would
need to face the constantly shifting
landscape.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution,
also referred to as Industry 4.0, was
sparked by the steady development
of the Internet. This has been
leapfrogged by cloud technology,
which is connecting the world and
driving a shared economy. What
does this mean for graduates looking
to carve out specialised career paths
in the engineering sector?
Opportunities abound!
“Industry 4.0 extends to many
sophisticated industries, such as
healthcare and aerospace,” adds
Prof Guo. “With big data,
optimisation and decentralised
facilities, manufacturing can be
open, on-demand, low-cost, short-
cycle and high-yield. Technology
will definitely make a great impact
on the manufacturing industry.”
Engineers of today and
tomorrow
“Fundamentally, the role of the
engineer remains the same, which is
to provide technological solutions to
issues and problems faced in society.
On top of mastering essential
knowledge and skills in their chosen
disciplines, they should be creative
and critical thinkers. They must also
be able to evolve and change to fit
the needs and demands of industry
trends,” asserts Prof Guo.
“Engineering will be about
connecting machines and assembly
lines together through cloud
technology. Our students will thus
need to master that essential
knowledge,” he adds.
Monash Malaysia’s School of
Engineering currently offers five
different disciplines: civil, chemical,
electrical computer system,
mechanical, and mechatronics, in
addition to software engineering.
New innovations, research needed
> FROM PAGE 5
Urban sprawl can be attributed to a
lack of adequate housing.
At both ends of the property
market are high-income and low-
income earners. While the first
group may choose to settle in
suburbs purely for comfort, the
second does so out of necessity.
Evidently, the areas they settle in
vary vastly – something that is
reflected in how neighbourhoods
and amenity provisions are divided.
The lack of residential options
within one’s price range can force
families to set up camp in the
outskirts, which can lead to the
formation of slums, whose residents
face poor living conditions. This is
the case for many dream chasers
who moved to Mumbai from their
rural hometowns in hopes of a better
life but instead found themselves
struggling in the slums on the edges
While Monash Engineering prepares
graduates with work-ready skills and
professional practices, it is working toThe Engineering and IT Leadership
update and revamp the curriculum.
This will enable students to be
equipped with the necessary skills for on experiential learning, team-
key enabling technologies related to
Industry 4.0.
Being literate in computing and
coding improves future career
prospects drastically. Prof Guo says,
“We feel that mastering the key
enabling technologies is becoming an
essential skill today for future
engineers, who will be able to apply
them and create solutions for
complex problems in their
disciplines. It is becoming as
important as mathematics, design
and communication skills.”
Beyond technical
knowledge
Having knowledge of important
theories and practical cues by heart is useful to society and of good
not enough for a graduate to excel at character, but also with aspiration.
the workplace. It is also
important for students to get
involved in activities to
develop and sharpen their
soft skills.
At the School of
Engineering, students can
volunteer in student-led
groups such as Engineers
without Borders.
The active student
chapter has been
contributing
Prof Guo says modern engineering graduates must master essential skills in
their chosen disciplines while also ensuring their knowledge remains current
and up to date.
of the city.
The solution to an urban sprawl-
free city may be summed up in three
words: work, live, play. If the
housing, entertainment and
commercial needs of a person can be
fulfilled within reasonable distance,
it would prompt her to live there.
An example of a densely populated
city that has successfully adjusted to
the needs of its growing population
is Seoul, South Korea. The lively city
has effectively tackled urban sprawl
through its creation of high-density,
interconnected neighbourhoods with
efficient public transit systems.
Furthermore, the city brands itself as
a walkable city thanks to its urban
pedestrian roads. It has also set in
motion a long-term plan for the
creation of a better city, a plan in
which its citizens actively participate.
When talking about good town
planning, the urban success story of
Barcelona, Spain, jumps to mind.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2019
their knowledge to improve systems
for communities living in rural areas.
programme is another initiative
where interested students are trained
building and leadership skills.
“They need to manage projects,
people and relations, as well as
navigate crises and be sensitive to the
needs of other people. How do you
deal with people from different
cultures who have different needs
and habits? These are some questions
that need to be addressed in an
inclusive and engaging way,” says
Prof Guo.
“Our students are also encouraged
and given the support to participate
in various external design
competitions. Some competitions
they have excelled at include the
annual Shell Eco-marathon and the
IChemE competition,” he shares.
The School of Engineering hopes to
produce graduates who are not only
“Our students must have
aspirations to contribute to
society and not be afraid to
take up leadership roles to
drive the change for a better
world,” concludes Prof Guo.
n For more details about
programmes available at
the School of Engineering,
Monash University Malaysia,
visit www.monash.edu.
my/engineering
Barcelona’s large grid-like settlement
is not only aesthetically pleasing,
but also functional. The city was
designed to make traffic circulation
flow smoothly for both vehicles and
pedestrians. It also caters for
residents of all income levels. A
pioneer in its time, the city is now
referred to as an exemplary model
from which many town planners
draw inspiration. Suffice to say, the
city is considered among the most
liveable cities in the world.
Planning in the modern world
calls for new thinking and constant
innovation to design sustainable
towns and reinvent existing ones.
Good town planning is easier said
than done, but its repercussions are
so great that it is only logical to
invest resources in more research
into this problem, especially as each
instance of urban sprawl differs
from region to region and needs a
tailored solution.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2019
Opportunity to
excel globally
TO boost economic growth, countries are
rapidly moving towards globalisation and
modernisation. Malaysia is no exception,
hence our current industrial policy of
preparing for the Fourth Industrial
Revolution (Industry 4.0).
Engineers play a major role in making the
jump to Industry 4.0. As such, demand for
engineers will skyrocket in the years to
come. AIMST University’s aim is to produce
potential engineers who will be the building
blocks for Malaysia’s technological, economic
and social development. AIMST University is
proud to state that its engineering graduates
have a 100% employment rate.
AIMST University’s Faculty of Engineering
offers diploma and bachelor’s courses in
electrical and electronic engineering, which
are in high demand throughout the nation.
The courses are accredited by the Malaysian
Board of Engineers and recognised by the
Washington Accord, which is focused on
academic programmes that deal with the
practice of engineering at the professional
level. By acquiring an engineering degree or
diploma at AIMST University, students can
work and even further their studies
internationally.
The faculty also has a strong bond with EG
Industries subsidiary SMT Technologies, as
well as working collaborations with Kontron
Asia Pacific Design, Minibea and Agilent
Technologies to provide a wider avenue of
research and development opportunities for
its students, as well as placement
opportunities for industrial training.
To be in line with Industry 4.0, the
faculty’s students and lecturers are
Training home-grown
Perak engineering talent
QUEST International University Perak’s (QIU)
industry-based engineering programmes are
off to a flying start following the university’s
new partnership with manufacturing giant
Salutica Allied Solutions.
The two parties signed a Memorandum of
Agreement (MoA) to develop and implement
a hybrid academic-industrial programme
that will produce competent, employable
engineers. QIU chief operating officer
Nicholas Goh and Salutica Allied Solutions
deputy chief executive officer Joshua Lim
represented their respective organisations in
sealing the deal.
The aim of the programme is to create a
pool of talent that will sustain industrial
growth via industry-led programmes that
focus on domain knowledge in engineering.
Under this programme, QIU undergraduates
will enjoy 40 weeks of industrial attachment
through the four-year programme.
Lessons will commence for students of
QIU’s Bachelor of Electronics Engineering
(Communication) with Honours and
Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering in
April next year. In signing the MoA, both
parties successfully outlined their roles in
executing the curriculum, such as student
selection, industrial attachment and final-
year projects.
Engineering & Architecture 7
continuously involved in high-quality
research and development. One such project,
which was presented on the international
stage, is the “Intelligent algorithm-based
remote Aedes aegypti mosquito and post-
dengue patient monitoring, reporting and
prevention solution”.
The project has received funding from
Collaborative Research in Engineering
Science and Technology. The project was
presented at the Falling Walls Lab 2017 in
Berlin, Germany, where AIMST University
engineering student Sri Lahari was awarded
“Young Innovator of the year 2017”.
The April intake for foundation and
diploma in engineering is now open for
registration. AIMST University also offers full
scholarships for qualified Sijil Pelajaran
Malaysia students who enrol in the
Foundation in Science leading to a BSc
(Hons) in Electrical and Electronic
Engineering course.
n For more information, visit AIMST
University’s campus in Semeling, Kedah,
call 012-497 3060/04-429 8108 or visit
www.aimst.edu.my
“This programme is one of many
industrial collaborations. We believe in
giving our students industry-relevant skills
that allow them to make immediate impact
in their respective companies,” says Goh.
He shares that QIU aims to produce
graduates who will be able to contribute to
the local economy. “This programme
increases the chances of retaining talent in
Perak. Students will be familiar with the
companies they’re attached to, increasing
their chances of being hired by these
companies.”
Lim says the partnership would fulfil both
partners’ needs while also grooming talent
for Ipoh’s industries.
“With manufacturing technology and
facilities in Perak, students don’t have to go
to Kuala Lumpur or Penang to find jobs.”
He believes the new curriculum would
help close the gap between academia and
industry, saying, “A lot of time and effort is
spent on training fresh graduates and
bringing them up to speed.
“It’s vital that we engage early with
educational institutions such as QIU to
bridge this gap.”
n Look out for the advertisement in this
StarSpecial.
8 Engineering & Architecture
First step to your dream career
FORMERLY known as KBU International
College, First City University College (First
City UC) has maintained a competitive edge
in producing quality graduates year after
year for almost 30 years. First City UC
believes that a strong foundation is essential
for students who want to secure solid jobs in
the future.
In line with the progressive outlook into
Industry 4.0 and vigorous initiatives into
exploring the emerging Industry 5.0, First
City UC’s Faculty of Engineering and
Computing offers a wide range of
engineering and computing programmes.
Students who envision a future in
engineering and computing may take the
first step by enrolling in the Foundation in
Engineering, Science and Technology
programmme, which acts as a pre-degree
route for students who want to fast-track
their tertiary education journey.
l Foundation in Engineering, Science
and Technology
This is a one-year programme that
prepares students for two major degree
pathways, which are engineering and
computing. Students will be equipped with
the necessary knowledge on both pathways
upon completion of the foundation
programme.
This programme encourages students to
participate in problem-solving activities to
develop their creative, intellectual and
critical awareness. Students will be able to
foster and develop the ability to observe,
select and interpret visual forms in a man-
made or natural environment.
l Diploma in Electronic Engineering
This programme equips students with
knowledge and skills to further their studies
or work in the field of electronics. It focuses
on electronic technical subjects such as the
Caleb Lim Lee Wu, BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduate, was offered
employment during his internship, before he even finished his final semester.
fundamentals of circuits and electronic
devices, integrated circuit technology, signals
and systems, and microcontroller
programming and interfacing.
Graduates from this programme stand a
high chance of being employed as
maintenance or engineering technicians,
assistant project engineers or assistant
process engineers.
l Diploma in Mechatronics
This is an introductory engineering
programme that prepares students for the
related bachelor’s programme and real-life
working environment. Students will be
exposed to mechanical and electronic
technical subjects such as thermofluid
dynamics, hydraulics and pneumatics,
applied mechanics, and microcontroller
principles.
l Diploma in Information Technology
Tech-savvy students who aspire to take
their keen interest in technology to a higher
level may enrol in this programme. It aims
to provide a strong foundation in the
THE STAR, TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2019
information technology field. The contents of
each module are constantly updated to
follow current industry trends.
Graduates from this programme can gain
employment in e-commerce, database
administration, system support, system
analysis, database administration, web
programming and software development.
The Diploma in Electronic Engineering
and Diploma in Mechatronics take two years
and three months to complete, while the
Diploma in Information Technology
programme takes two years. Students
enrolled in each programme will undergo
industrial training in the sixth semester.
The industrial training placement helps
prepare students to face real-world
challenges and equips them with relevant
skills. First City UC’s established links to
industry partners have resulted in many of
its students being offered employment upon
completion of their industrial training
placements.
Caleb Lim Lee Wu, BEng (Hons) Electrical
and Electronic Engineering graduate, was
offered the position of electrical and
electronic engineer during his internship by
a leading company in the semiconductor
industry. Lim had not even started his last
semester when he was offered the position.
Emphasising graduate employability, First
City UC has produced thousands of highly
employable graduates and aspiring
entrepreneurs. Students are assured an
enriching learning experience at the
institution’s modern urban campus.
First City UC’s April intake is in progress
for foundation and diploma programmes.
n For more information on other
programmes, scholarships and incentives
offered by First City UC, call 03-7727 3200
or visit the campus or www.firstcity.edu.my