Curtin engineering students gain valuable insights from industrial visits in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur

Miri – 6 June 2018 – 27 undergraduate engineering students of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) gained valuable insights into industry operations whilst on a 2-day visit to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor recently.

Their study trip to the national capital included visits to SIRIM QAS International Sdn. Bhd., Schneider Electric Industries Sdn. Bhd. and Yee Lee Trading Co. Sdn. Bhd.

The trip was organised by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the university’s Faculty of Engineering and Science and accompanying them was senior lecturer Ir. Dr. Wong Wei Kitt.

At SIRIM QAS International located in Shah Alam, the students were shown the company’s state-of-the-art product testing laboratory which conducts product safety and quality testing to facilitate conformance to safety and government regulatory requirements, user expectations as well as national and international standards.

While at Schneider Electric Industries’ Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) assembly plant, also in Shah Alam, the students learned how the plant produces customised UPS solutions for various industries and observed the complex process of assembling and testing UPS systems on the production line. They also learned about job placement and internship opportunities with the company.

At Yee Lee Trading, one of the leading trading companies in Malaysia, the students learned how the company is one of several in the country that has invested in advanced solar energy technology and is selling electricity to Tenaga Nasional Berhad. The visit to Yee Lee Trading was organised in collaboration with Mun Hean (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., a company with vast experience providing technical solutions in the field of electrical supply.

Third-year Electrical Power Engineering student and vice-president of the IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch Cindy Lai Poh Yuan said the trip was real eye-opener and that she gained many interesting insights into electrical and electronics engineering that could not be obtained from classroom learning and textbooks.

Reiterating Lai’s comments, Ir. Dr. Wong remarked that students should be exposed to various engineering industries as much as possible during their course of study for a better understanding of how they operate and the technologies involved. The students can also learn about career opportunities in the industries and the expectations of their potential employers. There is much to be learned beyond the classroom, he said.

He said that, in this instance, the students were very fortunate to be able to visit three of Malaysia’s leading engineering and technology companies. Schneider Electric Industries is a leading manufacturer of USPs using the latest technologies, while SIRIM QAS International is Malaysia’s leading certification, inspection and testing body, and Yee Lee trading’s state-of-the-art pilot plant developed by Mun Hean is one of the most advanced in the region.

Meanwhile, Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Professor Lenin Gopal said Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science is committed to organising such study trips and industrial visits for students as part of their curriculum and to enhance their learning experience and understanding of engineering practice.

He added that the Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme at Curtin Malaysia, which is fully accredited by Engineers Australia (EA) and the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), equips students with industry-driven knowledge and skills and ensures they are job-ready as soon as they graduate.

Students pose for group photo at Schneider Electric Industries assembly plant.

Students learning about solar panels installed at Yee Lee Trading.