Curtin Malaysia Faculty of Engineering and Science students attend pre-graduation gathering

Miri – 17 October 2019 – About 90 final-year engineering and science students of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) attended a Pre-Graduation Gathering hosted by the university’s Faculty of Engineering and Science and University Life Department recently.

The students were from the Faculty’s Chemical Engineering, Civil and Construction Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Computer Systems and Networking, and Applied Geology departments.

Present at the gathering were Curtin Malaysia’s Chief Operating Officer Ir. Pieter Pottas, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science Associate Professor Vincent Lee, academic staff of the various departments, and officers from the University Life Department.

In his welcome speech, which was read by Associate Professor Lee, Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Jim Mienczakowski congratulated the soon-to-graduate students on their determination and hard work in their studies and thanked two alumni of the Faculty who were present for sharing their post-graduation journeys with the students.

The alumni were automation engineer Wang Zhi Xian and postgraduate researcher Christine Ann Obek, who shared their experiences as Curtin Malaysia students and their current pursuits in industry and academia, respectively.

Wang, who graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) degree in Electronic and Communication Engineering in 2012, was a systems support engineer with Maritime & Industrial Engineers Sdn. Bhd. for five years before joining his current company, Ultech Engineering Sdn. Bhd., about a year ago.

At Maritime & Industrial Engineers, his main responsibilities included providing technical support to colleagues and clients in building automation and building management systems for commercial buildings such as schools, hotels, hospitals and offices. As an automation engineer at Ultech Engineering, he is tasked with driving the company’s business growth in industrial automation in the local market.

Christina, who graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) degree in Chemical Engineering in 2018, is currently a postgraduate research student at Curtin Malaysia pursuing a PhD under the Chemical Engineering Department.

Her research is entitled ‘Solubility Modeling of Bioactive Compounds: Empirical, Thermodynamic, and Molecular Modeling Approaches’. Prior to graduating, she completed a three-month internship with the process engineering department of SKO Petronas Carigali Sarawak Operations in Miri.

 The gathering also included a presentation on Building Information Modelling (BIM), which many of the students are likely to encounter in their future careers as engineers, by civil and construction engineering senior lecturer Dr. Wong Kwong Soon.

This was followed by a presentation on attaining professional engineer qualifications under the Board of Engineers Malaysia by civil and construction engineering lecturer and programme coordinator Ir. Meheron Selowara Joo.

Students, alumni and staff pose for a group photo during the gathering.

Dr Wong Kwong Soon familiarising the students with BIM.

Ir Meheron Selowara Joo explaining the process to qualify as professional engineers.

Wang Zhi Xian and Christina Ann Obek engaging with the students.