Master of Engineering Management: A postgraduate qualification for today’s engineers

In a highly globalised and competitive market, engineering concerns all over the world are hard-pressed to find engineers armed with both technical expertise and business management skills to help them stay on top.

Consequently, as many practising engineers find their careers moving increasingly towards engineering management, there is an increased need for them to acquire engineering-oriented management skills that encompass the management, business and commercial aspects of engineering.

Ir. Dr. Lau Hieng Ho
Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, School of Engineering and Science

“For engineers progressing toward, or having attained, management responsibilities, pursuing a Master of Engineering Management is appreciated as a far more logical choice than an MBA,” said Ir. Dr. Lau Hieng Ho, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak).

Ir. Dr. Lau oversees the Master of Engineering programme at Curtin Sarawak, Curtin University’s largest international campus located in Miri, Sarawak.

He said Curtin University in Western Australia has been offering a Master in Engineering Management for over 16 years to meet this demand, and now Curtin Sarawak offers the same programme to meet the needs of Malaysian and international industry, particularly manufacturing and processing industries in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and the country’s oil and gas and construction industries.

Furthermore, due to Curtin Sarawak’s location in a major oil and gas industry hub and its proximity to SCORE, as well as its strong links with industry players, students undergoing the course at Curtin Sarawak have a significant advantage when it comes to developing practical skills and gaining valuable work experience interacting with industry professionals.

The course represents a blend of professional engineering practice with business and management subjects and has been systematically reviewed and modified to suit the needs of modern engineering management and the coursework is relevant to all engineering disciplines.

It is also well regarded and internationally recognised.

According to Ir. Dr. Lau, graduates of the course have an exceptional record in entrepreneurship, with a significant number occupying senior management positions in engineering and technology companies throughout Malaysia and across the world.

The modernised course includes attractive features to suit the diverse needs and work schedules of practising engineers.

Part-time students can complete the course over a minimum period of 24 months while full-time students can complete the course in 12 months of study. Intakes are open in January, May or September

Incorporating the engineering expertise of Curtin Sarawak’s School of Engineering and Science with the business leadership of its School of Business, it provides students with management skills highly relevant to their engineering careers.

The units the students take have been carefully chosen to cover the whole range of skills and competencies they need to undertake management tasks effectively and address the rapidly complex issues in the broad field of engineering.

In addition, some units are offered in short block format, which facilitates integration with other groups and disciplines, as well as acceptance of more units from international institutions for advanced standing.

The course’s units comprise of 50% business-orientated units and 50% engineering-orientated units.

In the last two tri-semesters, students are required to produce a research thesis as part of the course requirement.

Upon completion of the course, graduates will be able to represent themselves as engineers with a management perspective and able to make strategic and operational decisions.

They will be armed with the added advantage of possessing the technological know-how and business competency, the understanding of the technology they are managing, and the managerial skills to facilitate the development of that technology.

Graduates may find enhanced employment prospects with their current employer, or with organisations in research and development seeking experienced engineers with the skills to manage engineering technology.

Besides meeting Curtin’s minimum English language entry requirements, students require an engineering degree or an equivalent qualification in a recognised discipline of engineering with a high aggregate, preferably with at least one year of relevant work experience.

Applications for recognition of prior learning (RPL) are assessed on an individual basis.

As Curtin’s largest international campus, Curtin Sarawak offers students the same widely-recognised undergraduate and postgraduate coursework and research degrees as its mother campus in Australia.

Its degree programmes are closely linked with corporate business, industry, government and the community, enabling students to gain valuable work experience and lead them to opportunities in career development, travel and further study.

Since its establishment in 1999 as a joint venture between Curtin and the Sarawak state government, Curtin Sarawak has become one of the leading international universities in Malaysia, attracting students from over 40 other different countries.

In 2010, it was granted self-accreditation status by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) as well as a Tier Five or Excellent Rating in the MQA’s SETARA rating system for institutions of higher learning, placing it among the top 18 universities in Malaysia.

Located in the suburb of Senadin about 20 kilometres from Miri’s city centre and nestled within beautiful landscaped gardens, Curtin Sarawak’s environment is most conducive for tertiary studies.

The campus’ unique features include stylish buildings modelled on those at Curtin’s main campus in Perth, Western Australia, and complemented by scenic man-made lakes and Senadin’s expansive wetlands.

Further information on Curtin Sarawak can be obtained from its website at www.curtin.edu.my. Alternatively, one can contact its Student Recruitment Department at 085-443939 or via e-mail to enquiries@curtin.edu.my for more details.

Curtin Sarawak: Helping meet the needs of Malaysian and international industry.