Engineering graduate thrives abroad

Tan (centre), one of the three representatives of IET Singapore to attend the IET Malaysia Prestige Lecture & Awards Dinner.

WITH 50 years of expertise in engineering education, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) has a rich tradition of producing graduates with the knowledge, skills and attributes who meet the standards of the profession.

The Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FOET) in TAR UC began as the School of Technology in 1972 with programmes that prepared students to sit for internationally recognised professional examinations. With the qualification and training from TAR UC, many graduates have gone on to work not only locally but abroad in the field of engineering where their talent and ability is in demand.

Despite growing up in Kemaman, Terengganu, Tan Tau Wee left the picturesque village of Kemaman to pursue a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours at TAR UC after SPM.

His decision was based on the fact that his older brother took up a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and that his seniors highly recommended TAR UC as a place of study as it is one of the highly rated institutions of higher learning in Malaysia.

As he recollected his time at TAR UC, he shared some of the lasting impressions he had as a Mechanical Engineering student.

“I learned a lot about engineering management. Engineering management honed my technical capabilities with leadership knowledge and skills, which prepared me for success in a highly technical organisation. It has enabled me to manage and lead a team of analysts and industrial engineers. I can help my company identify costs and budget needs for specific projects in their planning stage and delegate tasks and inspect processes and project results for accuracy and quality,” he said.

“I had the opportunity to learn Finite Element Analysis (FEA) which uses mathematical models to understand and quantify the effects of real-world conditions on a part or assembly. These simulations, which are conducted via specialised software, allow engineers to locate potential problems in a design, including areas of tension and weak spots. Using building material information and accurate 3D models of a part or assembly, FEA predicts structural or performance problems before they occur in the real world. This knowledge and skills that I had gained during my studies have been really useful in my line of work,” Tan added.

In the FOET, students are encouraged to display their engineering knowledge, talent and sense of innovation in the course of their studies, and they get to do so every year at the Project Design Exhibition (ProDEx), organised by FOET.

Tan also took part in the event and his project was to design and fabricate a Solar-Powered Car Ventilation.

He said: “The lesson that I learned from this project was the sequential steps that I had to go through to complete the project. It starts with the objective, methodology, design, test and commencement. All the steps are commonly practised in my job.”

Tan obtained his bachelor’s degree in 2017 and he now works in UTOC Engineering Private Limited as a Senior Project Engineer in Singapore.

At the company, his career highlights include the three major projects he has completed. The first is Evonik ME6, which is a second world-scale production plant for the amino acid DL-methionine in Jurong Island, Singapore, as Project Engineer. Secondly, as Project Engineer for ExxonMobil-Chemical and Refining Integrated Singapore Plant (CRISP) Project which is known as a world-scale refining complex across two sites – one on the mainland (Jurong) and another on Jurong Island (Pulau Ayer Chawan or PAC).

Together with the Singapore Chemical Plant, they form the largest integrated ExxonMobil manufacturing complex in the world. Thirdly, as Project Lead for CCD (Singapore) Pte Ltd – VAE/VAEP Expansion Project where Tan’s company was the PCM (main contractor) for Equipment, Steel Structure, Architectural, Piping, Insulation and E & I Works.

Apart from his work, Tan is also an active member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in Singapore. He finds it beneficial as a member as there are plenty of activities implemented such as workshops, lectures, courses and engineering talks.

“The community brings together engineers and technicians from around the world to network, learn and collaborate to build real industry connections, no matter where you are or what your area of expertise is. Besides that, having a support network of like-minded engineers who share your interests is priceless when it comes to building your career and expanding your knowledge,” he said.

Engineers are highly in demand not only in Malaysia but globally. With the right knowledge and well-recognised qualification like Tan, one can be a sought-after engineer anywhere in the world and contribute to the community.

n For more information about Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours or other engineering programmes offered by FOET, intakes or other general enquiries about TAR UC, visit www.tarc.edu.my. Attractive scholarships are also available at TAR UC based on academic merit and there is a sibling discount for qualified students.