KUALA LUMPUR: Aspiring engineers must equip themselves with different skills if they want to do well in the industry.
University of Southampton Malaysia academic provost Prof Ehsan Mesbahi said engineers who have various skills including high technological skills and multilateral thinking are more likely to be paid better than others.
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“Industries and high salaries are not associated with a piece of paper, it is associated with the character,” he said when met at the Star Education Fair 2026 in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday. He said aspiring students must become a team builder, a leader, innovative and creative if they want to be successful.
The campus, located in Johor, currently offers courses such as mechanical engineering and aeronautical engineering with more coming in the future, he added.
The university also offers merit scholarships for their students, which can go up to 100% reduction in fees.
Prof Mesbahi, who is also the associate vice-president international (Malaysia), said the university now allows students to complete their entire course locally, a year in the United Kingdom or a year in India.
Previously, they would need to spend two years in the United Kingdom as part of their course.
“We noticed the cost of studying in the United Kingdom was an issue for students as they would need to be paying the full international student fees there. Some of our international students also faced delays in getting their visas.
“Also, some of the students preferred to be closer to their family,” he added.
However, for those who do want to go overseas, Umatch divisional manager Quinn Koh said Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders can consider entering a university’s foundation programme or, if available, through their International Year One course as a pathway to various degrees including engineering.
The latter, she added, is a three-year course that allows a student to enter second year of the degree once they finish their course.
“This is quite accessible for most students and is akin to the admission department’s ‘best kept secret’,” she said.
