School leavers looking to enrol in one of the many engineering programmes at Nilai University (Nilai U) can look forward to having additional professional certification to go along with their diplomas or degrees. Nilai U administrators have been busy making the right connections for its students by signing MoUs with organisations which offer training, internship opportunities and exemptions from professional exams. For instance, students from Nilai U’s Medical Laboratory Technology will do their internship at Gribbles Pathology, the country’s largest pathology services provider. Students will be exposed to the latest technology and industry practices and will receive a certificate from Gribbles at the end of their internship. Likewise, students from the School of Hospitality and Tourism receive training from the Malaysian Food and Beverage Executives Association (MFBEA). Students will get the chance to network with people from the industry and also earn a certificate from an organisation that is highly respected in the hospitality and tourism sector. School of Business students will be able to earn exemptions from professional organisations such as Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (MAICSA).
Engineering students will now have the opportunity to earn similar professional recognition which will give them an added advantage in the job market. For starters, students from the Bachelor of Automotive Engineering (Hons), Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Hons) and Diploma in Mechanical Engineering programmes will be entitled to receive enhanced certification in Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD). This professional certification is achieved with the signing of an MoU with Six Sigma Synergy SdnBhd, which is a franchisee of CADD Centre International.
The training, which is embedded in the syllabus of the respective programmes, will entail instruction in Solidworks and ANSYS software. The former will teach students to create components with parametric methods as well as how to create assemblies. The latter will impart knowledge on computer aided engineering analysis using finite element method / finite element analysis (FEM/FEA). Nilai U is licensed to run the respective software and the training will be conducted by lecturers. As it is embedded in the syllabus, students will not have to pay additional fees for this training.
“Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) training is essential in today’s engineering environment. This training will enable students to bring their ideas into reality,” proclaims A. Rohini, Head of CADD Centre, Six Sigma Synergy Sdn Bhd. “It will give students an added advantage in the employment market as he or she will be able to speak the same engineering language as the potential employer. The CADD Centre certification will lend credibility to their résumés.” She also states that knowledge in Solidworks and ANSYS software is essential in today’s engineering environment as it reduces the time frame required to complete an engineering design, hence improving productivity. “This knowledge is very much sought after and there is current demand for engineers who have essential skills in Designing and Drafting,” she adds.
The other MoU signing was with Bistanika Sdn Bhd to conduct training courses/workshops for PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers) and HMI (Human Machine Interface). Bistanika as a training partner for Siemens will provide a one day workshop for PLC and HMI and a three-day course for Siemens S7-1200 System.
The one day workshop/seminar provides the engineering student with a basic understanding of PLC and HMI systems and exposes them to the latest and most advanced Siemens TIA (Total Integrated Automation) Software. The Siemens S7-1200 System Course is offered to students wanting to enhance their marketability. The course provides participants with hands-on experience in programming, installation, commissioning and basic fault diagnostics using Siemens S7-1200 hardware and software
These modules have not been made compulsory but will be offered to all engineering students. Those undertaking the Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Hons), Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Diploma in Mechatronics are encouraged to attend these training workshops/seminars to equip them with knowledge in PLCs which is very important in process and machine automation. Participants will be issued certificates by Siemens.
According the KM Chua, Director of Bistanika Sdn Bhd, “PLCs uses are not limited to the Manufacturing sector. They are also used in infrastructures like the MRT and in a wide range of sectors including Power Generation & Distribution, Water Supply and Oil & Gas among many others. The market for simple, standalone PLCs is big. Opportunities to work in projects and installations with large number of PLCs linked by wireless and wired network across the country via SCADA (Supervisory Controls And Data Acquisition) systems are endless.” He believes that engineering students with knowledge in PLCs would have an advantage when they go into the job market. Both Chua and A Rohini were speaking after signing MoUs with Nilai U on 16 May 2013.