Studying Engineering in the UK An International Perspective from MALAYSIA

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Studying Engineering in the UKAn International
PerspectivefromMALAYSIA
Professor Ir Dr Hassan Basri Chairman,
Malaysian Council of Engineering Deans
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CONFIDENTIAL FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
MY.CLO.06.07.09
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CONTENTS

• Malaysia the demand for engineers
• Engineering education in Malaysia
• Accreditation of engineering programmes
• Perspectives from Malaysian employers
• Some issues on engineering education in the UK

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1. Malaysia the demand for engineers
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.Kota Kinabalu
Thailand
POPULATION 25 MILLION
.Kuala Lumpur
Kalimantan
Sumatra
West Malaysia (peninsular) East Malaysia (Sabah
and Sarawak in Borneo Island)
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MALAYSIA, TRULY ASIA Tourism Malaysia

• 60 Malays, 30 Chinese, 10 Indians
• Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians
• Stable, power sharing political system
• 50 years of independence, since 1957
• After 300 years as British colony
• English language, many British traditions still
  prominent

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MALAYSIA

• A federation of 9 states and 3 Federal
  Territories
• Land area 329,758 km2
• 8 hrs ahead of GMT
• Warm humid, daily temperatures 22 33 Celcius
  all year
• Economic base
• Agriculture (palm oil, rubber, peper)
• Natural gas petroleum
• Manufacturing (semiconductors, appliances,
  oleochemicals, etc)
• A middle-income developing nation

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• ENGINEERING
• Largest profession
• central role in national development wealth
  creation

• ENGINEERING EDUCATION
• Biggest and fastest growing sector in tertiary
  education

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How many engineers does Malaysia need?Demand and
Supply Trends

• Very difficult to forecast, but indicative
  estimate is necessary
• BEM has a register of 52,000 engineers, but our
  estimate is 80,000, assuming about 50 are
  unregistered
• Advanced nations 1 engineer for about 100
  people
• Malaysia now 1312
• Should have 250,000 engineers

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Engineer-Population ratios
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4. Demand and Supply Trends
Demand
Supply
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Demand and Supply Trends

• Medium term, demand far exceed supply
• After 10 years, may have surplus.
• Graduates will have to enter international market
  (already are)
• Advanced nation benchmark engineerpopulation
  ratio 1100 is a clear target
• Still far behind

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2. Engineering Education in Malaysia
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Engineering Degree Programmes in Malaysia
Estimated annual total intake by all engineering
programmes 10,000 students
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UNIVERSITIES UNIVERSITY COLLEGES

• 20 public universities
• 10 private universities
• 17 private university colleges
• 4 foreign university branch campuses
• Over 500 private colleges

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20 Public Universities in Malaysia
16 Universiti Malaysia Perlis 2001 Kubang Gajah,
Perlis
7 Universiti Utara Malaysia1984 Sintok, Kedah
9 Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) 1994 Sepanggar
Bay, Sabah
15 Universiti Malaysia Trengganu 2001 Kuala
Terengganu, Terengganu
2 Universiti Sains Malaysia1969 Minden, Pulau
Pinang
17 Universiti Malaysia Pahang 2002 Kuantan,
Pahang
10 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris1997
Tanjung Malim, Perak
KUKTEM
6 Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) 1983
Gombak, Selangor
11 Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia 1997 Nilai,
Negeri Sembilan
12 Universiti Teknologi MARA(UiTM) 1999Shah
Alam, Selangor
1 Universiti Malaya (UM) 1949 Kuala Lumpur
8 Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 1992 Kota
Samarahan, Sarawak
4 Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) 1973 Serdang,
Selangor
5 Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
1975 Skudai, Johor
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Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)1970 Bangi,
Selangor
14 Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn 2000 Batu
Pahat, Johor
13 Universiti Teknikal Malaysia 2000 Melaka
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Major Public Universities

• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
• Universiti Malaya
• Universiti Sains Malaysia
• Universiti Putra Malaysia
• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
• Universiti Teknologi MARA
• Another 14 newer universities

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Major Public Universities
Times Higher Education SupplementRanking 2006

• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 185
• Universiti Malaya 192
• Universiti Sains Malaysia 277
• Universiti Putra Malaysia 292
• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
• Universiti Teknologi MARA
• Another 14 newer universities

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Engineering Universities (Very recent)

• Universiti Teknikal MalaysiaMelaka (2001)
• Universiti Tun Hussein OnnBatu Pahat (2001)
• Universiti Malaysia PerlisKangar (2002)
• Universiti Malaysia PahangKuantan (2003)

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Major Private Universities

• Universiti Technology PETRONAS
• Universiti Tenaga Nasional
• Universiti Multimedia
• Universiti Industri Selangor

• 4 Foreign Branch Campuses
• Monash University
• Nottingham University
• Curtin University
• Swinburne University

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3. Accreditation of engineering programmes
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Need for Accreditation

• Engineering education is big expanding,
  standards tend to decline, hence QA is
  essential
• Accreditation ensures minimum quality
• Accreditation Jurisdiction of Board of Engineers
  Malaysia (BEM) through its standing
  committeeEngineering Accreditation Council
  (EAC).

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Engineering Accreditation in Malaysia

• Historical Perspective

2006 Outcome-based Accreditation Manual (reviewed
by WA)
2003 EAC Malaysia admitted as Provisional Member
of WA
2000 establishment of the Engineering
Accreditation Council (EAC) comprising of BEM,
IEM, LAN and PSD 1996 LAN (National
Accreditation Board) established to ensure
quality of private institution of higher
learning 1967 BEM was established to register
Professional Engineers - joint accreditation
with IEM 1959 initiated by IEM modeled after
UK and Australia 1957 by Public Services
Department (PSD) for admission to the Public
Service
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Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC),Board of
Engineers Malaysia (BEM)

• Main purpose of EAC
• To ensure minimum academic requirements for
  registration as a graduate engineer with BEM
• Registration is mandatory by law in order for a
  graduate to work as an engineer

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EAC Stakeholders
Lead Stakeholder
BOARD OF ENGINEERS MALAYSIA
NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
ENGINEERING ACCREDITATION COUNCIL
THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS MALAYSIA
PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT
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BEM The Board of Engineers, Malaysia

• Statutory body set up by Act of Parliament
  (Registration of Engineers Act)
• Mandatory registration of all engineers
• Hence the need for accreditation of degrees, EAC
• Licensing of Professional Engineers (mainly for
  submission of engineering documents and plans)
• Regulates practice of the profession
• 15 Board Members, representing various sectors of
  the engineering profession.
• Appointment by Minister of Public Works.

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IEM The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia

• An engineering professional body with membership
  from all branches of engineering
• An NGO
• Nominates 5 Board Members (out of 15) in BEM
• Nominates 6 members of the EAC (out of 17)

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PSD The Public Services Department

• Represents the government
• Fomerly the biggest employer of engineers

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LAN The National Accreditation Board

• Statutory body set up by Act of Parliament
• Regulates tertiary accreditation
• Maintains minimum standards ensures quality
• Accreditation of all tertiary educational
  programmes in the private institutions of higher
  learning
• Including engineering degree programmes,
  delegated to EAC
• A new Act, The Malaysian Qualifications Agency
  Act, is expected to replace LAN
• More comprehensive, benchmarked against he
  European Qualifications Framework
• Covers all universities/tertiary institutions,
  public and private.

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EAC Members

• A Chairman (Appointed by BEM)
• A Deputy Chairman (nominated by IEM)
• 10 members appointed by BEM representing various
  engineering disciplines
• 5 nominated by IEM
• 5 nominated by BEM
• 3 representatives from major employers of
  engineers, or associations of such employers
• 1 representative each from PSD, LAN
• The Secretary Registrar to the BEM (Ex-Officio)

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Engineering Accreditation Council

• Terms of Reference
• Formulate and update accreditation policy and
  criteria
• Approve guidelines and operating procedures
• Oversee operational arrangements and appoint
  evaluation panel
• Receive evaluation report and decide on
  accreditation
• Respond to complaints, appeals or any proposals
  for change
• Oversee development and operation of
  accreditation and mutual recognition agreement
  with other countries
• Foster dissemination of developments and best
  practices in engineering education
• Hold consultation meetings with universities when
  necessary

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Signed 1989

• A MULTINATIONAL AGREEMENT FOR THE MUTUAL
  RECOGNITION OF ENGINEERING DEGREES
• Among member countries
• substantial equivalency of accreditation
  systems.
• Malaysia admitted as provisional member 2003

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Implications of Malaysias Washington Accord
Application

• A genuine culture change in engineering education
  towards continual quality improvement based on
  the outcomes approach
• Complete revision of Accreditation Manual
• Outcome-based since 2005
• Multiple training programmes for-
• Universities
• Accreditation panel members (evaluators)
• EAC members

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4. Perspectives from Malaysian employers
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A Study on the Future of Engineering Education
in Malaysia
Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia2006
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Objective of Study

• To chart the future of engineering education
• prepare Malaysian engineering graduates for
  future challenges
• Review current strengths, weaknesses,
  opportunities
• Anticipate challenges
• Make Recommendations

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SCOPE OF STUDY

• Engineer profiles for Malaysia
• Competencies for the Malaysian engineer
• Industrial training
• Demand supply trends
• Quality assurance (accreditation, international
  benchmarking)
• Outcome-based culture
• HRD facilities enhancement

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Study Methodology

• Literature Review
• Quantitative Survey of 422 Employers
• Qualitative Survey of Key Engineering
  Personalities
• Visits discussions with universities and
  accreditation bodies in Europe Far East
• ASIIN, CTI, FEANI, JABEE, ABEEK
• Key universities

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Profile of 422 Respondents
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Conclusions

• 26 Recommendations
• 13 reinforce already prevailing perceptions, but
  has yet to be satisfactorily addressed
• 13 are new recommendations

• 14 directed at universities
• 7 directed at MOHE/JPIPT (10, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25,
  26)
• Implementation could be at universities
• 2 directed at BEM / EAC (14, 15)
• 1 directed at LAN/MQA (16)
• 1 directed at MCED (24)
• 1 directed at Ministry of Education (8)

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• Some extracts of study findings

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Competency Profiles for Malaysian Engineers

• Based on national/global developments, three
  types of competency profiles are considered for
  Malaysia
• Applications Practice Profile
• Theory Research Profile
• Balanced Profile

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Employers were asked preference of competency
profile

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Competency Profiles for Malaysian Engineers

• Survey finding shows Malaysia mainly need two
  profiles, ie.
• Applications Practice Profile
• Balanced Profile

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2. COMPETENCIES FOR MALAYSIAN ENGINEERS
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Employer views on attributes of graduates
H. Teamwork

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Employer expectations on attributes
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Mean Gap btw perception and expectation (An index
to show the degree of deficiency for each
attribute, from employers view)
Communication skills
Engineering problem solving skills
Teamwork
Practical component
Systems Approach
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New Engineering Fields

• Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, 1999 (Halatuju
  Pendidikan Kej)
• Food Engineering
• Biochemical/Biological Engineering
• System Engineering
• Multimedia Engineering
• Ecological Engineering
• Energy Engineering
• Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia, 2006
  (Laporan Wan Zahid)
• Biobase bio-technology, bio-engineering
• Microtechnology nanotechnology, precision
  engineering
• Natural resources petroleum, water, maritime,
  solar energy, wind
• Palm oil based industries

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• From Malaysian quantitative survey (2006)
• 21 (8) out of 271 respondents named the
  following as the required new fields (apart from
  the five conventional fields)
• Biomedical
• Computer Engineering
• Instrumentation Technology
• Marine Engineering
• Mechatronic
• Software Engineering
• Process Engineer
• Engineers of 2020 - National Academy of
  Engineering, 2004
• Information Technology
• Nanoscience
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Photonics

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5. Some issues on engineering education in the UK
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Malaysian Students in the UK

• Total number 11.450
• registered with MSD 5,595
• only half register
• Engineering 1,393 (25)
• Postgraduates 1,114
• Mostly research PhDs
• Mostly fully sponsored by employers

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Some issues relating to UK universities
recruitment

• Suitability of UK degrees for the Malaysian
  market
• Disciplines/fields of engineering virtually all
• Only 4-yr M.Eng. programmes can legally work as
  engineers.
• Engineering profession highly regulated
• Mandatory registration even for graduate
  engineers(non-licensed)
• Little or no market for 3 year programmes
  (B.Eng., B.Sc., B.Tech.)

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Some issues relating to UK universities
recruitment

• Demand for engineering graduates
• Almost unlimited require gt 200,000 new
  graduates in 10 yrs
• Local universities unable to meet demand,
  despite new programmes/universities
• Excess demand to be met by foreign universities
• Typical for developing countries

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Some issues relating to UK universities
recruitment

• Demand for engineering PhD holders
• Very high
• New academic staff for local universities
• Thousands of Malaysian government scholarships
  for PhDs still available.
• Potential for research collaboration
• RM3billion (UK Pounds 400 m) research fund
• available for bidding in next 4 years
• Sample PhD candidates available.

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Some issues relating to UK universities
recruitment

• Recruitment processes by UK universities
• Not a problem
• Malaysian education very similar to UK
• 12-13 year pre-univ education
• Students enter university at age 19, minimum
• O Level SPM, A Level STPM/Matriculation
• Regular promotions by the British Council in
  Malaysia

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Some issues relating to UK universities
recruitment

• Split degree programmes
• 22, 31
• Rely on accreditation by degree-awarding country
• Accreditation problems by ECUK?
• Engineers Australia come to accredit Malaysian
  component
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• Mandatory accreditation by EAC Malaysia (ECUK?)
• Joint accreditation by Engineers Australia EAC
  Malaysia
• Prefer double degree programmes
• 2-way internationalisation

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Some issues relating to UK universities
recruitment

• High Costs
• 1 UKPound 6.8 Malaysian Ringgit
• - but a 7 Pound Biryani dinner in UK also costs
  7 Ringgit n Malaysia
• Still Malaysian students flock to the UK in the
  thousands!!

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Finally, in summary

• The engineering education market in Malaysia (and
  South-east Asia) is expanding fast
• Demand will have to be significantly met in part
  by foreign input, especially from advanced
  countries
• Close collaboration/cooperation have the
  potential to provide quality programmes, with
  genuine international traits, resulting in multi
  cross cultural outcomes
• Australia, Germany France have aggressive
  programmes
• Malaysia looks forward to working together with
  UK counterparts
• Based on many shared values/language/history
• Cross-border mobility
• Research collaborations

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THANK YOU
Malaysian Council of Engineering Deans
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