Careers: Engineering success

A WHOLESOME study experience is a major contributing factor to your success in any industry.

Ow Kee Teik, who graduated from KBU International College (KBU) in 1997 and is now the director of OS Engineering & Associates Sdn Bhd says: "Guidance and textbook play a vital role in learning but above all, eagerness and initiative will be a good push in achieving the knowledge to drive you to succeed."

Ow graduated from KBU with a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in a twinning collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom. Upon graduation, he joined an established engineering consultancy firm in Kuala Lumpur as a project engineer for eight years before starting his own consultancy company.

OS Engineering & Associates is a mechanical and electrical project management and consultancy firm which offers its services for buildings and infrastructure developments.

"It is important for students to see how their career pathway can be shaped by undertaking a particular programme of study. Likewise, proper guidance by lecturers and good industry links are essential parts of the learning process before students are ready for employment," says Ow.

He is of an opinion that the projects and activities he had experienced during his days at KBU had prepared him to face the challenges of the real world.

"Communication and comprehension skills are as important as theoretical knowledge when it comes to meeting clients and dealing with customers. These experiences also prepare you to go the extra mile when it comes to satisfying your customers," adds Ow.

KBU is one of few private higher institutions in Malaysia to conduct a British degree programme in Engineering. All its graduates are readily employable as a result of its training rigour.

Its School of Engineering and Computing conducts two franchised "3+0" programmes in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University in the UK and Nottingham Trent University.

The college also runs programmes in the arts, design, business, computing, hospitality and tourism courses at the foundation, diploma and degree levels. It also offers pre-university programmes such as the A-levels and Australian Matriculation examinations.