Choosing study path after SPM (O-Level) for future career.

 Recently, SPM has been announced. Congratulations to all of you who has passed the level. Regarding this post, of course there will be a lot to self questioning on what is next to study or not to study 😆. Well, always keep in mind that any religion will always mention, knowledge is best weapon. And, this is true indeed. I was being laid off. Now I am starting my own business on the thing that I am expert in and of course it is also related to my hobby. To do all these, I am really relying on the knowledge and my research that I have done. Even now, I am still a student.

Come back to the topic.

After high school, there are options to go for higher institutions such as universities, colleges, polytechnic or even professional courses. Even you failed your SPM, it doesn't mean you have failed in your life! You still have options!

Path after SPM

For those who passed (as long as you PASSED), be grateful that you have more options. To go University for undergrad courses, first you need to go through foundation course (aka. asasi or matriculation). Here, it prepares you for the obstacles that you will have to face during your undergraduate studies. Besides, you can choose diploma courses in university or colleges or even in polytechnic. During this time, you will see the different level of teachers who will narrow down your focus and let you become better than they are. In fact during this time it is really fun as you will learn more than that in the school. But from all of this, how you want to choose the program that you want to study?

To choose a course to enroll, you need to know yourself what you like. Maybe you can look into something about your hobby which can relate to the courses that you want. Example, you like playing online games. Online is related to internet, communication, electronics, programming, IT, AI and so on. From here, you can narrow down to something that catch your interest. Besides, we also have chatgpt which can narrow down to you interest of study. You can ask that chatgpt to help you to find which kind of course suitable for you. But do think of the consequences of the course that you are doing. The prospects of the degree that you obtain, will it be secure you a job or not? All this info you can find it from the respective university website about the job prospects. Do a bit of research from the website. Future also important unless you know how you want to shape your future. Upon choosing the courses, do check about validity or certification of the courses from MQA. In Malaysia, for any courses that you enrolled, MUST be MQA certified.

For duration of study, professional courses like engineering, there will be at least 4 years of undergraduate study. But you might question why not 3 years? Professional courses are audited by the professional bodies. In engineering, it has Engineering Accredited Council (EAC) to monitor. Law they have their bodies and so on. These bodies are the people who guided the courses so that it adhere to the current standard of qualities. But this will be varies for diplomas and certificates level.

For those who are doing not good in your SPM, cheers! You already passed the stage of your study life. But you still can opt for the professional courses too. Through out my teaching career, I do met those who are not good in their study. To my surprise, my that student already plan for culinary course. This is a very good option too. Besides, there are many courses like this available. You know you can ask Google about this like "courses without SPM". Furthermore, you need to pickup the skills of interest and certificates to show that you too can survive! Your knowledge is different from others. Just keep in mind that, not all animal can climb tree. 

All in all, we still have STPM level. STPM is just like matriculation. This one also prepare you well for further study. I personally recommend to go for this level of you can not get a place in the varsity. Study is not hard, everything is in the book. It just the matter of you yourself have the initiative to push yourself or not. Besides, make education as your part time business, you will surely learn more!

Where ever you are, do choose your friends wisely. They can bring a different level of you. Be humble, be nice to your teachers and friends too even though they give hard time. (Hard time is only when you are working). Last but not least, do enjoy of your study life. This is final stage you will be with your friends. All the best!

Life as a Lecturer (a teacher, a scientist and an engineer)

 It has been cool having title as Lecturer in one well-known university in Malaysia. I was lecturing in the Multimedia University for almost 12 years. That has been long time though. I was happy with the job until I have completed my PhD as I wanted to try something new. I just love to try new things!

As a Lecturer, I would say life is quite enjoying. One of the reason is the flexible working time. Means that you can go to work in the afternoon see your office and go back!!! How a person don't like that kind of working man! Too bad, I like something that is challenging... 

Moreover, I have been giving lecturing in front hundreds of students. You can really make more friends, creating new connection with these young future engineers. Furthermore, teaching and sharing working experiences it is kind of preparing the students for their future working life. That's what generally what public seeing as a Lecturer.

As a lecturer, course structures are important pillar that must have in order to guide a class of students for a subject. These structures are consisted teaching schedule, approved syllabus, teaching member and so on. Other than that, you also need to set final exam questions, quizzes, midterm tests, assignment and so on. All these will be guided by Bloom's Taxonomy. Usually in undergraduate studies, it covers on level 3 and above but not more than level 5.

 

Levels of Bloom's Taxonomy 

On the other side, that will be the other sides of lecturing (which public don't see) are that they have to become a scientist and an engineer. This mean they have to do research, consultation and administration duties. 

Be a scientist is really a cool thing, I never imagine in my life I would become one 😂. I only realized when I need to published scientific articles. As you are publishing more, then the chances to go up the hierarchy to be a professor is higher. Besides, research as can boost ones to contribute to the world as role model too. This were done by reviewing other scientist papers, organizing conferences, conference speakers, and also can be an advisor to companies provided your research contribution is really awesome. 

To become good researcher, you must have research funding. To do this, you must submit proposal to the organization that provide research funding of your interest. For example, the government of Malaysia research funding like Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS). And of course you have to make sure that you must meet the objective of the grant at the stipulated time. 

As a technical lecturer and an engineer, you also need to collaborate with other varsity, educational institutions or manufacturer. This is another way to expand to expand working connection for research and consultation purposes. However for consultation, you need to go through university synergy (middle man). This is to make way for university to generate some income. 

On the administrative work, I was in marketing team. In this team, I have to travel a lot. I just like it. In fact talking to potential customers also a nice experience. Besides that, I also have to take care teaching documents as for auditing purposes, creating new syllabi for new subjects and so on. 

Through all the hassle that a lecturer facing, I still find that lecturer life is still okay la. Maybe 12 years of experiences that help me get through a lot. But I still want to live my life to the fullest. I am just going with flow currently. Do the things that I like. As long as no stress, just live on. Cheers!

Me A Nerd 🤓 but Not One 😝

 During the past decade, I was enrolled into post grad studies. This ended up me into PhD in engineering. Well, I am considering myself this is my bonuses in life. I never target my to be at this level. I was targeting a degree (in which ever course) and started my working life. 

The only thing that drive me to get knowledge is bicycle, a two-wheeler human drive transport. The first time I was into bike when the bike made of steel. That time Reynolds steel was quite famous. The metal was then heat treated and combined the tubings by either TIG and brazing to become a bike. This has triggered me about weldings. So learned Arch welding and able to master it. That was a good thing. Due to all this, I wanted to know more hence Without thinking twice, I was enrolling myself in mechanical engineering courses.

Reynolds tubing. Courtesy from Wikipedia.

I was studying Diploma Port Dickson at first, then going for Multimedia University (MMU) in  Melaka (so called further study). At that time, Giant bicycle produced MCR1 road bike, followed by Trek Bikes with it's Y-bikes. Both were made of carbon fibres. Wow, that were the "UMPH" at that time, but I have no idea what is the materials is that. Until I did my final year project on betelnut fibre. 

Giant MCR. Courtesy from Road.cc.

Trek Y bikes. Courtesy from Popular Mechanics, 1996.

Talking a bout betelnut fibre, I was in my hometown peeling the betelnut husk. As I peeled husk showed fine fibres. This straight strucked an idea about the fibres in the bikes. I took the fibres back to my university and showed to my supervisors, Dr. Belal Yousif. To his surprise, we straight away began the work to studies on the fibres. From the work we a able to publish a journal research article.

My first journal article.

I was working in industry for a year after my graduation. However, my eager to know more about the fibres escalated in fabricating tubing products and so on. I was lucky enough to secure a new in MMU as assistant lecturer. The good thing working in MMU is I can further my studies. For my postgraduates studies, I was working with professors from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia, Melaka. My first Professor is Datuk Prof. Radzai Saad and then Prof. Mohd Yuhazri Yaakob. Working them I am able to get what I am targeting for. Besides journals publications, there are collaborations with the industries and universities make the concept ideas into real applications.

First prototype during my post grad.

I was attached to MMU for more than 10 years. Well, experience in teaching is one thing. Moreover, for the skills of writing journal articles is another thing. I will share about that soon.

I was attached again with automotive related industry for another time after my PhD. However due to ecomic uncertainty I was laid off. Currently, I am being self employed in COMPSiTs.blogspot.com. And I am doing what I suppose to do. 😂

Self-employed in here.

Need to live up again

 It has been more than 10 year not to live up this blog. 

What I have accomplished all this while? Why I have so long not active in blogging?

Well, these 10 year there are many thing to update. From a normal degree holder and ended up to a PhD. 

Not only that, I have made my dream come true as an IronMan 2019. But I need to renew that one though.

Will update more about this, and what I have done. Seems like there will be more things to share!

A new me to share more about my experience.

Stay tune!