Info for Undergraduate Engineering Student

 

This is the info for undergraduate engineering students need to understand WHY we need to register under Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM). Below Are the FAQ for student members or non-members.

1. What is the function of IEM?
IEM is a professional learned society with the objective of promoting and advancing all aspects of engineering.

 
2. Is BEM and IEM the same?
BEM (Board of Engineers, Malaysia) is different from IEM. BEM is a government body that regulates the registration of engineers in Malaysia while IEM is a professional Body or Learned Society for engineers.

3. How do I apply to become an IEM member?
Anyone can apply to join IEM provided he/she has the necessary recognised engineering qualification. A list of recognised qualifications is available at the IEM Headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. As the list is updated from time to time, it is not available for sale or distribution.

4. How long does the application process take?
The application process can take from one month to one year depending on the grades applied and completeness of documents submitted. Application for student Membership can take as fast as one month while application for Corporate Membership can take as long as one year if the candidate fails in the Professional Interview. However, the Institution will strive to speed up all applications as the strength of the Secretariat has been increased.

 
5. What is P.Eng.?
P.Eng. stands for Professional Engineer. It is a term referred to qualified engineers practicing with license from the Board of Engineers Malaysia. Professional Engineers in Malaysia commonly use the title "Ir." instead of "Mr."

6. How to become a P.Eng.?
An engineer who has just graduated with a recognised qualification must register with the Board of Engineers Malaysia. He/she can then start to obtain the necessary training and experience, normally four years, before he/she can attempt to sit for the Professional Interview, an exam to qualify Graduate Members of IEM to be transferred to Corporate Members. Corporate Members of IEM can then apply to upgrade their status to P.Eng. with the Board of Engineers Malaysia.

7. I was a previous member who lost touch with the Institution long time ago. How do I rejoin?
If your name has been erased due to non-payment of subscription, you have to apply for reinstatement. For reinstatement, you have to pay all the arrears due to the Institution since the last payment before you lost touch plus a processing fee of RM100. The Constitution and Bylaws do not provide any exemption or discount for reinstatement.

8. What are the degrees recognised by IEM?
IEM only accreditate degrees of local Universities for recognition. In cases of foreign degrees, IEM based its recognition from respective accreditation bodies eg. Engineering Council for UK Degrees, ABET for USA Degrees, IEAUST for Australian Degrees etc. The list of recognised degrees is available at the IEM Secretariat for viewing. It is too lengthy to be distributed and is not for sales.

9. Compare the profession in the past and now.
Engineering has always been an excellent profession with a lot of contributions. If we traced back in history, many inventions were by engineers. Engineering profession also changes with time when new technologies are discovered. For example, in the past we had electrical engineering. When electronics becomes important, we do specialise into electronic engineering.

10. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this profession?
This is a profession where sky is the limit. We can put theories into practice. We can invent and innovate.

11. The recent move by the Education Ministry to Standardise engineering degrees at public and private institutions to four years had received a positive feedback. How do you see this at a positive move?
It is not the question of 4 years or 5 years. It is the study period (8 semesters each 14 weeks minimum) and the syllabus.

12. Why are we facing shortages of engineers? How to overcome it, apart from promoting its career prospect in the private and secondary level?
All countries need engineers. Engineers are very versatile, they venture into different non-traditional engineering professions such as banking, insurance, financial etc. More study places should be created at the institutions of higher learning.

13. What character must an engineer have?
Creativity, Inquisitive Mind, Disciplined, Instinct for Economy, Hardworking and Logical Thinking.

14. Make a comparison between the local engineers and the foreign engineers.
Technically, both are the same. Some overseas trained engineers tend to be more vocal and are able to give excellent presentations.

15. Why do you think Malaysia still requires to recruit foreign engineers? Is it because the standard and quality of our local engineers are not on par with the foreign ones?
If we can train sufficient engineers, we do not need to import engineers. We can even export our engineering services.

16. What's the standard of our local engineers if compared to engineers in other developing countries like Thailand, Burma and Singapore?
Our engineers are equally good.

17. Why do females shy away from this profession?
There is a misconception that engineering profession is only suitable for men. However, during recent years, the numbers of female engineers have increased, especially in the disciplines such as electronics, computer and chemical.

18. What is the most appropriate field for the female who wants to pursue this career?
Electronics, Telecommunications, Electrical, Mechatronics, Computer, Chemical.

19. How to attract more female engineers in Malaysia?
There should be more seminars in the school level. Career guidance at secondary school is important too. Also the media can certainly help by regularly print articles on success stories of female engineers.

20. How can one achieve IR status?
After graduation, an engineer needs to register with Board of Engineers Malaysia to be a graduate engineer. After a few years of practical experience (supervised by a professional engineer), the graduate engineer can apply to sit for Professional Interview (with IEM). If he/she passes the Interview, he/she can apply to BEM to be a Professional Engineer that entitles him/her to use the title Ir.

21. What benefits does one receive upon being conferred the IR status?
Only a Professional Engineer can sign plans for submission to local authorities.

22. There are more than 40 branches of engineering specialisation. Are Malaysi
ans aware and receptive towards the changes happening in the engineering world?
Yes, IEM is constantly updating the recognition list and also the disciplines. At Malaysia, we have more than 70 branches.

23. What is the society's perception towards this profession? How to change their mindset, especially the older generation?
Again, more success stories and contributions of engineers must be presented to the public by the media.

24. Which organisations usually offer scholarship to students who take up engineering in the tertiary level?
Many organisations:-
(a) International companies
(b) Local companies
(c) Non-government Organisations

25. Are the scholarships usually bond free?
Most of the scholarships do bond the students to work with the companies after graduation, through occasionally there are some who do not. Most scholarships from NGOs do not have any bond.

26. Is it better to study engineering in a local or private institution?
This is a matter of preference and the availability of the type of courses and places.

27. Taking up Masters in Engineering does not guarantee a good job-performance. True of false?
Engineering is a life-long profession where one needs to read and study to keep up with the new technologies. Of course, taking up a Masters does not guarantee success, but it does help one to explore new technologies and new areas.

28. Is it better for engineers to take up Masters in Business Administration instead of Masters in Engineering?
Again this is a matter of preference. In some cases, an MBA is preferred due to job requirement, and in other cases MEng is important to get to know new technologies, new theories and applications.