Even after a long day of meetings and appointments, Engr Roland Ngeow shows no sign of being stretched thin. 

 

Fresh out of university, Engr Roland Ngeow joined the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) as a graduate engineer in 2003. After volunteering to serve in the IEM, he was put in charge of the Student Affairs portfolio. ‘YES is a very good starting point for fresh graduates as you get to make friends and learn about the market and the industry,’ he pointed out.

 

YES is responsible for creating contacts with engineering students throughout Malaysia and providing support as they prepare for their future careers. ‘We want these students to be well aware of current developments and their future prospects from undertaking such a course.’

 

‘We go to universities to conduct talks and sessions where we share our experiences and give advice to students based on their questions and some of the problems that they face,’ Ngeow said. 

 

YES also helps students and graduates get exposure, training and most recently, jobs as well. ‘Besides talks, we also assist in internship programmes and organise workshops that cover both the technical and non-technical aspects required to succeed in the engineering field.’ 

 

‘It’s best to figure out your career goals as early as possible,’ Ngeow advised.  Before enrolling in a course, visit colleges, universities and career exhibitions, and talk to the lecturers and counsellors to find out more about your area of interest. ‘During the course of your studies, you can join a club or association such as the YES to get more contacts and insights. Also talk to acquaintances, relatives or friends who are working in the field. They can give you quite a lot of informative advice on this. The more aware you are, the less time you will need to spend to figure out what you want.’ 

 

Ngeow himself started his career as a sales and application engineer. While doing his part-time Master’s degree, he became intrigued by research. ‘I found it more challenging and interesting because you need to be creative and innovative to come up with something which is beneficial to the society.’

 

Initially, Ngeow thought that he would be working in the confines of the laboratory. His perception quickly changed. ‘Apart from doing research, attending and conducting seminars, undergoing courses and presenting papers, we are also encouraged to patent our research and commercialise it.’ 

 

Besides volunteering for IEM, Ngeow is a research officer at the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB). 

 

Upon joining MRB, Ngeow was put in charge of tyre technology research. ‘Prior to that, I didn’t know much about tyres,’ he admitted. ‘The job gave me a new perspective on everyday things that I never paid much attention to before. Now I look at tyres in a completely different way.’

 

According to Ngeow, the key qualities for engineers and researchers are interchangeable. ‘You need to have integrity because you are dealing with things that need to be safe for public use. You also need an analytical mind, and an innovative and proactive approach to solving problems.

 

‘Communication skills – both written and verbal are required to convey the correct message about your decision or plans to your colleagues, superiors, clients and the public.’ 

 

One thing Ngeow learned from work is that you can’t run away from the core sciences. ‘Nowadays, engineers are divided into many different disciplines. In addition to the four main fields – mechanical, chemical, civil and electrical and electronics – there are fields such as agricultural engineering and bioengineering that require knowledge of chemistry and biology on top of a strong background in physics and mathematics.’ The same applies to research where your area of study will expand beyond your core expertise and overlap with other fields. 

 

‘Engineers and researchers are in huge demand in Malaysia,’ Ngeow affirmed. They can work in manufacturing plants, government agencies, research institutes, education, client servicing, oil and gas, even sales and promotion. 

 

When asked about what motivates him, Ngeow cites his parents, siblings, girlfriend and his ability to contribute to society as his main motivations. ‘I feel that I am playing a role by coming up with things and educating the public’ he said. ‘Hopefully in the near future, we can have our own technology instead of relying on technology from overseas, and be able to compete in the global market.’