Aircraft Maintenance Course in Malaysia

In an airlines, you can broadly divide the types of jobs into two, airlines specific and generic kinds of job. The truly airlines jobs are the pilots, aircraft maintenance engineer and cabin crew. These are specialized jobs peculiar only to airlines.

Out of the three, pilots, engineer and cabin crew.. the engineers take the longest to train. The program can take about 4 year. You can start with three years in college and come out with the basic license which does not authorize you to certify for an aircraft. Such program is offered by Nilai college. The details are given below..

Sunday January 2, 2011

Love for engines

By KAREN CHAPMAN
educate@thestar.com.my

Aircraft maintenance is a growing industry with graduates in high demand, and the right route can open doors both locally and abroad.

HIS love of all things mechanical started when Kunalan Marimuthu was a young boy.

He recalls helping his father to either change the tyres of the car or fiddling with the engine.

“I was very fascinated by how things worked and joined the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) after finishing school,” he says.

Kunalan explaining the constructional arrangement of the Beechcraft King Air’s twin-turboprop engine to final semester students.

He obtained basic training from the RMAF as well as an aircraft maintenance licence from the Federal Aviation Authority in the United States.

During his 20 years with the RMAF, Kunalan was based in Sg Besi and Butterworth and worked with many types of aircraft including Northrop F5 fighter jets, helicopters and transport aircraft.

Ever since his retirement from the air force, Kunalan has been imparting his knowledge on the importance of aircraft maintenance to students, and is now head of the Department of Aircraft Maintenance at Nilai University College (Nilai UC).

My job involves ...

... running the day-to-day operations of the department. This includes guiding the staff and ensuring the students obtain the necessary knowledge and training.

The diploma in aircraft maintenance engineering programme was launched at Nilai UC in 2007 and has been a popular option among local and overseas students.

Thanks to the rapid expansion of the programme, we have built a hangar on our campus and purchased an aircraft – a Beechcraft King Air B90 with twin-turboprop powered engines – for students to get their fingers greasy.

My morning starts with...

I am here by 7am. I check for e-mails from our partner institutions and do my paperwork. I ensure that we are prepared for classes and am here in case the students would like to bring up any issues or problems they may have.

Students shouldn’t feel lost or feel they have no one to turn to and if I can’t help them, I will get someone else who can.

I want to set an example for the students that they have to be on time. I insist that they wear uniforms, as once they start working they would have to do so too. When we are doing our practical sessions in the hangar, the students are in overalls with safety shoes and when they are in class, they must wear long pants with their shirts tucked in.

To qualify, you need ...

Applicants for the Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering need to have Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or its equivalent with three credits including Mathematics, English and a Science subject. They must be certified by a medical practitioner as fit to be accepted into the programme and not have any of the following medical/physical conditions — colour blindness, hearing defects and asthma.

One of the key reasons why school leavers and their parents are convinced of the programme’s viability is due to the incorporation of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Licence into its syllabus. Students who successfully complete their exams will receive a Nilai UC Diploma as well as a Part 66 B1-1 certificate entitling them to get a full EASA licence (after completing the necessary working experience, which normally takes three to five years).

The EASA qualification is the graduate’s ticket to an international career as most Commonwealth and European Union countries recognise it.

Unlike in the past, students will no longer have to travel overseas to sit for the EASA exams. The examinations at Nilai UC are offered in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority International (CAAi), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the United Kingdom’s (UK) Civil Aviation Authority.

The approved course notes for this programme given to students are from Kingston University, UK.

The best person for the job ...

... thrives in practical scenarios. However, the theoretical aspects are just as important, and students must also master the finer points of physics and aviation law to graduate.

This programme offers students a chance to get their hands greasy. Aircraft maintenance engineers will be very much in the thick of the action.

What is surprising is the growing number of females who have enrolled in this programme. The first female student recently graduated and is currently employed at Sepang Aircraft Engineering Sdn Bhd in KLIA Sepang.

Physical strength is not everything as one of the programme’s high scorers is a tiny local lass. With her petite stature, she is able to get to tight and cramped areas of the aircraft that many of her colleagues will not be able to. She has so far given the boys a run for their money and is the current top scorer in the EASA exams.

I love my job because ...

... I enjoy sharing my knowledge with the younger generation.

What I dislike most ...

... is students who don’t fulfil their potential.

Prospects for the future ...

... are very good and growth is outstripping supply. Many of the graduates have no difficulty securing employment due to the overwhelming demand for aircraft maintenance engineers, both locally and overseas.

Air travel is common these days but with emerging markets such as China causing greater demand for airports and planes, there is also a corresponding need for suitably skilled and qualified maintenance personnel. On the domestic front, demand is created by airlines growing in size as well as by the retirement of veteran maintenance engineers.

Nilai UC students who have since graduated with the diploma in aircraft maintenance engineering are currently employed by GGIFA International College of Aviation, Sepang Aircraft Engineering Sdn Bhd, Airasia X Sdn Bhd, Smooth Route Sdn Bhd, Airasia Berhad and GE Engines Services Malaysia.

A millionaire by 30?

Many students and their parents are aware of the demand and are especially attracted by the high remuneration packages offered overseas to experienced personnel. The high salaries are a prime motivator.

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Promoting Education in Malaysia

Malaysia aspires to develop its education sectors. Currently, we can broadly divide the high education to public universities and the private universities. The country managed to attract some of the established overseas universities to set up their branch campus in Malaysia, one of which is the Curtain University from Australia.

The local paper, the Star covered the story of The Curtain University.

Read more from the paper..

10 good years

Feb 15, 2009 ... CURTIN University of Technology, Sarawak, Malaysia is marking its 10th ... “The success of Curtin Sarawak over the past 10 years is ...

thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2009/2/15/education/3237100&sec=education

Copy of the post..

Sunday February 15, 2009

10 good years

CURTIN University of Technology, Sarawak, Malaysia is marking its 10th anniversary this year with a year-long celebration that will see a number of special events involving staff and students, as well as the public, being held.

This was disclosed by Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister and Curtin Sarawak Council Chairman Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam as he launched the celebrations by unveiling a commemorative billboard at the university campus recently.

The commemorative billboard to mark Curtin Sarawak’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

The launch kicked off a series of events that started this month and will run through to December, as well as media and website campaigns showcasing Curtin Sarawak’s 10 years of development and excellence.

Also present were Sarawak’s Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications Lee Kim Shin, who is also the chairman of the Curtin Sarawak Management Board, Curtin (M) Sdn Bhd Board of Directors chairman Dr Hatta Solhee, and other dignitaries.

The highlights in April include graduation ceremonies as well as the official opening of its new School of Business and Sports and Events Centre.

This year’s convocation ceremony will see 482 students graduating from the university’s certificate and Intensive English Programme, and a further 200 students graduating from engineering and business degree programmes.

Curtin Sarawak’s staff who have been with the university since its inception in 1999 will also be recognised for their loyalty and dedication in a celebration to be held next month.

“The success of Curtin Sarawak over the past 10 years is indicative of the pivotal role it has played in developing Miri and enhancing the city’s status as an education hub,” says Curtin Sarawak’s pro vice-chancellor Prof Dr John Evans.

“Our 10th anniversary celebration is as much a celebration of the city’s achievements as it is of ours,” he added.

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APIIT for IT study

APIIT is one of the private institution designed to train students in the IT field. It is operating for nearly 20 years producing graduated and trained personnel in specific fields of study.

It is good to see that their works had been recognized by th leaders in Malaysia with the Industry Excellence Award.

Read more from the Star...

Sunday April 10, 2011

Best in industry

By KANG SOON CHEN
educate@thestar.com.my

APIIT Education Group did the education industry proud when it was honoured with the Prime Minister’s Industry Excellence Award 2010 by the International Trade and Industry Ministry during the awards ceremony recently.

It was the only organisation selected for the prestigious award from 27 others receiving awards in eight categories.

The group also received the Export Excellence Award (Services) for 2010 under the Education services category.

Dr Parmjit (right) receiving the award from Najib while UCTI Board of Governors chairman Shahriman Shamsuddin (centre) looks on.

The group comprises the Asia Pacific University College of Technology and Innovation (UCTI) as its flagship university, as well as the Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT).

APIIT Education Group CEO Datuk Dr Parmjit Singh, who accepted the pivotal award from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said the accolade was a recognition of the education industry’s contribution in driving the country’s economy.

“APIIT’s success lies in our ability to meet the market’s needs. Our courses are up-to-date and in tandem with the evolving technology in IT,” he said.

Asked on what gave APIIT the edge over its competitors, Dr Parmjit said the organisation had undergone a major transformation over the last five years.

“The most significant achievement is when APIIT registered an exponential increase in the number of foreign students enrolled. From around 200 foreign students at APIIT five years ago, we now have 5,000 of them as of last year,” he said.

APIIT was established in 1993 to address the shortage of IT professionals in Malaysia and the region. The institution has also set up overseas campuses in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Indi

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The Universities in Malaysia is facing serious challenges. Just like the issues of a country's economy, experts can never be able to agree on the causes, let alone the solution. Some may blame the government over the flip-flop policies.

Many still remember the millions or may be billions spent to implement smart school during Mahathirs era. The the change of focus away from agriculture let to the change of name of UPM. Recently the mess in the teaching of Science and Maths.

But some good news... as USM is recognized as the top 20..

Sunday April 10, 2011

USM is in the top 20

By RICHARD LIM
educate@thestar.com.my

UNIVERSITI Sains Malaysia (USM) is the 19th best varsity for Chemical Engineering in Asia, according to the inaugural QS World University Rankings for technical subjects.

Sandwiched between Tokyo Institute of Technology and University of Hong Kong in the Asian rankings, USM – the nation’s apex university – was also classified in the 51-100 bracket in the global rankings for the subject.

QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd, which conducts and compiles the annual World University Rankings, said in a statement that USM was the only local varsity in the top 100 in any of the five global rankings, which were divided according to subject.

A USM School of Chemical Engineering research officer showing a process based on membrane technology for palm oil mill effluent treatment at its campus in Nibong Tebal. – File photo.

Computer Science and Information Systems; Civil and Structural Engineering; Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering; and Electrical and Electronic Engineering are the other subjects in the rankings.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was top in each category, finishing above Stanford University, Cambridge University and Harvard University.

QS Intelligence Unit head Ben Sowter said the new QS World University Rankings by subject respond to a need for comparative data at a more granular level.

“In many countries, students are being charged more than ever before for their degrees, so addressing the potential career outcomes of one’s study choice is becoming increasingly important,” he said.

MIT recently agreed to establish the Malaysian Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (Misi) in partnership with the Higher Education Ministry and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

MIT Centre for Transportation and Logistics director Yossi Sheffi said Misi would be dedicated to postgraduate supply chain education and research.

He added that Misi would serve as MIT’s Asian hub in the university’s international network of centres, which is known as the Global SCALE (Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence) Network.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Malaya (UM) were the other public universities in the Asian standings.

UTM placed 33rd in Chemical Engineering while UM was ranked 34th in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The National University of Singapore was the best performing Asian university in the exercise, occupying the top 10 spots in the global rankings for each subject except Computer Science and Information Systems.

The QS World University Rankings by subject is based on employer reputation, academic reputation and research quality with a percentage breakdown of 40-30-30 respectively.

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SPM Best Students Want to Study in Malaysia

With SPM result out, more that 25 students in Penang scored straight A. They were from 16 schools across the state.

In the Penang Chinese Girls High School, the students were celebrating after getting their results slips. Four students shared their joy and success secrets when met at their respective schools on the island.

At SMK (P) St George, straight A+ students Amery Seow and Krystin Keh were bursting with joy when their results were announced. Both scored 10A+. Amery, 18, could not stop smiling when she told StarMetro about her plans to further her studies.

“I want to study in Malaysia as I love my country very much,” she said.


That's our boy: Muhammad Sajid receiving a peck on the cheek from his parents, Faridah and Waheed Rahman. When asked about her study secrets, Amery said she never gave up fighting.

“I always persevere to the end and give my full attention in class,” she said, adding that two months before the examination, she stopped watching television. Citing Chemistry and Additional Mathematics as her passion, Amery said she could not wait to go to classes every day to learn more about these subjects.

Krystin said she did not believe in last minute studying. “I‘m not sure about what I’ll be doing next or what career to pursue but I’ll probably enrol in a private college,” she said. Her mother, who only wanted to be know Tan, described her daughter’s success as “really unexpected.”


Proud day: Straight A student Goh Chow Ching from SMK Tengku Mahmud, Jertih in Terengganu about to receive a congratulatory kiss from her parents Lau Kim Lan (left), 47, and Goh Eng Min, 52, after receiving her result slip. “We will let her decide what she wants to do with her future,” she said.

SMK(P) St George principal Shariffah Afifah Syed Abbas said 41 students got straight As (a combination of A+, A and A-). “Our results in Bahasa Melayu has improved and overall I am pleased though there is definitely room for improvement. What’s important is for us to have students who are all-rounders,” she said.

Penang Chinese Girls High School (PCGHS) student Ang Yee Theng, 17, said she had hoped for straight A+ but the results still came as a surprise. “In my trial examinations, I missed out on Bahasa Melayu and English so I had hoped that when the actual examinations came around, I would do better,” she said.


Creditable achievement: Partially blind S. Narayana Samy using a magnifying glass to look at his result slip. He scored 5As and 3Bs. The aspiring doctor said History was the toughest of the 10 subjects as it required a lot of memorising and it wasn’t her favourite subject. “I love Biology. My plan is to apply for a Public Service Department (JPA) scholarship to study medicine,” she said, adding good time management and doing lots of (workbook) exercises were the secret to her success. “Practice makes perfect. I have at least four reference books for every subject,” she said. Her mother Tan Wei Pheng, 45, said her eldest daughter had always been a consistent student.


Pure delight: SMK Tarcisian Convent Ipoh students jumping for joy after obtaining their SPM results in Ipoh. “We don’t have to push her as she knows what to do.

“I am so happy. We will celebrate with a dinner this weekend,” she said.

For top scorer Muhammad Sajid Nabiel, consistency and a balanced diet are the keys to success.
The 18-year-old scored A+ in all the 10 subjects he took.
“There is no secret recipe as success comes from hard work and consistency,” he said.
“I thank God, my parents and teachers for helping me achieve this,” the SMK Penang Free student added. He said that he learned through understanding instead of memorising.

“That is actually the significance of the SPM examination. We must try to understand the subjects instead of simply memorising them,” said the JPA scholarship hopeful. His mother, Faridah Abdul Wahab, who is also a teacher at the school, said parents must try to fulfil their children’s needs.

“Sometimes when I notice he is over stressed with his studies, we will take him for a vacation to help him de-stress,” she said.

Muhammad Sajid was among 26 students from SMK Penang Free who scored 10As in last year’s examination. School principal Ramli Din said he was satisfied as there was an increase in the quality of the results.

“We are aiming to do better next year as we are targeting to have C as a minimum grade for the entire school,” he said.

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