[ieee 2009 international conference on engineering education (iceed) - kuala lumpur, malaysia...

2009 International Conference on Engineering Education (lCEED 2009), December 7-8, 2009, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tendency of Women in Engineering Program Offerred by UTeM

INorihan Abdul Hamid 2Syafeeza Ahmad Radzi 3Zarina Mohd Noh

Faculty of Electronic and Computer Engineering Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

Melaka, Malayisa '[email protected], [email protected]

[email protected]

Abstract- In past, engineering education is dominated by male

society. Furthermore, nature of discipline, perception of society

and knowledge of women in engineering is also limited among them. Previously, most women only chose courses that somehow related and perceived by community as suit to them. Nowadays, the history is gradually changed; engineering can also be learned

and conquered by women. Women are also accepted and rewarded for their contribution. In Malaysia, this kind of change took place around the end of 1990s when the government announced the Seventh Malaysia Plan (RMK 7); which stresses on the need of additional human power in science and

technology. With the urge, women realized that they should rise to the expectation and immersed themselves in this area; which promises more work opportunity in the future. This paper aims to investigate the tendency of women in choosing engineering

courses while pursuing their study in Universiti Teknikal

Malaysia Melaka (UTeM). The analysis has been done based on the number of female students during enrolment and total of female graduates on the lSI until 41b UTeM convocation (year

2005 until 2008). Women perception and acceptance towards engineering courses can be seen from the result of the analysis. With that, the causes of those changes will be presented and

elaborated for further educational purposes improvement.

Keywords-component; women in engineering; enrolment; graduation; engineering course

I. INTRODUCTION

In Malaysia, the involvement of women in engineering field is not an odd issue. The impact on higher needs of work force due to the excellent economic development around the year 2000; made women chose the engineering field as one of their favored area. The Seventh Malaysia Plan (RMK 7), Eight Malaysia Plan (RMK 8) and Ninth Malaysia Plan (RMK 9) [1,2.3] announced on the higher need of outsourcing work force in the area of science and technology. Specifically, the

RMK 9 stresses on producing more skilled personnel in engineering and technical area.

During the implementation ofRMK 9, the government had highlighted on the second pillar of National Mission that is to increase the knowledge resources and the country innovation, in addition to plaster the first class mind [3]. Under the 'Pelan Induk Pembangunan Pendidikan 2006-2010', the government with the help of Ministry of Education had launched the future

978-1-4244-4844-9/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 97

Mazree Ibrahim Faculty of Electronic and Computer Engineering

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Melaka, Malaysia

[email protected]

direction for national high educational system where few pillars had been highlighted to achieve the key performance index that is to produce 50 scientist and engineers for every 10,000 work force during 2010 [4].

This principle is supported by the 'Pelan Induk Latihan and Pembangunan Kemahiran Pekerjaan Malaysia 2008-2020 announced by the Ministry of Human Resources which had suggested five pillars to be achieved during the Wawasan 2020. Those pillars are to enhance the training system and national development, increase the training quality and expertise development, broaden the access and opportunity for individual to fulfill the needs in industry, to boost the dignity, and to be recognized for the qualification and skilled-based career [5].

Based on the industry needs and government target, at the end of 2000, the government had decided to develop a few technical-based universities. The aim of these universities is to produce more practical-skilled engineers that can reside in industry straight after graduation without the needs of additional time-consuming training [6]. These technical universities will be focused on the teaching axiom which is known as practice and application oriented (FAO). In PAO, students will be exposed to the practical session in laboratories, apart from learning the theoretical knowledge engineering as done in the other established public universities in Malaysia.

UTeM or formely known as Kolej Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka was launched on December 2000 under Section 20 of University and University College Acts 1971. The establishment of UTeM is inspired by the government's resolve to meet the requirement for technical professionals who can contribute to the nation's industrial development [7]. UTeM now offered a total 18 courses for diploma and bachelors degree in engineering. These courses are divided into four engineering faculties in UTeM, which are Fakulti Kejuruteraan Elektronic dan Kejuruteraan Komputer (FKEKK), Fakulti Kejuruteraan Elektrik (FKE), Fakulti Kejuruteraan Pembuatan (FKP) and Fakulti Kejuruteraan Mekanikal (FKM). After 8 years of launched, UTeM had produce more than 2300 engineers which are now serving either in the public sector, private firm or self-employed.

This study is made to detect and observe how attractive the courses offer for female students. The tendency in pursuing their engineering degree will also examine. Nevertheless

2009 International Conference on Engineering Education ( ICEED 2009), December 7-8, 2009, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

factors that affect the increment or decrement number of female students during emolment and graduation will also investigate.

This research will be based on four engineering faculties in UTeM. The analysis is also done to the total number of female graduates for all faculties in each year (year 2005 until 2008). Total number of female student emolment for the session of July 2001 until July 2004, are also considered to compare the female students that emolled and graduates for each course. The data will be present by the bar and line graph. The difference between number of female students emolled and graduated will be analyzed and elaborate respectively.

Hope that the analysis done will be useful for university especially an Academic Affair Department for further improvement in the system and courses offered, so as to encourage higher involvement of female student in engineering area.

II. RESULT ANALYSIS

As mention before, the results are divided into five sections including four analysis of each faculty in the duration of four years of convocation. Apart from that, there is also an analysis for the overall faculty according to the year.

A. Faculty o/Electronic and Computer Engineering (FKEKK)

By the year 2005 when UTeM was in an early stage of development, there was only one course offered by FKEKK named as Bachelor of Electronic Engineering (Electronic Industry) with honours or it is known as BENE. Figure 1 show the total number of female student emolment and graduates within the year 2005 until 2008 which is 26, 43, 43 and 49 people.

60

50 '"

� ::J 40

..., ..

� 30 o �

.. � 20 ::J

Z 10

Total of female graduates in FKEKK

---+- BENE

__ BENe

�/ 26

43

�49 � �

27 26

o +---��.---�&--r-------.-------.

2005 2006 2007 2008

Convoc3tion ye3r

Figure I. Total number offemale graduate in FKEKK

Compared with the emolment on July 2001, there were 55 female students emolled in this course but only 26 of them graduated on the 2005 convocation. The students who succeeded in this course were the students who holds diploma certificate from Polytechnics or other higher institution. These

98

students are known as 'direct entry' student. They are given credit exemption and allowed to continue the course in second year. Therefore, their course can be completed earlier within three years.

From the statements above, the emolment could not be used as a measure figure of graduated students. This was due to the two categories of students as an intake in UTeM. The first category is the students who started their course in the first year while the other category known as the 'direct entry' students that start their course in the second year.

From Figure 1, observed that the Bachelor of Electronic Engineering (Computer) course with honors or BENC was offered on July 2002 while the Bachelor of Electronic Engineering (Telecommunication) with honors or BENT was offered on 2003. Each first graduates from those course is graduated on the second and third convocation.

Overall in Figure 1, the changes of female students to succeed each course in FKEKK increase gradually each year. However, the clear increment of graduate'S female students for BENT course that graduated on the year 2007 was 29 people and increases to 34 people for the following year. However, an opposite situation occurred for BENC female students due to the existence of new course such as telecommunication which able to attract more students than other courses.

B. Faculty 0/ Electrical Engineering (FKE)

60

Sl 50 i5 .; 40 � ""

'Q 30 ... Q) � 20 :: z 10

o

Total offemale graduates in FKE

2005 2006 2007 COllvoc,ltioll year

2008

Figure 2. Total number offemale graduate in FKE

25 19 12

FKE has shown the same trend as FKEKK. At the beginning, FKE has offered one course only named as Bachelor of Electrical Engineering ( Industrial Power) with honours or BEKP on 2001. The first batch or the direct entry for this course has graduated on 2005. Nevertheless, from observation in Figure 2, a drastic decreasing shows during the convocation on year 2006 to 2007. The decrement was about 71.15% or the number decrease from 52 to 15 and fmally 12 people on 2008. It happened maybe because the female students felt that the course offered were inappropriate to their physical and energy ability. Apart from that, maybe at the same


time there were other suitable and attractive courses offered by other courses from other faculty or other higher institution.

Unlike FKEKK, FKE has offered a new course after two years named it as Bachelor of Electrical Engineering ( Power, Electronic & Drives) with honours or BEKE and also Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Control, Instrument & Automation) or BEKC. The enrolment on 2003 has produced graduated students during the 2007 convocation from both courses

As illustrated in Figure 2, there were increments in BEKC and BEKE courses. The percentage of students from BEKE course was over 50% or 64% increment while BEKC has an increment of about 42.1 %. This situation was grateful since there were two other courses that could overcome the lack of students to BEKP course. Moreover, this circumstance could lend to the number of students in FKE

C. Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering (FKP)

Initially there were four courses offered by FKP. In 2002, FKP has offered the Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering (Manufacturing process) with honours or it can be known as BMFP. The first batch of BMFP has graduated in year 2006 and all of them were direct entry students. Two other courses offered for students graduated in 2007 were Bachelor of Manufacturing (Manufacturing Process) with honours or BMFP and Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering (Robotic and Automation) with honours or can be known as BMF A. Apart from that, there was another course offered for students graduated in year 2008 named it as Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering (Manufacturing Design) or BMFD.

30 (I) 25 ., � ::J 20

" .. 515 '0 � 10 E � 5

Total of female graduates in FKP

)'...:"-<-_-� 20

2005 2006 2007 Convocation year

15 12 10

2008

Figure 3. Total number of female graduate in FKP

As illustrated in Figure 3, there were ups and downs of female graduated during the year 2005-2008 in this faculty. The courses of BMFP, BMFD and BMF A have shown a decrement graph within the year 2006 until 2008. BMFP has shown a decrement along the year 2006 and 2007. Number of graduated from 2006 to 2007 has decrease from 27 to 21

99

respectively. During the fourth convocation, the number of graduate students is about 20 people in this course. Besides that, BMF A shown slightly decrease from the year 2007 to 2008 while BMFD course has decreased drastically within the year 2007 to 2008 and the percentage is about 42.85%.

This drop off is probably due to the less promotion of the courses to the society. The societies have less knowledge on the course matter and outcomes of those courses. In addition these courses are less famous in terms of work prospects in fact the male conquer the field. The listed statements above have causes the female prefers to be involved in other field area.

D. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM)

FKM also offered four courses since establish in 2002. The courses offered named it such as Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Thermal Fluid) with honours or simply known as BMCT, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering ( Structure Material) with honours or BMCS, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Design & Innovation) with honours or BMCD and finally Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) with honours or BMCA.

BMCS has started their first intake in 2002. During that time, there was one female student enrolled but unfortunately, that student did not complete her study and quitted in year 2006. Assume has made that the student maybe has transferred to other course that was not mechanical. A same situation occurred to the BMCA course in 2007. A female student also failed to complete her study. One factor that could be stated here, probably due to the stress and physical inability of that student. This field is conquered by male and they have to deal with heavy machine all the time.

Total of female graduates in FKM 18

'" 16 -+-BMCT � � 14 � 12 � 10 Ij)

"0 8 � 6 � 4 � 2

11

5

o +---��---'�-.--��--.-------. 2005 2006 2007 2008

Convocation year

Figure 4. Total number of female graduate in FKM

Even though most of the courses are conquered by male nonetheless there were still an increment number of female students each year through enrolment and graduation. From Figure 4, BMCD has shown a drastic increment for about 50% through the year 2007 and 2008. This has shown a positive sign in the enthusiasm of female students. Assumption can be made


that due to promotion effort from FKM to introduce their courses to the society. As a result, the number of female students to enroll in FKM increased every year. There were also a slight increase of the number of students and those students are still able to perform with great results through the courses in FKM.

E. Overall Analysis

According to the research carried out, the numbers of graduated and enrolled female students are shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6.

Number of Female Students Graduated from

UTeM (2005 - 2008) 120

� 100 10 :> � 80 lio '0 60 Q;

.Q E 40 :>

z 20

o

109

FKEKK FKP FKM

Engineering Faculties in UTeM

FKE

.2005

.2006 • 2007 .2008

Figure 5. Iotal number offemale graduated in UleM

Figure 5 shows the number of graduate female students for all faculties within the year 2005 to 2008. The figure shows that the number of graduate students increases each year. Although the numbers of graduated female students decrease in year 2007 but the number has increase for about 37.5% in the following year. Other faculties have also shown gradual increase every year.

..

c: <II .E e c: <II

..

c: <II

'tI :> 1;;

'0 Q;

.Q E :>

z

Number of Female Students Enrollment in

UTeM (2001 -2004)

120 101 100

80 60 40 20

0 FKEKK FKE FKP FKM

Engineering Faculties in UTeM

.2001

.2002

.2003

.2004

Figure 6. Iotal number offemale enrolment in UleM

100

From Figure 6, conclusion can be made that there were increment and decrement number of enrolled female students in all faculty for each year. Through detail analysis, FKM has shown slightly the same number each year within 5 to 15 people for each enrolment. FKE has shown a decrease in 2007 while the other faculties have shown an increase number.

As conclusion, there are differences between enrolment and graduated students. This is due to the number of intake in bachelor programs for all faculties. Some of the students entered into second year while the rest have to start their study from first year. This advantage enable them to complete their study around 3 years only and they can graduate earlier than normal in take students.

Despite of these reasons, the total number of enrolment could not be compared to the number of graduate students since the division of these two groups is not clear. Nonetheless, the number of enrolment and the number of graduate's students are equal and accurate .

Throughout the four engineering faculty in UTeM, FKEKK have shown a drastic increase every year. This circumstance probably happens due to the appropriate courses to female students offered by FKEKK. In addition, most probably the courses offered by FKEKK give more working opportunity to women than the courses offered by FKM.

FKEKK was the first faculty exists in UTeM. Therefore, this faculty has more experience in promoting all programs offered. This faculty also has the highest ranking in terms of the number of visitor from other higher institutions and schools. This may aid the faculty to promote their programs to the society.

III. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The unique of UTeM from other higher institution in Malaysia is the approach of study is based on practical approach oriented. Instead of learning theory from the books and lecturers in class, students are also exposed to some functional machine and other technical equipment in laboratory since they registered in frrst year. We believe that these are some factor why people outside choose engineering program in UTeM.

Effort form our former Prime Minister by launching an economic development through region such as ECER (East Corridor Economic Region), NCER (North Corridor Economic Region), WPI ( Iskandar Development Region) have given more job opportunity to our nation whereby demand upon high skill and technical worker suddenly increase. No doubt, this situation has produced a tendency of people either male or female to choose engineering program.

Finally from this paper, conclusion can be made that there are also some factors influence a tendency of female student to choose engineering program in UTeM such as higher demand from industries regarding skill and technical worker, government policy, program offered and prospect of work that suitable for women and so on.

2009 International Conference on Engineering Education (lCEED 2009), December 7-8, 2009, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

First of all we would like to thanks Academic Development Department and University Publisher for a given data and information regarding students enrollment and graduation. Secondly dedication to our family for their support, encourage and understanding during completion of this paper. Last but not least our team members for their contribution during data collection, discussion and analysis to complete this paper. Hopefully these will be our milestones to produce more paper onward.

REFERENCES

[1] Rancangan Malaysia Ketujuh, 1996-2000 (RMK 7), Prime Minister Department, 1996

[2] Rancangan Malaysia Kelapan, 2001-2005 (RMK 8), Prime Minister Department, 2001

[3] Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan, 2006-2010, (RMK 10), Prime Minister Department, 2006

[4] Pelan Induk Pembangunan Pendidikan 2006-2010, Kementerian Pendidikan, Putrajaya, 2006

[5] Pelan Induk Latihan dan Pembagunan Kemahiran Pekerjaan Malaysia 2008-2020, Kementerian Sumber Manusia, Putrajaya, 2008

[6] A. H. Hamido n,"Pendidikan dan Latihan di Univeristi Teknikal," Liberalisasi Ko muniti, Penerbit KUTKM, 2005

[7] I. Hassan, M. R. Ayo b, M. Sulaiman, A. S. M. Tahir and M. R No rdin,Practice and Apllicatio n Oriented Educatio n at KUTKM, Penerbit KUTKM, 2005.

101

[ieee 2009 international conference on engineering education (iceed) - kuala lumpur, malaysia...

Documents