​STEM Careers: 10 Myths Debunked

(19 October 2019, The Star)

​ Professor Dr Hilmi Mukhtar

​The study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) is filled with myths and misconceptions that often results in students avoiding these subjects. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) through its faculty, students and alumni, is debunking these notions and is making a strong case to encourage more young people to take up STEM.

The study of STEM requires patience and an inquisitive mind. Professor Dr Hilmi Mukhtar, UTP Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic says that students should be aware of why they are studying STEM. Doing so, he says, allows them to understand and appreciate the theory and complexities of the subjects, and help tackle the challenges of studying STEM. It helps too for students to be sufficiently exposed to these subjects and their real-world applications during their primary and secondary education. "If students are excited about the study of STEM, it will drive their motivation to pursue it," he adds.

Myth 2: Studying STEM is boring and difficult

Enhancements in teaching and learning are making the study of STEM more exciting and engaging. According to Dr Hilmi, a multimode teaching and learning approach that includes having real-life situations in the classroom, the use of exploratory and discovery mode of learning, adopting problem-based and cooperative learning as well as field trips and industrial internships boost the study of STEM. Adjunct lectures by influential and renowned names, including Nobel laureates in STEM fields also make the study of STEM more alive and relevant to real world needs, so there is never a dull moment.

Lim (second from right) participated in the 28th International, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition under the category of World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE) and received gold award.

​Myth 3: STEM is for nerds Lim Ern Yee who just completed her third year in Chemical Engineering at UTP is not what one would describe as a 'nerd', and the 22-year-old strongly disagrees that STEM subjects are for so-called nerds. "Engineering is not just about the study of facts, it also calls on one to be creative and innovative in using science and technology to solve daily life problems. At UTP I was also a member of the UTP Performing Arts Group, and I joined multiple international cultural dance competitions, gaining a better insight of various cultures."

In 2019, Abdul Rahim Mohd Sabri's two companies specialising in the manufacture and printing of T-shirts raked in revenue totalling RM5mil. The Petroleum Engineering graduate started one of the companies when he was still a UTP undergraduate. "Initially it was to earn extra income and also to fill the time but after graduation I decided to venture into business full-time. Although I felt that a career in engineering wasn't my cup of tea, the course, which emphasised problem solving and methodical thinking has helped me in business."

Myth 5: STEM only suits male students

From a young age, Izzah Suhaimi loved putting things together and figuring out how they work. The 30-year-old Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduate is today a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Design Engineer for devices that are used in medical and aerospace industries. "I have worked hard to earn the trust by being proactive and delivering high quality work. Young girls who have the passion for science and engineering should pursue them and break the stigma that they are for men only."

Myth 6: STEM is only for top scorers

"There are no conclusive correlations that indicate that STEM degrees are only for top scorers," says Dr Hilmi. He says that it is the students' lack of confidence in their aptitude and ability to study these subjects that tend to hold them back. This could be due to the lack of experiential learning approaches in the delivery of STEM in schools. But with the support of family, teachers and mentors, students with the interest in STEM can be inspired and encouraged to explore the opportunities available. Continuous assessment of the students and personalised learning approaches will also ensure that students are able to do well in the STEM courses.

Myth 8: Not exciting work environment for STEM graduates

No one can say that 37-year-old Izwan Adnan is not having the time of his life. The Senior Reservoir Engineer has worked in China, Venezuela, the US, Turkmenistan, and the UAE where he's currently based. "I work with people from 60 countries so there's never a dull day at work. When I was studying the excitement of working in a high risk, high return environment of the petroleum industry really appealed to me. So far, this job has been surreal and I am hungry for more."

Myth 9: STEM programmes are expensive

The costs of running STEM-based courses are comparatively higher than non-STEM based courses because of the physical teaching and learning facilities required such as labs for experimentations, design and fabrication workshops, industrial standard testing labs, and the materials and consumables required. "But the cost of enrolling into a STEM-based programme depends on the charging mechanism by the institution of higher learning. However, due to the importance of STEM careers, more organisations are willing to provide sponsorship opportunities," says Dr Hilmi.

The study of STEM courses can also lead to careers that are not only rewarding from the job satisfaction sense but also financially. So the study of STEM can be a value-for-money investment.

"So far, this job has been surreal and I am hungry for more," said Izwan.

​Myth 10: STEM graduates find it difficult to secure jobs There was a time when STEM degree holders would find themselves working only in the narrow fields of science or engineering, but today as the world becomes more tech and data driven, their marketability is increased. All STEM programmes are important for the country, says Dr Hilmi pointing out that the Fourth Industrial Revolution means that STEM jobs are increasingly in demand. Job waiting time is also reduced significantly if graduates are keen to work internationally, he adds. UTP's broad-based, industry-relevant curricula that is frequently reviewed and updated, the emphasis on outcome-based learning, and its close affiliation with the industry's best have resulted in about 90% of UTP graduates being employed upon six months of graduation. At UTP students can also complement their degrees with a minor in entrepreneurship, big data analytics, international relations and project management to help them stand above other graduates.