Plenary Lecture

Employability Skills Framework for Engineering
Graduate in Malaysia

Associate Professor Azami Zaharim
Head Centre for Engineering Education Research, Faculty of
Engineering and Built Environment
And
Head for Renewable Energy Resources and Social Impact Research Group,
Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM, Bangi, Selangor
MALAYSIA
Email: azami@vlsi.eng.ukm.my

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to propose a engineering employability skill framework that will allow the concept to be explained easily and that can be used as a framework for working with engineering graduates to develop their employability before entering workforce. The framework was developed from existing researches on engineering employability skill issues and the requirement of the accreditation of engineering programme. The various criteria of employability skills related to engineering included in the framework are discussed and their criteria justified bases on literature review of existing studies. The framework sets out exactly what is meant by engineering employability, in clear and simple terms, and the framework suggests directions for interaction between the various criteria that being identified. The framework can be used to explain the concept of employability to those new to the subject, and particularly to engineering students and their future employer. It will be a useful tool for lecturers, careers advisors, employers and any other practitioners involved in employability skills. It will also be used to develop a model and a measurement tool for engineering employability skill. This paper contributes insights into the linking of graduate attributes, using national accreditation criteria and the framework of engineering employability skills from locally and globally expectation.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Azami Zaharim worked first 13 years as a lecturer in the Universiti Teknologi MARA (University of MARA Technology - UiTM) before joining the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia - UKM) in the year 2003. He is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment UKM, and is currently Coordinator for the Unit Fundamental Engineering Studies. He obtained his BSc(Statistics and Computing) with Honours from North London University, UK in 1988 and PhD (Statistics) in 1996 from University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. He specialize in statistics, public opinion, engineering education and renewable energy resources.
He has until now published over 80 research papers in Journals and conferences, conducted more than 15 public opinion consultancies and delivered 3 keynotes/invited speeches at national and international meetings. He is currently the head of Renewable Energy Resources and Social Impact Research Group under the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI). In the year 2007, he headed the Engineering Mathematics Research Group. At the same time, he is currently active involve in outcome based education (OBE) approach at the national level and the chairman of the Engineering Education Research Group since 2005. He is also involved actively in the research for the future of engineering education in Malaysia 2006 under the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia.