MIRI: Mechanical engineering students of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently attended two online industrial talks by engineering managers from Schneider Electric Industries SAS, a global specialist in energy management and automation with operations in more than 100 countries.
Together with students and academic staff from other engineering disciplines, they also participated in a virtual site visit to Schneider Electric’s Singapore Innovation Hub.
The first industrial talk on ‘Machine and Factory Automation’ was delivered by Wei Jie Ng, segment lead for Water and Consumer Packaged Goods at Schneider Electric Malaysia.
In his talk, Ng outlined the evolution of automation in Industry 4.0, from single machine automation to the design and development of full-scale smart factories.
The second talk on ‘Green Building Power Management’ was given by John Chin, Schneider Electric’s offer and operational marketing manager for Services Business.
Chin’s talk to the students focused on buildings of the future and the enablers of successful design and implementation of green building systems.
There was also a virtual visit to Schneider Electric’s Singapore Innovation Hub. It is the first large-scale innovation hub in Asia, showcasing over 5,000 connected products and receiving over 4,000 visitors yearly.
It not only serves as an executive briefing centre destination, but also offers a platform for small and medium enterprises (SME) and start-ups, as well as serves as the headquarters for Schneider Electric East Asia and Japan.
Ir Dr Lim Chye Ing, senior lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science, who is also chair of the Faculty’s Industrial and External Relations Committee, remarked that the students and academics gained a lot of valuable insights from the talks and site visit.
“We are honoured to learn more about automation and energy management from these two very knowledgeable and experienced industry experts from Schneider Electric, and also have the opportunity to visit the company’s Innovation Hub in Singapore. Schneider Electric is one of our strongest industry partners and is very supportive of engineering programmes,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dean of the Faculty, Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, said the continued support of the Faculty of Engineering and Science’s many industry partners is crucial to the effective student learning at Curtin Malaysia.
“Industry exposure and engagement feature largely in the curriculum of our engineering programmes, as does work-integrated learning and internship opportunities. Good networking with industry players also helps when it comes to job placements for our graduates,” he said.
