By UOW Malaysia KDU
Anyone who’s ever experienced a major power outage would appreciate just how crucial electricity is to our everyday lives. Lights, motors and countless other devices need electricity to operate. This is where electrical engineers come in. Electrical Engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
Electrical Engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
It involves physics, mathematics and covers sub fields such as electronics, telecommunications, control systems, signal processing as well as computers. This engineering branch also covers power systems.
Electrical engineering is one of the newer branches of engineering which dates back to the late 19th century. Experiments with electricity included primitive batteries and static charges. However, the actual design construction and manufacturing of useful devices and systems began with the implementation of Michael Faraday’s Law of Induction, which became the foundation of Electrical Engineering. It essentially states that, “The voltage in a circuit is proportional to the rate of change in the magnetic field through the circuit.”
This law applies to the basic principles of the electric generator, electric motor and the transformer. The advent of the modern age is marked by the introduction of electricity to homes, businesses, and industry all of which were made possible by Electrical Engineers.
Electrical Engineers work in a very wide range of industries and the skills required are likewise variable. These range from basic circuit theory to the management skills required of a project manager.
They apply the physics and mathematics of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism to both large and small scale systems to process information and transmit energy.
To do this electrical engineers design computers, electronic devices, communication systems, test equipment, electric power networks and improve systems through problem solving techniques. The tools and equipment that an individual engineer may need are similarly variable, ranging from a simple voltmeter to a top end analyzer to sophisticated design and manufacturing software.
The job scope of electrical engineers depends on the industry they are in but could include these duties:
They usually work on projects with other professionals like Civil Engineers, Architects and Engineering Technicians.
The Skills Required in Electrical Engineering are:
Here are some of the top reasons why you should study electrical engineering:
The engineering profession may not be for everyone as some people just have more natural affinity towards it. Consider the following if you’re trying to decide if electrical engineering is the career for you.
Electrical engineers will learn how to create and build hardware for websites and applications to run on. You will be working with computers, phones as well as tablets and will need to know at least the basics of technologically advanced products.
Even though you may not be building technologically advanced products per se, an electrical engineering course will allow you to explore the wonders of modern technology.
You will definitely love studying electrical and electronic engineering if you’re constantly looking for ways to make things work efficiently. This is because fixing and improving this will be part of your job. You will get to push the boundaries of technology with creative innovations.
Do you seem to be the one that your family and friends come to when something at home is not working? A large part of being an electronic engineer is your ability to troubleshoot and fix electrical parts.
You need to be able to keep yourself motivated to learn as you may well face numerous trial and errors before you become a successful electrical engineer. Having a passion to learn also means that you will keep up to date with the latest development in this fast changing, fluid field.
Collaborating with others in the field is inevitable. You will have to work with fellow students during your electrical engineering course. This will prepare you to work with other people such as other engineers, contractors and designers once you have graduated.
However, do not worry if you’re not used to working in a team. Stay open, learn to build trust among your team members and build on each other’s strengths. You may well find that working as a team enables you to accomplish more in a shorter amount of time.
As an electrical engineer, you will most likely face issues in designs, systems and programming very often. As such, you will need to be able to think and solve problems even when you feel stressed out. Creativity is an added advantage.
If you’re still unsure, you can take our career test online to find out what job suits your personality best.
In Malaysia, electrical engineers are in high demand. As this country continues to develop, electrical engineering is a field that will continue to expand to keep up with the nation’s growth.
As such, electrical engineering courses are increasingly popular among students who have completed their secondary or high school education. Because of the growing number of students opting for this course, most tertiary education institutions offer electrical engineering courses that are designed to give students a jumpstart in this field.
Foundation in Engineering teaches you the basic elements of engineering in general. But if you are really sure that you prefer the electrical engineering path, you can also opt to sign up for a Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Alternatively, you can continue furthering your studies in Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering with Honours.
Download our Engineering course guide here to view the programme structure in detail.
Different universities may offer slightly different subjects. However, an example of subjects offered in an electrical engineering degree are as below, courtesy of UOW Malaysia KDU:
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While this depends on the capabilities of different individuals, electrical engineering is generally quite hard. It requires abstract thinking, calculations and a flair to understand maths and physics. As an electrical engineering student, you’ll have to put in the effort in your studies. And once you graduate, complicated problems are just part of the job. Nonetheless, electrical engineering is a rewarding career.
Electrical engineering has now been subdivided into a wide range of subfields including electronics, digital computers, power engineering, telecommunications, control systems, radio-frequency engineering, signal processing, instrumentation, and microelectronics. Many of these sub-disciplines overlap and also overlap with other engineering branches, spanning a huge number of specializations such as hardware engineering, power electronics, electromagnetics & waves, microwave engineering, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, renewable energies, mechatronics, electrical materials science, and many more.
The most common industries to apply are:
Electrical Engineers would help develop and maintain equipment. They primarily focus on designing electrical supply systems and equipment specifications needed at planets, drilling rigs, offshore platforms, and pipeline monitoring stations.
The Electrical Engineer would be designing new computer hardware and peripherals.
Design aircraft electrical systems. The Electrical Engineer would do research, develop, evaluate electronic devices using aviation, including satellites, flight systems, and communications systems.
Building a computer requires a number of parts many of which are very small and must be manufactured to very precise specifications. A variety of products use semiconductors including music players, global positioning systems, computers and automobiles. The jobs in Electrical Engineering would be to make parts smaller while making them faster, more powerful and more dependable.
Also known as home electronics, consumer electronics are electronic devices that are used in homes. Consumer electronics are some of the most commonly used forms of electronic devices. They include televisions, laptops, washing machines, refrigerators, computers and tablets. Electrical engineers play a large role in designing, improving and advancing these products.
The exchange of information via electronic processes is referred to as telecommunications. Electronic engineers are needed to design and continuously improve phones, mobile devices, satellites, broadcasting equipment and other communication tools.
You might be surprised that electrical engineers are also needed in the construction industry. The responsibilities of electrical engineers in construction sites include designing, testing, installing as well as maintaining the electrical systems in the building.
Electrical engineers are also needed in many government institutions such as defence, traffic control departments, transportation and many more. In fact, many of the systems we enjoy and sometimes take for granted are put in place by electrical engineers. Wherever you find electrical systems and electrical devices, an electrical engineer would have played a role in its development.
With reference to the industry scope above, here’s some of what you can do with an electrical engineering degree:
According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics electrical engineers earn a median salary of $93,000 per year. Salaries typically start from $59,240 and go up to $146,820. The top 10 percent of Electrical Engineers earn a monthly salary of $10,972 or more.
In addition, electrical engineers with a Master’s Degree or Professional License improve their attractiveness to employers and may qualify for higher wages. The average Engineer with a Master’s Degree in any field earns approximately $900 more per month than one with a Bachelor’s Degree.
According to Salary Expert, an entry-level electrical engineer with 1-3 years of experience earns RM103,174 on average. A senior-level electrical engineer with 8+ years of experience, on the other hand, earns an average salary of RM183,371.
The Top Companies Hiring Electrical Engineers are:
Electrical engineers are in such high demand that many companies are restructuring their benefits and compensation packages to attract top talent, making it an excellent time to pursue a career in electrical engineering.
Electrical and electronics engineering are often grouped together. However, they are fundamentally different. Electrical engineering deals with the transmission and distribution of electricity while electronic engineering is concerned with components such as electron tubes, semiconductors, transistors, integrated circuits and such.
Simply put, electrical engineers study and apply the flow of electrons while electronics engineers study and apply the flow of charge.
The lines between electrical engineering and mechanical engineering can seem blurry, as both engineering disciplines involve the design and construction of things.
Electrical engineering is the study of energy as well as electrical fields & structures. On the other hand, mechanical engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the application of power.
In electrical engineering, engineers are responsible for installing and manufacturing electrical systems. In mechanical engineering, engineers are responsible for designing manufacturing methods for technical instruments.
Electrical engineers concentrate on constructing complicated designs such as microchips. Mechanical engineers concentrate on the design of physical systems, such as belt conveyors, pulleys, and vehicles.
Both type of engineering presents with its own challenges. However, electrical engineering is thought to be the most challenging type of engineering since it requires so much abstract reasoning. Electrical engineers deal with a lot of things that aren’t visible, which makes their job exceedingly challenging.
Nonetheless, with some hard work, success as an electrical engineer is possible.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is projected to grow by 4% between now and 2020.
The rapid pace of technological innovation and development will likely drive demand for Electrical and Electronics Engineers in research and development an area in which engineering expertise will be needed to develop distribution systems related to new technologies
Key highlights
An Electrical Engineer has a chance to work with great people and to work on multi-million dollar projects in a challenging, volatile and exciting industry.
You are part of something that is very important, which is constantly moving and evolving.
You will be dealing and talking with governments about their energy needs and how you will provide energy for citizens and get fantastic exposure to some of the real critical issues going on in the energy industry right now.
Delivering your goals requires a multidisciplinary approach and also a commercial mindset, where you will be regularly working in teams of various sizes. Hence, thinking beyond the technical is a must.
But being an Electrical Engineer you are just not limited there.
You will get the opportunity to move around, see different parts of the business and apply your knowledge in those areas.
You will be able to go everywhere you want. You have the potential to advance your career opportunities with a global energy leader and expand your horizons, but you also have the ability to influence the industry’s future.
As an Electrical Engineer, you’ll play a key role in successful project delivery and work alongside fellow creative thinkers, problem solvers and innovators keen to push boundaries.
Thinking of pursuing a career in electrical engineering? Come and check out our Engineering Courses.
Choosing your future career may seem daunting, but with proper research and guidance, you can be on the right track. For more insights and advice, fill out our enquiry form online and our experienced higher education advisors will reach out to you.
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