FROM MAINTENANCE BAY TO COCKPIT, TVET CHARTS GRADUAL CAREER PATH

By Ummu Khalidah Hamzah

SHAH ALAM, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Since childhood, whenever he had the chance to accompany his father - an aircraft technician with Airod Sdn Bhd - to work, Buvanraj Rajasingam’s gaze would be fixed on the aircraft taking off from the runway.

The roar of the engines and the sight of the aircraft gradually shrinking as it pierced the blue sky sparked a quiet ambition within him - to one day become a pilot and take to the skies himself.

However, the journey to the cockpit was far from smooth, as Buvanraj had to navigate numerous twists, setbacks and challenges before realising his dream. His perseverance eventually paid off, and he is set to take on the role of First Officer with AirAsia this year.

“Initially, I wanted to become a pilot, but at the time, opportunities were quite limited. So my father advised me to pursue studies in aircraft maintenance first, to strengthen my foundation and understanding of aircraft,” he told Bernama recently.

Beginning his journey by majoring in aircraft maintenance at the Shah Alam Advanced Technology Training Centre (ADTEC), the 32-year-old has since proven that the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) pathway can open doors to career opportunities, reaching the highest levels of the aviation industry.

After completing his studies and obtaining a licence, Buvanraj served as an aircraft technician with AirAsia for eight years, before enrolling in the airline’s Cadet Pilot programme in 2023 to pursue his original ambition.

He said the early exposure to aircraft systems provided by the institution, combined with hands-on work experience, made it easier for him to successfully pass the five stages of screening tests, before being accepted into the two-year pilot training programme.

“Unlike those who enter the pilot field straight after the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), they do not fully understand how an aircraft works, or how its systems are activated. As a result, they have to learn the basics from the very beginning,” he said.

“For those of us with a background in aircraft maintenance, we have studied the systems in detail. This allows us to focus more on flight training, such as learning how to fly and land an aircraft,” he said.

Meanwhile, final-semester Diploma in Engineering Technology in Avionics Maintenance student at Universiti Kuala Lumpur-Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (UniKL MIAT), Muhammad Danish Aqil Azmi, 21, said that TVET education equips students with practical skills, which enable them to enter the workforce directly upon graduation.

“The university adopts a ‘two-in-one’ approach, combining strong academic theory with intensive, industry-based practical training, to prepare students for their careers. The courses offered cover almost all areas of aviation, including engineering, technical specialisations and airline management,” he said.

Muhammad Danish Aqil, who is also enrolled in UniKL MIAT’s Huffaz Professional programme, a tahfiz initiative, said TVET-based aviation skills are highly transferable, and can be applied in other industries, such as oil and gas, due to their similar technical foundations.

Touching on the stigma that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace jobs for TVET graduates, he said this view needs to be corrected, because every new technology developed at the initial stage still requires skilled workers to build, maintain and teach it.

“We have to understand that AI and technology are always evolving from time to time. However, to develop the AI, it still requires skilled workers. So, it is these TVET graduates who play the role of skilled workers, to ensure that the technology can function effectively,” he said.

Another fifth-semester TVET student, Nur Lisa Jasni, 22, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Automotive Engineering Technology (Maintenance) at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia France Institute (UniKL MFI), said that TVET provides opportunities for women like her to venture into the automotive skills field, which has traditionally been dominated by men.

“It is quite challenging, especially for women like me, as we often have to handle heavy components or loosen tightly secured parts.

“However, with opportunities like this and genuine interest, everything becomes manageable over time, as we gain experience and learn the correct techniques,” she said.

According to Nur Lisa, in addition to hands-on and theoretical training, the university places strong emphasis on occupational safety and health, helping students become familiar with real workplace conditions, while fostering discipline and careful work practices when carrying out tasks.

Commenting on the future of the automotive sector, she said that the industry will continue to grow rapidly, citing the emergence of electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia as an example which has created new job opportunities and expanded workforce skills in high-technology fields.

“For those who have just completed the SPM or are still in school, do not hesitate to choose TVET. It not only offers strong employment prospects, but by continuously upgrading our skills, insya-Allah, it can help us reach the highest levels in our careers,” she said.

To further strengthen the development of a skilled workforce, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) in September 2023, aimed at comprehensively transforming the country’s industrial sector.

Under NIMP 2030, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) targets an increase in manufacturing sector value-added to RM587.5 billion, the creation of 3.3 million job opportunities and a rise in the median salary to RM4,510 by 2030.

The plan has recorded encouraging early achievements, with the manufacturing sector’s value-added contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rising by RM4.2 billion, and approximately 200,000 new jobs created as of the second quarter of 2024.

-- BERNAMA