Dreaming Of Establishing A Career In Engineering? Here’s How To Choose The Right Field And Specialization

 

If there’s one occupation that has remained enduring throughout the years, it’s engineering. Engineers are relied on by industries to develop innovations, systems, and products, so they’re always in demand, especially with the advance of the fourth industrial revolution. The collaborative research of the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies even forecasts that the country will need 1.8 million engineers by 2025. 

Dr. Francis Aldrine A. Uy, Mapúa University’s dean of the School of Civil, Environmental, and Geological Engineering, said that engineers are in demand because they create innovations that are crucial for industries to survive. 

“Due to continuing development and change, the engineers’ work will never end, as it is part of humans’ journey to the future,” he said. Its longevity and financial and professional rewards have made engineering one of the most sought-after college degrees. The question is which engineering field should you choose?

Mapúa president and CEO Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, an engineer himself, emphasized that students should pick an engineering track aligned with their interests and pursuits. This strategy ensures their thirst for knowledge and endurance will help them surmount the challenges during their studies and career. 

“If one is interested, he is motivated. He will feel satisfied, fulfilled, and perhaps even happy as he takes the courses in engineering, which are considered very challenging,” explained Dr. Vea.  

Of course, the first step towards arriving at a decision would be to acquaint yourself with the different branches of engineering. The most popular are mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, industrial engineering, and chemical engineering. Other engineering fields are derivatives or sub-branches of these core specializations or combinations of engineering and non-engineering fields such as biological engineering. 

One branch that has a very wide scope is Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering focuses on all stages of product development, from research to design, to manufacturing and testing. Most mechanical engineers are employed in just about any industry worldwide: energy and power, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), automotive, manufacturing, construction, robotics, nanotechnology, and biomechanical. Students who take up Mechanical Engineering learn about statics and dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, stress analysis, technical drawing, and mechanical design.  

Civil Engineering, on the other hand, is involved in designing and creating infrastructures like buildings, bridges, roads and public transport systems, commercial structures, and other projects. Aspiring civil engineers should have a knack for designing and building things and be interested in mechanics, materials science, hydraulics, and geotechnics. 

Budding engineers fascinated with electricity, circuitry, and power generation have potential in Electrical Engineering. Electrical Engineering oversees the production, delivery, and sustainability of energy. 

Electronics engineers also play a vital role in industries as their exciting nature of work involves the whole pipeline of developing integrated circuits and systems, telecommunication technologies, and other communication and network systems.

Computer engineering is also a promising degree to pursue the career opportunities it offers. Computer engineers devise and maintain system hardware such as computer components, create applications for software programs, and all other related technical and creative attributes using machine-level and high-level modern computer systems, equipment, and languages. 

Those inclined toward systems and process efficiency will likely thrive in Industrial Engineering. Industrial Engineering deals with production efficiency and systems optimization of enterprises, production floors, financial processes, and management. 

Would-be engineers with analytical mindsets and a bent toward chemistry and life sciences should consider Chemical Engineering. Chemical engineers utilize physical, chemical, and biological principles, physics, mathematics, and economics to develop and optimize processes for the production of fuels, chemicals, petrochemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, and other commodities needed in everyday life.

On top of matching their interests and strengths to various engineering fields, incoming students should talk to people in the industry to gain insights if the degree and career they’re eyeing are meant for them.  

Dean Uy furthered that “Academic records are a good basis, but they are not everything. I assess students more based on their attitude and motivation. I believe everyone can learn but not at the same time and in the same way. As long as a person believes in himself and has a great motivation, he can become an engineer. Engineering practice is determined more by a person’s attitude, as much as his academic records.”

Mapúa University is the first school in Southeast Asia to receive accreditation for its engineering programs from the US-based ABET. The ABET accreditation assures that a college or university program meets the quality standards of the profession for which that program prepares graduates (www.abet.org). To date, 11 of its engineering programs are accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission: Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Environmental, and Sanitary Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. 

Mapúa students assured of safe learning spaces on campus

Mapúa holds limited face-to-face classes in lecture and laboratory courses. Students follow the University's health and safety protocols, which includes wearing of face masks, and observing physical distancing inside the classroom.

Although face-to-face classes have resumed at most schools early this year, some students and parents are still hesitant about in-person learning. One of the possible reasons for their hesitance is continuing, even if diminished, the presence of the COVID-19 virus. In the case of Mapúa University, the leading engineering and technological school in the country, it has established its own set of rigorous community health and safety guidelines to allay any worries that students and their families might have. 

Apart from abiding by the protocols set by the Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health, Mapúa ramped up its campus-wide health guidelines to prevent outbreaks from happening on the school grounds. 

“Coming from a two-year stay-at-home period because of the pandemic plus the unpredictability of the virus, we understand the apprehension and concerns of some students and parents when it comes to in-person classes. However, we also know that some students absorb complex educational concepts better by attending face-to-face classes. To address both concerns, we at Mapúa continuously strive to provide safe learning spaces for our students to help them achieve optimal learning. This way we can respond to their educational, physical, and emotional needs,” said Mapúa president and chief executive officer Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea.

To make Mapúa a conducive and secure space for learning, students, as well as the faculty and staff, are enjoined to abide by certain guidelines while on and off campus.

“Mapúa has always had the welfare of its students its number one priority. That is why it has done all the required and necessary COVID-19-related preparations for the start of face-to-face classes. All safety and health protocols set by the national government and the local governments have been complied with,” said Dr. Julius S. Bonifacio, Mapúa’s resident physician.

Even before they step foot in school, students are asked to comply with individual precautionary measures during their personal time. Mapúans are tasked to monitor their health regularly and accomplish the daily health checklist before they report to school. Only students who are fully vaccinated are allowed to participate in limited face-to-face classes. 

The Mapúa Main Library implements reservation-based access to its spaces and resources for students to use for their research and reviews.

Once inside the premises, the students, faculty, and staff are assured of a safe and healthy environment through the university’s routine infection control measures. All areas of the school are sanitized frequently. Restrooms and high-touch surfaces like doorknobs and handles are disinfected every two hours, while the classroom and office furniture and equipment are disinfected at the start and end of the day.  

Common areas, particularly classrooms, lounges, study areas, and offices, are always well-ventilated and equipped with cooling fans to maintain optimal airflow. Air purifiers and air filters are also installed in high-traffic areas to reduce the probability of airborne infections. 

While universities can hold face-to-face classes at full capacity under Alert Level 1, Mapúa only allows 25% to 30% of the total enrolled students per lecture or laboratory class to report on campus. The rest of the class may opt to be in remote learning mode. This system reduces the student population’s risk of exposure to the virus and gives them ample time to rest and recover should any of them fall ill. The university also imposes a “one-entry and one-exit” policy to decrease the probability of students catching (or spreading) any illness outside the school premises. 

If a student gets sick or exhibits COVID-19 symptoms while in school, he is immediately isolated, assessed, and assisted by the Health Services Department. The student will be placed in one of the available isolation rooms, evaluated by the school physician or nurse, and will undergo COVID-19 Rapid Antigen testing. The Health Services Department also ensures that the student is attended to by his family or transferred to a hospital if needed. Once recovered, the student is expected to submit a Fit to Study certificate, medical clearance, and a negative RT-PCR test before being allowed entry into the university. 

Efforts like these not only ensure students’ and their parents’ peace of mind but also assure them that their children’s education and safety are always top-of-mind for the university.

Nourishing Teenager's Well-Being in the New Normal of Learning | Mapúa University

Excellence comes to mind whenever I hear Mapúa when I was in College. We used to have neighbors and friends who studied there and they were great students. When people find out that you're studying at Mapúa, they will look up to you because people know that Mapúa University gives high quality education.

Recently, I'm privileged to be invited to better understand our kids online learning journey through its “Nourishing Your Teenager's Well-Being in the New Normal of Learning” webinar.  Mapúa understands the need for parents to be there for their children now that the new normal compels everyone to adapt to new ways of learning.

The University invited four speakers from its academe to help the parents play a bigger and better role during their children’s online learning journey. They discussed topics ranging from assessing Filipino students’ readiness for online learning, mental and emotional challenges during online learning, nourishing the students’ well-being to adapt to the new normal of learning, as well as Mapúa’s Center for Guidance and Counseling (CGC) programs in enhancing the well-being of students.

Dr. Edward Jay M. Quinto, Associate professor at the Mapúa’s School of Social Sciences and Education

Every student is unique. 

Dr. Edward Jay M. Quinto, an associate professor at the Mapúa’s School of Social Sciences and Education, talked about self-regulation and self-regulated learning, and how these are connected to students’ behavior and performance in online education.

He explained that self-regulated learning is multicomponent and that these components include goal setting, environmental structuring, time management, task strategies, help seeking, and self-evaluation.

“As we usher students in online learning, they bring with them varying levels of readiness, but we ensure that no one is left behind,” Quinto said.

Dr. Jonathan V. Macayan
Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Education

Humanized intervention

Dr. Jonathan V. Macayan, the dean of the School of Social Sciences and Education, shared the results of a compassion survey conducted among students, assessing the impact of pandemic on students’ mental and emotional state and provided insights on intervention techniques that can be used both by parents and educators in their engagement with young individuals.

He pointed out that the responsibilities of the school in addressing the mental and emotional well-being of students include the design and implementation of academic and school policies that are sensitive to and supportive of the mental health and well-being of students, the development of a school–parent collaboration system that will aim to monitor and ensure students’ well-being in online learning, as well as the development and implementation of necessary student support services.

“It’s more than just simply a strategy; it has to be genuine. Your intention to humanize your interventions with students must be genuine,” Macayan said.

Prof. Jasmine Nadja J. Pinugu
 Chair for Behavioral and Human Science

Encourage resilience

The third speaker is the University’s program chair for Behavioral and Human Science, Prof. Jasmine Nadja J. Pinugu, who points out that fostering resilience is critical to a teenager’s well-being during difficult times.

She said that the key to nourishing students’ well-being is by fostering resilience, and one can do this by maintaining a positive self-regard for themselves, teaching them life skills such as positive coping and problem-solving skills, enabling them to have a sense of purpose and agency, maintaining positive social connections, as well as emotional regulation.

“At this time of pandemic, there should be stronger collaboration between the students, parents, and the teachers,” Pinugu said.

Arlene V. Clarete-Macatuggal
Mapúa’s director for student advising and counseling

Care. Give. Concern.

Arlene V. Clarete-Macatuggal, Mapúa’s director for student advising and counseling, shared how the University has been responding to the needs of its students while learning in an online environment.

She explained that Mapúa CGC offers various services for its students to help them cope with the new normal. These services include counseling, coordinating, appraising, and consulting services.

“We just don’t wait for students to come to us, but we schedule them for counseling through Blackboard or [Facebook Messenger] to help them with their needs,” Macatuggal said.

An open and lively discussion was held for the mommy bloggers in attendance after each topic, wherein their burning questions and concerns were readily addressed by the four speakers.

Through the webinar, Mapúa University aims to best equip parents with the tools needed to help their children have a productive, engaging, and safe learning experience remotely. It is imperative that parents, students, and the academe work together to provide a seamless academic experience for children via the online learning journey.

Mapua University is the Philippines’ premier engineering and technological university. It envisions itself to be among the best universities in the world, unceasingly fostering its long tradition of leading-edge excellence in various fields of studies and providing students a learning environment that will make them globally competitive.