Student Stories

It was simply a natural course of action for Steven to pursue tertiary education in engineering due to his inquisitive nature and tendency to take things apart as a child. His interest for mechanical workings and mathematics eventually led him into the Science Stream in High School. Whilst most are still pondering about which education path is next, Steven already knew that his future lies in solving problems for the betterment of mankind.

Studying in Australia was Steven’s plan initially as the universities there are recognised and he was in love with their culture. Whilst doing his research, he discovered that PSB Academy offered the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical) by University of Newcastle, Australia; the Top 10 University in Australia*.

What stood out to Steven was that PSB Academy in Singapore is nearer to his hometown in Jakarta than Australia, the exchange rate was more favourable, the quality is uncompromised, and the duration of the course is relatively shorter without change to the contact hours.

The rigour of the course required Steven to be focused and disciplined. Even with an excellent track record in High School, Steven had to adapt to the fact that he is solely responsible for getting assignments completed outside of lectures and tutorials – which can quite stressful at times. Despite the workload, Steven understood the significance of having a wholesome student life; hence, he volunteered himself for various student activities such as ‘The Dollar Concert’ as a Sound Technician and as a member of the Engineering Club. Teamwork, communication, perseverance, and adaptability were some of the skills Steven picked up from his group projects and student activities.

A major part of understanding a topic is by the delivery of the information. Keeping things interesting to cultivate curiosity amongst students is one of the ways the lecturers have impacted Steven’s attitude towards engineering. According to Steven, the lecturers have time and again went above and beyond in helping him with his Final Year Paper by responding to his queries, which greatly helped him in his grades for it.

The contrast of the time when Steven enrolled in his course and when he graduated is stark. He is now equipped with some of the most valuable knowledge and skills gained from his course. He now approaches issues more analytically thanks to the nature of the engineering course, which he actively applies at his work place.

Today, Steven is a Field Service Engineer at one of the leading supplier of wafer fabrication equipment and services to the global semiconductor industry – which has always been an aspiration of his. His job scope mainly revolves around supporting customers with installation and warranty. He is stationed at his customer’s facility to commission tools and troubleshoot, which requires him to read schematic diagrams. As such, having strong fundamentals in electrical engineering helps greatly in his understanding and writing technical reports.

*QS World University Rankings 2019