SENIOR LECTURER
FACULTY OF CHEMICAL AND ENERGY ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
ABOUT ME
I am currently a lecturer in the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. My journey began with a degree in Chemical Engineering at Universiti Teknologi MARA. However, I AM UTM, a product of UTM itself, from my master’s study until my doctorate.
Previously working in industries, specializing in safety and health as a trainer and consultant for almost a decade, I have hands-on teaching roles in diverse classroom settings, from various backgrounds and age ranges. I have continually sought to expand my knowledge through professional development and advanced certifications. As of today, I am a certified Human Resource Development Corporation (HRDC) Trainer and a certified trainer for safety and health competency courses accredited by DOSH Malaysia. Aside from safety and health, I have been undergoing various professional certifications for process safety courses and have been actively involved in various consultancy projects for process safety assessment in the industries, including HAZOP study, fire and explosion hazard analysis, hazard area classification, and process plant design review.
My passion for safety has been cultivated and nurtured ever since my undergraduate studies. It was enhanced during my master’s study when I undertook a master’s in safety health and environment. Ever since then, I embarked on the journey as a safety advocate, both for occupational safety and health, that related to a safer and healthier working environment for the workers, as well as process safety in industries that possess major hazards such as toxic release, fire, and explosion.
MODUL 3 – TUGASAN INDIVIDU
MY PHILOSOPHY AS AN EDUCATOR
I believe that education is not just about imparting knowledge, but about nurturing critical thinking, creativity, and a lifelong love for learning. With more than 7 years of experience as a trainer specializing in safety and health, I have taught and trained various age ranges of working adults, who are always eager to learn, always willing to learn new skills, and seem to have never stopped improving themselves.
Hence, my vision as an educator is to cultivate such cultures among young minds by transforming education into a more dynamic and impactful experience. By applying these principles to young minds, I believe I will and I can instill a passion for continuous learning and personal growth. My passion lies in creating inclusive and engaging learning environments where every student feels valued and inspired to achieve their best.
HOW WILL I ACHIEVE IT?
- Encouraging curiosity and providing opportunities for creative problem-solving are great ways to foster these qualities in students.
- Using teaching methods that are rooted in the principles of active learning, where students are encouraged to participate, question, and explore.
- Creating a classroom atmosphere that is both supportive and challenging, where students feel safe to express their ideas and take intellectual risks.
- Integrating technology, collaborative projects, and real-world applications into my teaching, to prepare students for the challenges in the working industries.
- Above all, I am committed to fostering a sense of ethical conduct, responsibility and global citizenship among my students, so that they will become capable and resilience human resources for the benefit of our nation.
However, to ensure that I can deliver all these, I myself must be the role model to my students. Hence, I need to lead by examples, hence therefore I must first develop my own self-leadership towards achieving my own goals.
4 PILLARS OF SELF-LEADERSHIP
There four pillars of self leadership that will shaped myself towards my own personal development as an educator and researcher.
- Knowing who you are – I believe that hard work does pay off. Hence, my priority is to work hard and relentlessly towards achieving my goals. I don’t believe that short cuts, or cutting corners to reach your goals is sustainable. It will be just a short-term success only. Hence, I need to set my goals and career planning properly so that, I do work hard, in the right direction.
- Knowing what you do – I am a hard-working person and therefore, I don’t mind working tirelessly as long as my goals and the path to achieving it is clear. My motivation will be the belief that no matter how hard things get, there will always be the light at the end of the tunnel. However, the downside of this will be that working too hard, may affect my work-life balance and well-being. Hence, I need to set the boundaries of how far I should push myself.
- Knowing what you need to learn – Throughout our journey, there will always be ups and downs. Hence, it will be a great opportunity to configure a new plan and strategy. All the ups will be a great guidance, while all the downs, is the best teacher of what to avoid, how to improve, and how the strategy works in overcoming the hurdles in my journey. This pillar is very important as it will either break you or build yourself towards success. I need to always learn to self-reflect on the challenges faced, and adapting to it, to make myself becoming more resilient and capable.
- Using what you know – With all the experience and knowledge I will now can reflect and build myself according to my now enhanced capability. With a positive mind with well-taught experience, I am now ready to adapt and grow personally as a decent human being and professionally as an educator and academician. Then, I can lead by example, for my students.
MODUL 4 – ADAB DAN ETIKA
MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES – GOOD CONDUCT AND ETHICS AS LECTURER
My general principle in life is that good deeds will always result in a better deed. Hence good conduct and ethics is integral part of becoming a decent human being, especially for us currently in an academic ecosystem. Good conduct and ethics will come a long way, not just to our reputation as educators, but also to increase the values of our products, that is our very own students. We need to lead by example, so to set a good benchmark of proper conduct and ethics among the students, which they will carry out throughout their life, not just in the university, but also as global citizen in general. This will enhance the good reputation of the educational system and our credibility as educators and lecturers.
As of now, there are nine (9) ethics that has been my guidance principle for good conduct:
1. INTEGRITY – I believe that integrity is fundamental in all career paths. As lecturers, we must uphold our integrity at the highest level. This includes delivering all the roles and responsibilities given, in the best way we can.
Challenges: As lecturers, we may be sought after for our expertise, and it may take so much of our time. Hence, some lecturers may need to cancel classes or consultation with students who may need our guidance.
Solution: By upholding our integrity, we need to prioritize our roles and responsibilities as lectures. Manage the time to ensure we do fulfill our responsibilities to guide and educate the students, while at the same time, maintaining our professional relationship with the industries that need our expertise. Time management is crucial to ensure better productivity.
2. HONESTY – Academic honesty and curiosity to explore new knowledge shall go hand in hand. This includes honesty in producing research findings, not just to chase KPI and names.
Challenges: To achieve the KPI for research and publication, some of us may be running out of time, hence, we may publish unverified findings that may cause misleading information and whatnots.
Solution: Always stick to honesty, remember that all knowledge comes from the Almighty, He is the All-Seeing, All-Knowing hence, we need to be honest in everything we do, including the knowledge we deliver for other people.
3. TRANSPARENCY – Another ethic that shall be upheld by lecturers. Transparency and justice to the students, especially in delivering lectures, entertaining students whenever they requires details on marking and scoring for the courses. Rubrics and peers evaluation can be used to have a clear marking system to ensure transparency.
Challenges: Favoritism or racism or just the general bad impression and thought may influence our judgment. Hence, when it happens, we may be reluctant to be transparent with others, and it includes the students.
Solution: Always be helpful and approachable so that whenever the students request any review of their marks, marked exam paper or any assignments, be transparent. Remind yourself, what you would like others to do, when you are in their position.
4. COMMITMENT – As lecturers, we must always committed to our professional development and improvement in the teaching and learning as well as eager for new knowledge obtain via researches.
Challenges: Some lecturers will have difficulties in time management, and therefore will never have enough time to commit to any professional development programs to improve their knowledge and skills.
Solution: Time management is very important. Hence, lecturers need to get back to self-leadership pillars, understanding their own weakness, and how to overcome them.
5. RESPECT – Respect is earned, and it shall goes both way.
Challenges: Some students, may looked down to the lecturers, and disrespect them. Especially those high-achiever.
Solution: In this case, lecturers need to prove that we do deserve to be here upfront teaching the students. Always be prepared, and always be well-equipped when teaching, so that we will seem proficient in the subject matter.
6. BOUNDARIES – When encouraging students to open discussion, and critical discussion, we must ensure that it is within educational boundaries, not offensive and disrespectful to others. Also, boundaries between lecturers and students shall also be kept professional.
Challenges: Being friendly with students or colleague may be misunderstood as weakness (easily manipulated by others) or having unprofessional relation with the students or colleague.
Solution: Always be mindful when interacting with others, set your professional boundaries.
7. EMPATHY – As lecturers, we are to be empathetic to those around us, especially the students. Empathy includes kind consideration and understanding of the students that might have issues in their study or any personal matter that may affect the students.
Challenges: Some students may have issues in their personal life that affected their study’s performance. Some lecturers, are being harsh and always being angry with them, and therefore students may lost interest in study and drop out.
Solution: Being an educator, you need to have a good amount of empathy so that you can help and assist whoever that are facing challenges in their life. Try to understand that everyone is fighting their own battles.
8. KINDNESS – Many people can be good person by simply following rules and the norms. Being kind is another thing. It requires empathy and understanding, and from there, kindness can be spread. Being kind here meaning that you are not harsh with students, always ready to assist them whenever needed.
Challenges: In the final score of each semester, students may not get good grades. Some may just be lacking a few marks from the upper grades. Hence, as lecturers, we have the power to help, but some are so strict that they don’t even blink an eye for even 1 marks.
Solution: Always remember that some kindness, even not known to others, will always be known to the Almighty, the All-Knowing. Hence, remembering such things will help to encourage ourselves to help others, and be kind even with just 1 mark.
9. PROFESSIONAL – Be professional, no matter what happens. Even if you are undergoing personal issues, or you are just not in a good mood, still, try to be professional when performing your job. Don’t let emotion lead you.
Challenges: Some of us may have issues at home, or disagreement with our colleagues. This may affect our mood and we may lash out at the students, especially if it is the students’ advisor or supervisior that we have troubles with.
Solution: Always keep yourself in-check. Remember to be professional.