Why work in rail? – These graduates tell you

A job-guaranteeing course is hard to find. Choosing the right one for passion is even more challenging. But one thing is certain – the railway industry is receiving conspicuous attention around the world.

In Malaysia alone, the future demand for skilled talents in the railway industry is projected to reach 25,000 by 2030. This field might be the best yet fresh pursuit for school leavers to consider.

In recent years, things have started to change as Malaysia is in dire need of more homegrown and skilled railway specialists as well as technologists. This inspiration is being supported with fruitful policies and initiatives, which include the Railway System programme offered at UniKL Asia Rail Centre.

The first graduates of the programme, 23-year-old Mohd Razif Mohd Rafik Shah and Wan Mohamed Haris Wan Mohd Azhar, were among the earliest to discover how valuable studying railway systems could be.

No doubt, Mohd Razif chose the pathway due to the plethora of job opportunities ahead; however, it is an unusual course that attracted him.

The same goes for Wan Mohamed Haris, who considered the field served as the best platform for young minds, due to its magnitude of scope in research and innovations.

In an interview with UniKL Corporate Branding and Strategic Communication (CBSCD), they explained why they chose this pathway and why youth should start considering it.

1) Unusual course, but there is more to come

As emphasised by Wan Mohamed Haris, the railway system field is best for young minds. It is high time to fully demonstrate the creativity and sagacity of Malaysian youth in new and unique fields to accelerate the nation’s progression in economic and human development.

Wan Mohamed Haris Wan Mohd Azhar

Urbanisation has brought public transport usage as trains reach the fulfilment of needs. Unlike China, which is now producing specialists in the railway field, Malaysia is still green in its development of talent. UniKL Asia Rail Centre is the nation’s first national higher institute focusing on this distinctive booming area.

“Choosing this course is not an accident, to begin with, but I would view it as a coincidence. Mohd Razif and I were quite struggling to find the best bachelor’s degree programme to pursue right after we finished our foundation studies at UniKL Malaysia Italy Design Institute (UniKL MIDI),”

“We gratefully stumbled upon this unfamiliar course during UniKL Open Day at UniKL Malaysia France Institute (UniKL MFI), where it was in its infancy. Looking at how huge this field’s prospect would set off, we both did not doubt to give it a try, and it is rewarding,” shared Wan Mohamed Haris.

Read : Booming railway manpower demand puts UniKL MIDI graduates in ‘strong position’

They believed a more unusual course differentiates and enables them to graduate with a specialisation that matches their personality, priorities and career goals. They ceased the idea to pursue courses that thousands of other students will graduate in.

2) Opportunities to ‘disrupt’ the market

Since Mohd Razif and Wan Mohamed Haris work at the same company, CBSCD went deeper into their day-to-day tasks and work environment, including their colleagues and co-workers.

It came as no surprise to learn that all of their colleagues are super seniors with over 15 years of industry experience. It is, hence, worth noting that the railway is an ageing industry.

Mohd Razif Mohd Rafik Shah

“The ingression of young resourceful innovators into the field would develop more creative innovation and progress. This is the perfect opportunity for young talents like us to come along and disrupt the market.

“As the number of talent demand exceeds the number of graduates, we, the ‘freshmen’ in fact were entrusted with more challenging tasks and it is quite an exceptional experience,” said Mohd Razif.

Despite only less than two months working with the local rail industry service provider, Mohd Razif said that they have been given a task to handle a mega train service project.

3) Diversity that it offers

In the railway industry, it will be hard not to find something that suits the future job seeker’s desire. This is a short statement that both graduates mutually agreed upon. When asked what are the branches of the railway system they learnt at Asia Rail Centre, they simply replied: “Entirely”.

For a train to operate requires three main parts of the railway system which are signalling, track engineering and rolling stock (train). In other words,  the railway career pathway encompasses innumerable professions.

Fun fact: Wan Mohamed Haris (left) and Mohd Razif (right) were among only three students who pursue the Railway System, in the first year of the programme’s offering.

“The railway system is not a straightforward technology. We need to cope with electrification, track as well as communication. It goes beyond the train itself,” explained Wan Mohamed Haris.

With the expedited resurgence of railway mega projects and high demand within the industry, a lot of training opportunities are available to learn on the job and there will be no need to take time away from earning to learn.

In fact, the workers and specialists are continuously in high demand going forward to ensure the outlook is future-proofed.