Inspiring AUSMAT Engineering Students: From Robotics Labs to Aerospace Shop Floors

Sunway College AUSMAT students recently took part in two experiences that brought engineering out of the textbook and into the real world: a guest lecture by Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Riady Siswoyo Jo, and an industrial exploration visit to GE Engine Services Malaysia in Subang.

Meet the Engineer Talk: Engineering the Future

AUSMAT students gathered at the Collaborative Robotic Industrial Automation (CRIA) Lab, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, for a lunchtime guest lecture titled “Engineering the Future: How Robotics and Mechatronics Improve Our World Today.” Our speaker, Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Riady Siswoyo Jo, is from Sunway University’s School of Engineering. He is a robotics and mechatronics engineer and the inventor of two Malaysian patents.

Meet the Engineer Talk with Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Riady Siswoyo Jo at the CRIA Lab

Rather than focusing only on theory, Dr. Riady gave students an honest look at life as a working engineer: what the job involves day to day, the responsibilities engineers carry, and how their work shapes the technology people rely on. He also showed how robotics and mechatronics are applied in practice. Because the session was held in the CRIA Lab, students saw robotic systems for themselves. For many, it was a first close look at how engineering ideas become working machines.

AUSMAT Students at the Meet the Engineer Talk

Industrial Exploration Visit: GE Engine Services Malaysia

On Friday, 2 October, AUSMAT students visited GE Engine Services Malaysia (GEESM) in Subang for a half-day look at the aerospace industry. The programme began with arrival, registration and breakfast, followed by a safety briefing. Students then received an overview of the company and an introduction to GE Aerospace.

AUSMAT students with the GE team at GE Engine Services Malaysia

A highlight was the “A Day as an Engineer” sharing session, led by engineers from GE’s graduate programme (GETP). They described their own working days and what the job involves. A second round of career sharing with two more speakers followed, and each session ended with a Q&A where students asked about career paths, studies and life in the industry.

After a short break, students went on a shop floor tour, seeing the facilities where aircraft engine services are carried out.

The tour was followed by a session in which two GE engineers explained the importance of design standardisation and quality protocols. Students learned why, in an industry where safety is paramount, components and processes must follow consistent, rigorously controlled standards, and how quality checks help ensure that every engine leaving the facility performs reliably. The session showed students that good engineering is as much about discipline and consistency as it is about innovation. The visit closed with a talk on career opportunities, closing remarks and a group photo.

AUSMAT students being welcomed at GE Engine Services Malaysia

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Together, the guest lecture and the industry visit showed AUSMAT students what engineering looks like in practice. From robotics and mechatronics in the lab to aircraft engine services on the shop floor, students saw how the physics and mathematics they study connect to real careers. Hearing directly from practising engineers also gave them a clearer picture of the paths open to them, and encouraged them to pursue their own engineering aspirations.