i have a diploma in chemical engineering but right now working at a private college as a technician. Initially i wanted to work in a Unit Operations Lab; where i can apply my chemical engineering knowledge (distillation, adsorption, absorption and evaporation unit) but my boss decides to place me in the General Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Lab. At first i was reluctant but then slowly the interest in the field of applied chemistry come into place and i've grown to appreciate this field.

Since i've been working at the same place for the past 5 years and i've been the unofficial "the go to person for information on analysis", i decided to upgrade myself academically by pursuing my degree in Industrial Chemistry on a part time basis. Currently the pay is not that bad RM 2.6K per month. My workload is ok. Plus, the office gives me 1 day of study leave per month. My has even assure me of a higher position (Lab Executive) once i complete my degree.

Although age is catching up on me (will be 31 this year) but i enjoy my work!

Just sharing my experience....

UTM is offering part time degree courses under the SPACE programme (www.spaceutm.edu.my). My classes are usually during the weekends so ppl who are interested in upgrading themselves thru this programme need to sacrifice their weekends BIG TIME! (e.g. time for the family, friends). Since im still single and with no serious commitment, i have the time to myself.

How classes are being carried out? Well, classes usually starts at 2:00 pm and ends at 10:00 pm on saturday; with breaks in between for Asar (usually to freshen up by taking a short nap or teatime)and Maghrib (dinner) prayers. Then on Sunday classes starts at 8:30 am and ends at 4:00 pm with breaks for monring tea and Zohor (lunch) prayers. Each subjects (depending how many subjects u registered...maximum credit hours per semester is 10, if u want to register more than that u have to go see the dean) will be repeated every two weeks. The challenge throughout the course is u need to be totally prepared every week since quizes are held every week (questions are similar to that of the full time students). Since the subject contact hours is still the same as those like the full time students (the academic week is still 14 weeks), lecturers teaching the part time course have a schedule to follow and must finish a chapter or two before the exams starts.

Exams are conducted on the same day with the full time students...questions are also the same as them. Since my workplace offers exam leave, so i only need to take my annual leave if i were to ask for extra days in between papers.

So far the lecturers have been flexible and understanding due to most of the students are mainly working and have families of their own. Thus it makes the classroom environment much more enjoyable upon discussing the application of a certain subject when relating it in each individual working field and not be restricted to the theories in the books (unlike the environment with the full time students).

According to my programme coordinator, my course will take up 4 to 4.5 years (assuming registered 10 credit hours per semester) to finish (depending to how many credit transfer u can get). Currently im in my 2nd year (4th semester....and half way already) and hopefully (with God's willing) i'll be graduating in 2010.

FYI, my workload is moderate (managing labs, performing equipment preventive maintenance, preparing chemicals, assisting the lecturers and students during the teaching and learning process). Woking hours are from 8:00 am to 5:15 pm. Of course i do have my responsiblity but with a certain amount of tolerance and support (give and take) among my colleagues i manage to get thru the 1st 3 semesters of studies without fail.

BTW, im self sponsoring my studies by using my EPF money. (roughly RM 2K per semester)

thanks for the encouragement guys. im not sure about indirectly related because im handling the General Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Lab. I have surveyed the institutes offering chemistry as a part time degree course but only the SPACEUTM part time degree programme that attracted me to sign up. Plus it's mush easier to transfer credit within the same institute since i completed my diploma in chemical engineering at UTM.