By: Ts. Auzaie Aiman Zaiyap bin Zulhakimi Yap
Master Project Management Alumnus 2025
The Graduate Engineering and Technological Business School (GET-BS) program from the Faculty of Industrial Management (FIM), UMPSA makes me more precise during the project management work. From starting higher studies, Diploma and Bachelor's Degree, my scope of work is more to Maritime Technology and Engineering, until now working as a Technical Executive at one of the shipyards in Pahang. During my master's degree studies, my thesis on “Exploring SMART Refit Methods in Ship Repair: Reducing Delays and Enhancing Performance” is good for researching topics related to my field, and with the addition of project management knowledge, it will have a greater impact on my career.
This program makes me more detailed in every scope, work, and term during my work from time to time. Learning about risk management, cost management and control, strategic management, and others gives a more solid foundation in every project that I am handling with my project team, and I am willing to share what I get from my master's studies with my project team. Each assessment from before, during, and after the project gives me more valuable points and info to boost my credibility and management skills.
The project management modules from my master’s program built upon this technical knowledge, equipping me with the tools to effectively manage a project from conception to completion. I learned about risk identification, qualitative and quantitative risk analysis, and response planning. This is where the synergy of the GET-BS program became most apparent. I was able to apply the theoretical frameworks of project management to the specific engineering context of maritime technology and engineering.
The thesis itself is a direct result of this integrated learning. A qualitative risk analysis technique allowed me to have a discussion with experts from the same industry via an interview method. This method enabled me to analyze the causal relationships between different risk factors, helping to identify the root causes of potential project delays and finding a solution to overcome the problem statement.
Without the comprehensive and integrated education provided by GET-BS, it would have been impossible to tackle such a specialized and interdisciplinary topic. The program didn’t just teach me a set of skills; it taught me how to synthesize knowledge from different fields to solve real-world problems. This experience has not only enriched my academic journey but has also prepared me for a better career in a field where technical expertise and project management skills are equally valued.
