THE application of mathematics in the sciences, technology and engineering has become effective and powerful as the central concept of mathematical modelling.
This new discipline called Industrial Mathematics is also referred to as Applied Mathematics or Mathematical Modelling.
According to UTM Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (UTM-CIAM) director Professor Dr Zainal Abdul Aziz, it is called Maths in Industry in the United Kingdom, while in Japan, it is known as Maths for Industry. Here, it is agreed upon as Industrial Mathematics.
“All these are equivalent to one another, they only differ in name. Industrial mathematics is applicable for the industrial-related application for all kinds of problems relating to car suspension system or groundwater modelling, for example.”
Employment opportunities include data analyst, QC engineer, researchers, maths modeller, and data modeller. Employment areas include the public sector, financial industry,
automotive, manufacturing and industrial companies.
Malaysian Mathematics in Industry Study Group (MMISG) is a network of applied mathematicians,
operational researchers, statisticians and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) researchers across the country centred at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
This group has more than fifteen active collaborations with industry such as automotive, oil & gas, palm oil plantation, environmental management, as well as engineering and the sciences.
MMISG has been in operation for more than three years.
Zainal said the main focus of MMISG is to ensure that there is a good supply of individuals with mathematical skill sets as they are key to the development of industrial mathematics and also as innovation enabler for industry.
“There is a lack of understanding of this fact in both industry and academia, and it is extremely important for society that this gap is closed.
“An additional contribution to the gap between academia and industry is the lack of the importance of industrial mathematics in industry, which mainly occurred in the 1990s,” said Zainal.
A CAREER IN MATHEMATICS
For Khadijah Aqilah Sallehuddin, 25, her decision to study Mathematics was the best choice she had ever made.
Currently working as a Data Analyst at Kozo Keikaku Engineering, an engineering consultant company, in Tokyo, Japan, Khadijah obtained her degree in BSc in Mathematics from UTM.
“When we talk about maths, it is not only about subtraction and division, but more to solving real world problems.
“What is unique about industrial maths that gets me so attached is the subject itself which is so peculiar but makes me understand things that can’t be defined by words.
“It is not only in the field of engineering and science, but it is also inside every picture, wave, or even music notes.
“Without even realising it, maths is part of our daily life, from the reasoning it can provide for the best time to wake up, to the amount of rice intake to make us full.
“And that makes me realise this is my path and I want to learn how I can apply maths in the real world,” explained Khadijah.
After getting her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results, her father had asked her to apply for a degree in medicine.
She got accepted for a BSc in Mathematics (UTM) and a medical foundation at International Islamic University Malaysia.
“Obviously, my dad asked to opt for the latter but I just know that it is not the lifestyle I wanted.
It took Khadijah almost four years to finish her degree, and one of the requirements was to undergo an internship, which she fulfilled at the Centre of Industrial Mathematics, UTM.
“I would say my biggest achievement is the opportunity of working in Japan after I graduated. My primary team business is abnormality detection in data and my job role is researching new methods that will best optimise our problem.
“To improve our solutions, my role is to keep finding new method or solution that could be implemented to enhance our business. Data processing is also part of my daily work,” she said.
Khadijah said the salary scale would depend on one’s level of qualification and the country where you work, which could range in between RM2,000 and RM4,000 in Malaysia.
PROBLEM SOLVER
UTM offers BSc in Industrial Mathematics aimed at developing multidisciplinary students who have up-to-date knowledge in their fields, but who also understand the linkage between mathematics and business.
“It puts emphasis on mathematical modelling, computational techniques and statistical reasoning.
Students will develop skills in abstraction, analysis of structure and logical thinking.
“They will also develop expertise in formulating and solving problems. This concentration provides the knowledge of modelling and numerical techniques fundamental to pursuing a career in industry,” said Zainal.
Industrial training for three months is required.
But before that, students have to undergo a one-week training in UTM to expose them to business ethics, basic data analytics techniques, computational techniques, and soft skills such as communication.
Among the industry partners are the banking and manufacturing industries.
“We train students to become problem solvers.”
Starting last year, UTM has introduced a double degree programme with the University of Kent at Canterbury, which is conducted full time with a duration of five years or a maximum period of seven years.
UTM-CIAM has the potential to become an important economic and STEM-skilled human capital resource for the Malaysian industry, helping its innovation and hence its capacity and capability of competing on the global market.
“We hope to steadily close the gap between the industrial mathematicians and the industry practitioners, government and civil society. The future plan is to generate more positive impact and response via the quadruple helix innovation model mechanism.
“There is also a growing need for improved education and training in STEM subjects including mathematical modelling, operational research and statistics, both for the scientific and technical workforce and the public,” said Zainal.
GROWING FUTURE
Khadijah said: “The application of mathematics is growing each year. Maths helps us to define a rule to learn application and data. Nowadays, we are showered with a deluge of information and data.
“To organise it, mathematics is compulsory. If your foundation of mathematics is strong, you will do well regardless of the industry you are interested in.
“The industry will keep on growing as there is a large application for big data. It depends on how you can apply your skills to your targeted industry. You need to decide on a path after graduation.
“Since the application is broad, you might end up in a black hole of decisions. Thus, the best way is to plan while you are in your third year so that the field of mathematics studied will be more focused on the industry of your choice.
“Do your research for the industry that you are interested in.
“For example, if you like big data application, your path would be data analysis, with focus on becoming a data scientist,” said Khadijah, whose idol is Siraj Raval, a data scientist and a YouTube sensation.