Image

Ir Dr Wong Siew Fan, Senior Lecturer at the School of Engineering (SoE), Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), has reached an important milestone in her engineering career by attaining Professional Engineer status and officially registering with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM).

Upon successfully completing the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM)’s Professional Interview 2.0, commonly known as PI 2.0, Ir Dr Wong was admitted as a Corporate Member of IEM and conferred the professional title “Ir”. 

PI 2.0 represents a significant stage in an engineer’s professional progression from Graduate Member to Corporate Member of IEM and towards registration as a Professional Engineer with BEM. Candidates are required to demonstrate relevant training, practical experience, professional competence and a sound understanding of their ethical responsibilities as engineers. 

Adding further significance to her achievement, Ir Dr Wong was the only woman among 11 successful PI 2.0 candidates invited by IEM to take part in its Professional Interview 2.0 Success Story Video Interview programme, where she shared her experience and reflections on the journey towards professional registration. 

A Journey Built on Perseverance

On 24 July 2026, Ir Dr Wong reflected on her professional journey during a video interview facilitated by Mr Teoh Chi Yang, Vice Chairman of the IEM Young Engineers Section for the 2026/2027 session. 

Held at APU’s Petroleum Engineering Laboratory at its campus in Technology Park Malaysia, the interview explored not only her preparation for PI 2.0, but also the wider importance of professional registration to engineering education, institutional development, student mentoring and industry engagement. 

For Ir Dr Wong, completing the process required considerable determination and careful time management. As a full-time lecturer, her weekdays were filled with teaching, research, student supervision, administrative duties and other academic responsibilities. At the same time, she wanted to remain fully present for her family, particularly her child. 

Most of her preparation therefore took place late at night, after her child had gone to sleep. Finding uninterrupted time to complete the Technical Report, Portfolio of Evidence, and Training and Experience Report was often difficult. 

The journey became even more demanding as she was pregnant throughout much of the preparation period.

“There were days when fatigue made the process even more challenging. What kept me motivated was reminding myself why I had started this journey. Becoming a Professional Engineer was an important professional goal that I had postponed for many years, and I was determined to achieve it,” she shared.
 

Rather than waiting for ideal circumstances, she focused on completing one task at a time. Even writing a small section of a report represented progress and helped her maintain momentum until the process was completed. 

Strengthening Engineering Education

As a Professional Engineer in Chemical Engineering, Ir Dr Wong brings together academic expertise, professional practice and experience in industry-linked collaboration. 

With more than a decade of involvement in teaching, research, postgraduate supervision and industry-related projects, she has consistently advocated the integration of professional engineering competencies into engineering education. 

She explained that professional registration provides an additional layer of credibility by assuring students, parents, employers and other stakeholders that an engineering educator’s competencies have been independently assessed and recognised by the profession.

“For institutions offering accredited engineering programmes, such as APU, professionally registered academic staff contribute significantly towards maintaining professional standards and supporting Engineering Accreditation Council requirements,” she said. 

“Such achievements strengthen institutional capacity and enhance the quality assurance framework underpinning engineering education.”

Professionally registered academics also help universities remain closely connected to current engineering practices, professional expectations, ethical standards and industry needs. This connection supports APU’s commitment to providing engineering education that is academically rigorous, professionally relevant and responsive to the needs of the wider community. 

Guiding the Next Generation of Engineers

Having completed the full pathway towards Professional Engineer registration, Ir Dr Wong is now well positioned to provide first-hand guidance to students aspiring to become Graduate Engineers and Professional Engineers. 

Her experience enables her to explain the competencies, responsibilities, documentation requirements and ethical expectations associated with the engineering profession. It also helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice, allowing students to understand how technical knowledge is applied in real engineering environments. 

By sharing her journey through an IEM platform, Ir Dr Wong also promotes a culture of lifelong learning among engineering academics, graduates and practising professionals. Her advocacy supports broader efforts to encourage engineers to pursue professional registration and continuously develop their competencies. 

Progress Without Perfect Circumstances

Her story carries particular meaning for young engineers and women in engineering who may be balancing professional ambitions with personal responsibilities. 

Ir Dr Wong’s achievement demonstrates that career progress does not always require perfect timing or ideal conditions. Through discipline, perseverance and consistent effort, demanding professional goals can still be achieved. 

By sharing her experience with the wider engineering fraternity, she encourages future engineers to pursue professional excellence, contributes to the promotion of professional registration and reinforces APU’s role in developing professionally competent and ethically responsible engineers for the nation.