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Jan 13, 2020 | 07:31 am
Ryan Smith is an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate who earned his 52705WA - Advanced Diploma of Biomedical Engineering in 2018. First working in the audio engineering industry, Ryan now works for an American multinational conglomerate in the healthcare industry. His engineering journey proves that, regardless of the discipline, you can go cross-disciplinary based on your passion for technology alone.After completing a Diploma in Audio Engineering in 2011, Ryan spent six years in the professional audio industry. However, Ryan always had a predisposition to technology, and this keen interest led him to apply for an apprenticeship in electronics.From that apprenticeship, Ryan was granted a trade qualification in Electronics and Communications. Now equipped with expanded electronic knowledge, he found employment within the biomedical industry. His work now saw him repairing, maintaining, and installing medical equipment. Answering why he chose the engineering industry, Ryan said, “I pursued a career in the engineering[…]
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Jan 10, 2020 | 00:10 am
Tesla has officially announced that its lithium-ion home batteries, named the Powerwall, will be available in South Africa in 2020.They have sent surveys to prospective South African customers inquiring about their home energy usage.The questions the company put to the eager respondents were: Do you have a Solar PV system currently installed at this property? Do you own this property? When would you like the installation to occur? (Within six months or 6-12 months) Why do you want to install Powerwall or Solar Panels?Image By Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid EngineTesla will send this feedback to a Certified Third Party Installer company who will make contact with the customer. This means there are companies with electrical engineers in South Africa, who are ready to install the solar panel arrays and the Powerwall.Therefore, future electrical engineers in South Africa should be learning the tools of the renewables trade so[…]
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Jan 8, 2020 | 01:52 am
Air travel is a major contributor to CO2 emissions and is attracting the ire of environmentalist movements who are campaigning for the industry to look to alternative methods of powering aircraft.Airbus is looking to nature for inspiration to minimize the carbon footprint their planes create around the world. They are suggesting that planes could fly in V-shape formations — as seen by geese migrations in the animal kingdom — to save fuel and lower emissions.In the first six months of 2020, Airbus hopes to test the flying formations with two A320 planes. The planes will fly a predetermined route in a configuration that will test the aircraft’s ability to utilize what is known as ‘wake energy retrieval.’On their website, Airbus writes, “Just like birds, every aircraft creates a wake while flying. Flying together could thus help aircraft to retrieve the lost kinetic energy by positioning a follower aircraft in the[…]
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Jan 7, 2020 | 07:32 am
Jules Bekoka Botomba’s story is an inspiring one. He is an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate who, despite the odds, managed to bring himself out of a difficult situation and turn it into success in the automation world.He has obtained two qualifications with EIT.During the Second Congo War in 2001, Jules and his family had to escape the country, effectively becoming refugees. Jules fled, looking for asylum in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa. Coming from the DRC, Jules was predominantly French-speaking. He soon found he would have to learn English to communicate with the South Africans.Jules realized it was going to be tougher to assimilate to South African customs than he initially thought. Asylum seekers who were waiting to be recognized as refugees were not permitted to study or work in the country.This set Jules — a man who fantasized about having a career in engineering since he[…]
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Jan 7, 2020 | 07:26 am
It is no exaggeration to say that technology has taken a giant leap forward in the last decade.In this decade, Uber revolutionized taxi industries around the globe, 4G networks brought fast internet to the masses, and Whatsapp and Instagram appeared on the world stage.Who do we have to thank for these incredible contributions to daily life? Engineers, in part.The arrival of those advents of technology proves that the next decade could be equally as disruptive in the world of engineering. These technologies have sent the dominoes falling in the industry, revolutionizing how we all do business, mobility, learning, networking, and automating.Naturally, engineers are philosophizing of what could be the next big thing that transforms industry across the world.Artificial intelligence and self-driving cars are the buzzwords flying around at the moment. However, we could ask: What other engineering innovations could be hiding in plain sight, just waiting for a business plan[…]
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Jan 7, 2020 | 07:13 am
Gerrit Botha is an engineering professional currently working in the automotive, brewing, and mass manufacturing industries. He is also an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate. Once he completes his current studies, he would have undertaken four courses with EIT. He obtained his Professional Certificate of Competency in Allen Bradley Controllogix/Logix5000 PLC Platforms in May 2016. He followed that up with a Professional Certificate of Competency in Instrumentation, Automation and Process Control, in 2017. After that, he earned his 52677WA - Advanced Diploma in Remote Engineering, Mechatronics and Robotics in July 2017. He is now working through the 52708WA - Advanced Diploma in Industrial Automation.Gerrit’s engineering career, while impressive looking — based on how many qualifications he has amassed — has been filled with ups and downs. His journey reveals how one can both be a student of engineering and life. His love for engineering stems from his childhood days.“I have always[…]
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Dec 17, 2019 | 07:40 am
Dear Colleagues,As I was cycling into work this hot morning — forty degrees today —I was thinking about four incredible laws that we frequently use in engineering. Many of you would be familiar with them, but I see them come up so many times that I would thought I would revisit them. The First Law: When there is any doubt, there is no doubt.(Courtesy of the actor, Robert De Niro, I believe).If you are contemplating a structure, such as a support, and are worried about some evidence of corrosion weakening it, you would be virtually guaranteed that there is a problem with the structure because of corrosion. I notice that in a major bridge collapse in Johannesburg, there were some questions asked during the construction about the efficacy of the support, but no one applied this Law. It could have saved lives and avoided injuries if people had been more critical[…]
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Dec 12, 2019 | 06:44 am
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has had a significant impact on the worlds of education and work. The advent of the internet and its subsequent development over the last three decades has led to immense changes and has produced incredible technological leaps. The interconnectivity of internet-connected technologies has dually given rise to the Internet of Things. This has meant that a plethora of technologies are now online: household appliances, houses themselves, laptops, smartphones, watches, virtual reality headsets, and virtual assistants.The development of mobile internet-connected technologies has not only revolutionized consumer technologies, but it has also created a seismic shift in the ideologies that underpin education. The methodology behind remote, online education and training is an ongoing process with the goalposts constantly shifting in the industry.The focus of the last couple of years in the online education and training space has been on simulation - which has also led to gamification. Gamification[…]
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Dec 12, 2019 | 05:44 am
Starting from 2020, 4 March will now be the World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development as designated by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). Previously known as ‘Engineer’s Day’, the celebration was formerly observed in several counties on various dates throughout the year.The announcement was made on November 20th at the 2019 World Engineers Convention by WFEO President, Dr Marlene Kanga.The WFEO is one of the biggest engineering collectives in the world, bringing together national engineering organizations from over 90 nations and represents around 20 million engineers worldwide. The federation was founded on March 4th 1968, making the new date for World Engineering Day an obvious choice.The resolution to get the day officially recognized as the World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development was adopted at the 206th UNESCO Executive Board session. It was decided on that day in April to set the announcement for the World Engineers Convention of[…]
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Dec 12, 2019 | 01:12 am
Just after returning from presenting a round of seminars in Asia (in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka), Steve Mackay landed in Melbourne on the evening of the 26th November, with three colleagues, for the TEQSA Conference.The theme at the conference this year was Partnerships driving Quality – a topic close to our hearts: in essence, as educators, we partner with our students. One of our Master students, Santosh Ghimire, based at our campus in Melbourne, attended the conference as EIT’s student representative.Another important partnership, which helps us drive quality, is the one we have with industry. We engage practicing engineers to guide us in the design of our course content and experienced engineers from around the world instruct and lecture for us. Furthermore, our students complete internships in engineering industries and ultimately our graduates work within them.Dean Steve Mackay presents at the fourth annual TEQSA conferenceSteve Mackay and our Resources[…]
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Dec 12, 2019 | 01:01 am
Engineers at the University of Rochester in New York are working to develop “unsinkable” materials. Once perfected, these metals could be used to build unsinkable ships, create puncture-proof life jackets, and protect electronics from water damage.The work is being conducted in the Femtosecond Laser Laboratory at the university. The researchers have been making metals superhydrophobic by utilizing femtosecond lasers.Femtosecond lasers are traditionally used in cataract surgery. The laser is used to cut patterns into a surface at the nanoscale — in this case, into a metallic structure. The result is a surface that can trap air bubbles.The researchers put together two aluminum plates facing inward with just enough space in between them to trap the minimum amount of air needed to float. But that’s only half the battle.Trapping air bubbles is only a short term solution, and after a while, the structure will sink. Researchers have been looking for a[…]
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Dec 12, 2019 | 00:49 am
“I would like to use my experience as an inspiration for current students as well as those contemplating enrolling for online classes. Studying while working is no easy task, but with the right counsel and advice from someone who has gone through the process, it can be a big drive for those experiencing the same.”Mildred Nanono completed her Master of Engineering (Industrial Automation) through EIT, and we are proud to announce she is our Student Ambassador for 2020.Studying online from Uganda while working full-time as an electrical engineer presented some challenges; however, Mildred says that EIT’s unique delivery model made it achievable even on her busiest days.“The online studying experience was remarkable for very busy employees like myself. At the time of studying, I was engaged in big projects back home. The online classes allowed me to carry my class everywhere I went, even on days away from home, during[…]
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Dec 12, 2019 | 00:36 am
Imagineer.Verb.Gerund or present participle: ImagineeringDevise and implement a new or highly imaginative concept or technology.How do engineers instill a feeling of magic in people’s minds? Some have spent the last 70-years creating innovations that stir up a sense of awe and wonder in anyone who experiences Disney – its theme park has even been dubbed the happiest place on earth.These engineers have been working creatively in a space that has been described as equal parts design studio, design center, think-tank, and innovation laboratory. This laboratory of innovation is known as Walt Disney’s Imagineering. And the engineers that work there are called Imagineers.These Imagineers are the fascinating individuals behind the scenes at Disney who invent and design the magical feats that have cemented Disney as one of the greatest entertainment brands in the world.And the world has never really heard their story, until now. In November, Disney released their streaming video[…]
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Dec 12, 2019 | 00:29 am
Engineering companies in the United Kingdom are ensuring the engineers of the future engage with engineering through collaboration and innovation. To achieve this, the Royal Academy of Engineering has developed a day to celebrate engineers and their contribution to the world. The day is aptly named: This Is Engineering Day, and it took place on Wednesday, the 6th of November. “From the shoes you wear and the phone in your hand, through to the music you listen to and the games you play, engineering is at the heart of everything. It brings ideas to life and turns dreams into reality. Whether you’re into sports, beats, fashion, festivals, trainers, or tech, there’s a place in engineering for you.” On the same day the fourth iteration of the Engineer magazine’s 2019 Collaborate to Innovate (C2I) awards took place, recognizing some of the most awe-inspiring UK-led engineering projects from the past year. Neil McDougall, Managing Director[…]
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Dec 12, 2019 | 00:24 am
“With global developments characterized by higher demand for transportation, increasingly congested roads, and major environmental challenges, the industry needs to provide transport solutions that are safer, have a lower environmental impact, and are more efficient.”Those were the words of the Volvo Group, the Swedish multinational manufacturing company, in their recent media statement. Volvo busies itself with the production and distribution of automobiles, trucks, buses, and construction equipment. Naturally, their equipment finds its way into the mining sector. This means that their aim of creating safer transport solutions trickles into mining as well.They are manufacturing in a rapidly transforming world, effecting change in the mining industry and warping the traditional practices of the industry at large. To meet the demands of safety and efficiency in mining, Volvo has announced a new automated solutions business area - aptly named Volvo Autonomous Solutions - that will hit the ground running in 2020. The[…]
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Ryan Smith is an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate who earned his 52705WA - Advanced Diploma of Biomedical Engineering in 2018. First working in the audio engineering industry, Ryan now works for an American multinational conglomerate in the healthcare industry.[…]
Tesla has officially announced that its lithium-ion home batteries, named the Powerwall, will be available in South Africa in 2020.They have sent surveys to prospective South African customers inquiring about their home energy usage.The questions the company put to the[…]
Air travel is a major contributor to CO2 emissions and is attracting the ire of environmentalist movements who are campaigning for the industry to look to alternative methods of powering aircraft.Airbus is looking to nature for inspiration to minimize the[…]
Jules Bekoka Botomba’s story is an inspiring one. He is an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate who, despite the odds, managed to bring himself out of a difficult situation and turn it into success in the automation world.He has obtained[…]
It is no exaggeration to say that technology has taken a giant leap forward in the last decade.In this decade, Uber revolutionized taxi industries around the globe, 4G networks brought fast internet to the masses, and Whatsapp and Instagram appeared[…]
Gerrit Botha is an engineering professional currently working in the automotive, brewing, and mass manufacturing industries. He is also an Engineering Institute of Technology graduate. Once he completes his current studies, he would have undertaken four courses with EIT. He obtained[…]
Dear Colleagues,As I was cycling into work this hot morning — forty degrees today —I was thinking about four incredible laws that we frequently use in engineering. Many of you would be familiar with them, but I see them come[…]
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has had a significant impact on the worlds of education and work. The advent of the internet and its subsequent development over the last three decades has led to immense changes and has produced incredible technological[…]
Starting from 2020, 4 March will now be the World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development as designated by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). Previously known as ‘Engineer’s Day’, the celebration was formerly observed in several counties on various[…]
Just after returning from presenting a round of seminars in Asia (in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka), Steve Mackay landed in Melbourne on the evening of the 26th November, with three colleagues, for the TEQSA Conference.The theme at the conference[…]
