Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Efficiency and cost considerations mean that more and more people are turning to web-based course work, and this now includes 70 year old engineer Edwin Wakefield from South Africa.

Edwin has just successfully completed a three month part-time course in PLC’s and SCADA Systems, one of a range of courses offered by EIT via distance learning. Edwin enrolled in the class under his own steam and paid his own way, aiming to expand the knowledge he has developed during his career in industry.

Edwin noted that he was extremely supportive and optimistic about online learning today. He said that “the main advantages of online learning are convenience and accessibility and the guaranteed availability of top-class instructors.”

“I’m sure that attending live evening classes can have certain advantages, provided the quality of the instruction is up to standard. This may not always be the case. Unless one’s place of work is close to where the course is presented, attending live classes can suffer from lack of convenience and accessibility.”

The online course was a new experience for Edwin, and included a blend of live interactive webinars led by the instructor, plus reading material and coursework via email, and some one-on-one contact. The live sessions made an enormous difference and provided strong motivation to stay with the course. He reported that the course was “extremely engaging and interactive”. He concluded that he achieved his goal of “gaining a working knowledge that I had been lacking for too long.”

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Online training via the internet really is coming of age when two generations from one a South African company both enrol in the same distance learning course provided by a Perth-based company.

Elite Electrical Services is managed by the Liebenbergs, father and son in a family owned business based in Johannesburg. Both enrolled earlier this year in the Engineering Institute of Technology 18 month Advanced Diploma of Electrical Engineering. And both remain excited about the course several months down the road.

This course is one of many offered online by EIT that attract students from all over the world.

We asked son Chris Liebenberg for some comments about the course, his progress, and what it was like sharing the study with his father.

“Let me say I’m a big advocate for this Online Learning approach,” states Chris. “If it had been this good when I was younger I probably would have studied at least as much as I should have done back then! It is more flexible than classroom based learning. For example, we can always review the recordings of the live sessions if we miss one. But the live sessions presented each week have been fantastic and with an excellent instructor such as we have it is hugely motivational to ‘attend’. I’ve been completely thrilled.”

Mr Leibenberg explained that his background was mainly in IT. He has several of the trade certifications required for electrical work, but both he and his highly experienced father wanted to ensure they remained at the cutting edge of industry by adding to their knowledge of electrical engineering. Elite Electrical Services is a third generation family business and Chris says that right back to his grandfather the emphasis has been upon developing knowledge and expertise to add value for clients. Personal advancement has worked hand-in-hand with the development of the company. It’s in the blood too, it seems, because Chris’s 12 year old son already has his sights set on joining the family business. “He was born with a multimeter in his hand,” says Chris.

Chris comments: “After only a few months I’ve already been able to apply what I have learned in the course to my daily work. It has given me more confidence to tackle complex issues, and in fact I have been surprised by the number of times that what we cover in a week’s work has cropped up in the workplace.”
“We are fortunate our business is still going very strong despite the global recession. We are working our teams 5 days a week minimum when some others seem to be cutting back. I think part of the reason we are travelling well lies in our ability to tackle more advanced work. I think it is important that none of us rest on our laurels or use these tough times as an excuse to delay broadening the spectrum of skills we can offer.”

EIT's Advanced Diploma is an 18-month part-time course, which is quite a commitment for students with full time professional careers to manage. But Chris says he and his father have experienced the benefits first hand and are prepared to put in the hours to be successful. At the moment he is putting in well beyond the 6 hours per week average that the course requires, but this is because he likes to research thoroughly in new subject areas to ensure his depth of knowledge. “Not everyone wants or needs to put so much time into the course,” he notes, “it is just that I like to be fully confident with the fundamentals. We are both definitely highly motivated and the Online Learning delivery provides tremendous flexibility.”

Both father and son seem to be benefitting by doing the course together. They have developed some “healthy competition” over their assignment work but also compare notes and discuss some of the exercises and problems presented by the instructors. “My father occasionally needs some help with his computer connection, and in return it is good to have someone close by to discuss the material with,” reports Chris

Does Chris have any advice for someone contemplating enrolling in this course? He says “Yes, go for it.”

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

A student on our recent Hazardous Areas course was kind enough to share some photos with us of a recent potentially hazardous encounter at a mine in Phalaborwa.

The mine is almost entirely occupied by wild life. Game farms and Nature reserves overlap, so the animals migrate over vast areas freely. There are lots of animals that frequently visit the mines in the area on a regular basis. These larger animals as well as the predatory animals very rarely come into contact with humans because of their natural instinct to avoid man, but some that are as large as this Elephant and not particularly afraid of Man, do sometimes venture to graze on the shrubs that are on site.”

It’s a nice reminder about the challenging and interesting experiences our colleagues around the world have, and the different working conditions out there!

EIT Stock Image

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

In a recent phone discussion with the EIT’s Ric Harrison, a Senior Course Advisor, the student made some very valid comments for people who are contemplating the value of adding a recognised qualification to their CV’s.

This student completed his Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation in 2010, and is just two Modules from finishing his Advanced Diploma of Applied Electrical Engineering.

EIT: You must value these courses, now that you have almost completed your second?

Student: Well, it has not been easy, juggling work, family and study, but the courses material has been very, very useful in my daily work. On more than one occasion I’ve been faced with some issue at work and realised that we’ve covered it in the lectures. Back at home I’ve reviewed my notes or replayed the recording of the webcast then gone back to work the next day and actually been able to apply the knowledge to fix the issue. To me it just proves how practical and “real life” most of the material we study has been.

EIT: Yes, and part of the mix iS the background of the lecturers. They can generally draw from their own experiences to give those real life examples.
Tell us about your career path since you started studies. Has the qualification made a difference?

Student: There’s no doubt. I’ve been made responsible for commissioning some major projects and now work at a level well above where I was before starting these courses. And prospects are very good indeed. If I compare my work now to colleagues who have basically not taken on any extra study, it is even more obvious. Most of them are still “on the tools”, and I am moving on from that. I still like some hands-on work, but now I spend a lot more time in supervision and more challenging project management.

EIT: And you’ve referred a couple of your colleagues to us, too.

Student: Yes, they have started the advanced diploma of industrial automation. Actually a couple of years ago I was on a major project with a big name corporation. The market changed and the entire billion-dollar plus project was shut down. The whole workforce was retrenched, including the trade-qualified staff. I’ve kept in touch with a few and from what I’ve learned, most of them are still working directly in their trade, but they have not progressed. I am sure that if they wanted to move up in their careers they will need more than experience to get considered for the better jobs. Put the CV of someone with a relevant advanced diploma plus experience alongside a CV from someone who is going to rely upon their experience alone, and it is pretty clear what 99% of employers will choose.

EIT: Thanks. That’s a good way to think about it.

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Engineers and technicians are often expected to have a breadth of technical knowledge, sometimes spanning a range of disciplines. (This is despite increasing specialization in the workplace.)

To acquire broad skill sets is onerous and an ongoing endeavour, but does prevent tedium and boredom in the workplace. It also equates to improved employability because versatility is extraordinarily attractive to employers. (And for those considering a future in a business of their own, this versatility is critical.)

One of EIT’s recent graduates, Jean Jacques Missango (JJ), is just such an employee. He is from Cameroon, but now based in Canada. As a gas turbine specialist, with electronic and electrical skills and some mechanical aptitude, he straddles the different engineering fields. He explains that he is working in his ‘dream career’; performing general overhauls, routine and non-routine mechanical, electrical and instrumentation maintenance, repairs and trouble shooting of turbines.

JJ had always wanted to further his knowledge in the field and realised that EIT’s online Professional Certificate of Competency in Gas Turbine Engineering meant that he could continue to work and, alongside side this, complete his studies.
When it comes to online learning with EIT, JJ states that ‘The efficiency of this (learning) method is just incredible’.

As a part of his studies, JJ was required to attend live, online webinars and exclaims that attendance was well worth it. He refers to his lecturer as a ‘master’ on the topic and feels that this real time component (of an otherwise online program) was responsible for keeping his passion for the course alive. He also explains that scheduled webinar times allowed him to keep work a priorty.

JJ makes special mention of the student support provided by the EIT team. His dedicated Learning Support Officer gave both the administrative assistance and ongoing encouragement needed to help him through the course.

In conclusion, JJ makes a heartening comment. He believes the course contributed to his improved confidence and ‘considerable status change’, both of which have ‘fueled’ his desire to continue learning.

Thanks very much to JJ for his help in compiling this Student Story.

From all of us here at EIT, our congratulations go to JJ for graduating from the Professional Certificate of Competency in Gas Turbine Engineering.

EIT Stock Image

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Here is what some of our graduating students from the Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation had to say about the course:

It was a great course, excellent revision for the topics that I am familiar with. Gained greater in depth understanding for the topics that I am not so familiar with, and with regard to new topics demystified some concepts I had no real grasp on, and in the process learned some practical methods that can be applied straight away."
Deon du Plooy - Tasmania, Australia

“The course has really given me a better understanding of process control and automation. I understand my job and industry better. I can explain the intent behind some engineering designs in the chemical process environment. Because of the depth of understanding and exposure that I displayed, some of my colleagues have registered on some courses with EIT”
Adelodun Adeolu Ayodeji - Chevron Nigeria Ltd

“I am extremely happy I attended this course it has been the best course I have done to date. The information provided has been more than sufficient and the presentations were great, I have applied many of the principles that were taught during this course almost immediately into my practice and it has opened my eyes to pitfalls otherwise hidden from an engineer. I will definitely be attending another course is the near future.”
Henk Barnard - Iritron, South Africa

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Frank, based on site in Malaysia, talks to <Senior Course Advisor Ric Harrison in Australia. He is a current student of Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation and the Advanced Diploma of E & I Engineering for Oil and Gas Facilities.

Ric and Frank Chat

Podcast (mp3 6’43”)

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Here is an interview with . He is an instrumentation and electrical technician who is currently working on an offshore platform. Listen to him talk to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. about his background, why he chose the advanced diploma, the relevance of the content, how he manages study commitment, time required, and the impact for his career.

Ric and Peter Chat

Please note that audio is slightly distorted at the beginning of the interview, but improves after a short interval: Podcast (mp3, 8’ 06”)

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Positive feedback from students is humbling and amazing, but it is particularly extraordinary when it comes with gratitude for what is a fairly gruelling process. Those of you who have undertaken the EIT’s online courses (3 month certificate courses through to eighteen month advanced diplomas) will agree that the going can be tough. It is a feat to just successfully complete a qualification, but when it is achieved whilst juggling full time work and the responsibilities of family it is quite remarkable. Before relating this short tale, therefore, congratulations is in order – to all graduates – but especially, and obviously, to those of you who have graduated through the EIT.

One of our South African students, Rephinus Omoro, has recently graduated from the Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering – one of Paul Celenza’s DME02 cohorts. When Rephinus started investigating further study he was (and still is) working for Kusile Fabrication Pty Ltd, as their CNC Foreman; responsible for programming the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines and overseeing the machining production process. Quite fulfilling, but he was looking to upgrade his skills and anticipating opportunities for promotion. Because he wasn’t able to put work on hold while studying, the EIT became an attractive option; online, flexible and specialising in a range of engineering fields.

It was interesting to learn from Rephinus about his ability to cope with this extra commitment in his life. He admitted that it was his family who took the brunt! He did have to sacrifice some family time, but as each assignment was completed and submitted he was able to compensate as that was when the pressure eased a little. He believed that despite the extra stress the key was to maintain a peaceful atmosphere at home – necessary for the family when the dynamic has changed and to facilitate his daily study program.

He was also asked about the challenges of his particular study ‘trench’ – how had he coped with the hungry trench rats (submission deadlines) and the deep mud (general and on-going rigour of the course)? His answer was not surprising - self discipline, including a daily study agenda. His kind words to Paul, however, illustrate the value of the Online Learning coordinators’ support to the study process: “You’ve been so patient and have inspired me to complete my assignments even when I was almost giving up.”

Other aspects of the EIT online learning process assisted Rephinus too. His ability to listen to the lecturers’ live webcasts as often as necessary helped to reinforce the course content for him (the recordings are sent to students as soon as they have been delivered). And the flexibility of the course – if something prevents you, part way through the course, from continuing your study, you can take it up again with a subsequent cohort of students later on.

In the main, however, Rephinus’ gratitude was for the course itself – in his words: “The course was designed in a way that allows the learner to directly apply what has been taught to real-time problems in the work-place” (an argument for studying and working supposedly – despite the time burden). He goes on to say: “I have gained the skill to anticipate the consequences of new designs and to initiate solutions to problems. I have new programming skills and can complete tasks or projects to specification at my first attempt.”

Thanks very much to Rephinus for his assistance with this article and we, at the EIT, all wish him everything of the best.

EIT student Rephinus Omoro from the Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Wisdom is elusive, but education goes a long way to tracking and pinning it down.

If it weren’t such a demeaning term Murray Langley could be the EIT’s ‘Poster Boy’. Since completing the Advanced Diploma of Electrical and Instrumentation (E & I) Engineering for Mining (DMN), he has successfully passed the Vocational Graduate Diploma of Project Management in Industrial Automation (GPI) and has commenced the Graduate Diploma of Project Management in Electrical Engineering (GPE). Quite remarkable!
Like most other EIT students Murray has achieved these qualifications whilst pursuing a demanding career. He is with Cristal Mining Australia as Project Coordinator Electrical & Instrumentation for their East Australian mining sites. (A promotion, he believes, was aided by his study with EIT.)
Inevitably, despite being busy, it is his career which was and continues to be his primary motivator for education. To be more specific, he aims to enhance his knowledge-base, improve his opportunities within the company and his professional standing in Australia.
Let us get back to that somewhat incongruous title! It was actually inspired by Murray, who, describes the positive effect his study with the EIT has had on him. We know that ‘wisdom’ is associated with aging, but merely entering one’s dotage is most often not enough. It is invariably a combination of lessons; both academic and those dealt by life, which may qualify a person to own such a label. Education, on the other hand, when it is relevant, practical and properly targeted will most often achieve its ends, including; expertise, confidence and insight.
Murray wrote that he saw himself as “more professional” and that he can now “approach my project work much more strategically; having developed a much better understanding of financial, planning and implementation processes that make projects successful.” And, assuredly, to Cristal Mining’s delight, “I have become much more astute regarding valuing projects and understanding how to reduce costs and ensure sustainability.”
Pursuing part time study, however, is challenging. For Murray it is the pressure of completing the requisite assignments. He explains what is necessary, “…a great deal of persistence and time management, to ensure I am able to complete work within time-frames.” On the other hand, he feels a highlight of this particular teaching methodology is the ability to discuss content issues and challenges with lecturers during the interactive webinar sessions. He goes on to kindly praise EIT for its professionalism and is very pleased that his qualifications will allow him to feed in to the EIT’s new master degree. Finally, Murray has a piece of advice for would be students:

“Download Moodle onto your phone!” (This is the Learning Management System that we use)

And he adds something heartening:

“Persevere! The work is not that hard for someone who has been in the industry for a while.”
A great big thank you to Murray for his assistance in writing this.

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Hazel Woodhall, an enormously capable and determined student, graduated from the Advanced Diploma of Industrial Data Communications, Networking and IT, in the latter part of 2013. She praises the course for filling her knowledge gaps. EIT Stock Image In 2008 she joined Alstom UK (a French multinational company which holds interests in the electricity generation and rail transport markets), having garnered significant experience in IT support in a corporate environment. In her new role as IT Project Engineer she was tasked with delivering generator condition monitoring solutions for power stations worldwide. Hazel felt she had been thrown into a new world – one where the line between information technology (IT) and operation technology (OT) systems was blurring. The IT domain has always been disturbingly fluid and certainly now, in business critical environments, IT/OT managers require the knowledge to remotely monitor and manage physical devices, control systems and IT resources. Despite her strong IT background she felt the need to find a course which filled her engineering knowledge gaps. She admits that the program did indeed accomplish this. For the EIT this is excellent news. She mentions that the course content “has enabled me to troubleshoot and implement technology that was previously foreign to me”.
Hazel’s remarkable fortitude is well worth mentioning. Apart from her long work hours, which include the rigour of regular travel, she embarked on this course despite already working through a BSc in Information and Communication Technologies. (She completes this qualification in a couple of months). Yet she remains undeterred; she has a Master of Science or an Advanced Diploma in Instrumentation in her sights!
As a college we are indebted to our students for a variety of reasons, but one stands out: We are able to continuously improve all that we do because of their feedback.
The flexibility of our live, online approach to education facilitated Hazel’s studies, as it does to all students who are working full-time and often remotely. Inevitably, however, there are trade-offs.
Hazel mentions a couple which need to be raised here because they can act as a heads-up or early warning for future students:

Work out, early on in your course, how much time you need to dedicate to your studies, preferably on a weekly basis, to avoid falling behind.
Do not take on too much! As Hazel says, “I would not put myself in the situation of doing two courses simultaneously again!”
You may feel disconnected from the other students in your cohort. Hazel did, and mentions that this was, “a pity as we are all in similar industries”. To ensure you bond with your class and exploit the national and international networking opportunities consider the following advice from our Online Learning Manager, Paul Celenza: “In my day to day role at EIT I am fortunate to communicate with a range of students who are professionals at many different levels and doing some amazing jobs. The opportunity for our students to network with each other, study together and to share ideas about the latest technologies and work practices are immense. We have students from all over the world who have a great deal to share and this can be easily achieved through the use of the technologies EIT uses in all programs. Each course has its own webinar room. This room is used for the live, interactive webinar sessions that the students regularly attend and during which they get to know each other. The webinar room is also available for use at any time, day or night, to meet up and chat. Access to our Learning Management System (Moodle) also provides students with a meeting place for sharing ideas; in the chat rooms and through the forums.

I would encourage all students, from all regions of the world, to be inclusive and interact with each other. You all have much to offer and fantastic experiences to share. We all have common goals, but different ways of achieving them. Through your interaction with your classmates you will learn from their experiences and ultimately achieve your own goals”
Feedback from another graduate shows that it is indeed possible, despite studying online, to feel included: “It may be hard to believe of a distance learning course, but I felt a real sense of camaraderie with the other students on the course – I think that the ability to chat in real time with them during the webinars fostered this bond.”

We would like to extend a big thanks to Hazel. Her input was integral to the telling of this tale from one of EIT’s study trenches.

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Another student tale; from another part of the world and another field of engineering - and one that will clarify the alliteration used above – words that have been selected very carefully, as you will discover.

Paula Palmer graduated from the EIT’s Advanced Diploma of Applied Electrical Engineering (DEE) in May of last year, 2012. Paula’s cohort of students, DEE04, was shepherded through their eighteen months very ably by Online Learning Coordinator, Holly Adams.

Paula works in Barbados (a sovereign island country east of the Caribbean Sea) for the Barbados Light & Power Co. Ltd. She is an electrical engineer in the Distribution Department. At the time of her course enrollment, she was working in the Substations Section, supervising its maintenance and the construction process of a new building to replace an outdoor substation.

One of Paula’s colleagues recommended the course to her (a fellow engineer with good taste! The EIT is grateful). The course outline in the brochure, however, was the convincer, Paula said, “I realized that it would provide me with knowledge which I would not have necessarily gained while studying at university or in my day to day tasks. I especially liked the fact that most of the modules could be applied in my job in the substations section.”

Here comes the “Steeliness”. Paula’s time management involved discipline and resolve. She attended webinars directly after work – the 5.00pm sessions sometimes necessitating a rather fraught dash to login – and she dedicated weeknights to assignments. This left her weekends free to spend with family.

“Steeliness,” you may scoff, “That is our lot when we choose to study and work!” Yes, but read on. Paula became pregnant while on the course and believed she would have to put the course ‘On Hold” once her son was born (a sensible option one would think). However, apart from missing the odd webinar as a result of travel and work, she missed only one which was pregnancy-related – the day she went into labour. She then determinedly continued with the course, completing it in the allocated eighteen months.

This is where the “Support” comes into play. At one of the recent EIT Graduation Ceremonies, the partners and families of the students were commended for the vital part they play in helping the graduates over the line. Paula would have had her work cut out for her, but an accolade must go to her mum and husband. In Paula’s moving words, “I had strong support from my family. My mother and my husband would take care of my son for the hour needed to attend the weekly sessions and anytime I needed to work on my assignment. It was a bit hard at times but together we made it.”

Paula also employed a quite clever strategy – worthy of consideration for would-be students. She explains, “At the end of each session, I attempted to answer those questions in the assignment which related to the session I had just completed. This effectively gave me a week to complete those questions. I sometimes used my lunch hours too.”

This course offered Paula her first on-line education experience. She found Moodle (an on-line learning management system) handy - uploading assignments as soon as she had completed them and accessing her information at any time, including her grades. The webinar software Paula said, “…reminded her of being in a classroom, except for the inability to see the lecturer and other students. I liked being able to raise my hand and ask a question, answer multiple choice questions, view the slides and drawings or additional writings/notes the lecturer would add on the ‘blackboard’ during the sessions.”

Paula’s comments on the EIT staff are heartening. Her words describe a scenario that is essential to the learning experience of any student, but particularly to those who are studying in a virtual classroom. “My experience with the EIT staff was always a pleasant one. Regardless of my queries or concerns, they always assisted me in a very professional and expedient manner. Whether it related to my inability to attend a session, problems experienced during the online sessions or issues arising with the assignments, I was always satisfied with the outcome.”

And her attitude to the course? Did the hard work pay off? Her words below speak for themselves and bring us to the “Success” bit. “I was exposed to information which I have not yet encountered in my job, but I also gained strength in areas which I am currently involved in. To me, all of the modules taught delivered valuable information, but the most valuable aspect of the course was the knowledge I gained on transformers, circuit breakers, switchgear, power system protection and energy use and efficiency. This knowledge has resulted in me gaining an understanding of a lot of things which I am faced with on a day to day basis including the equipment used”

“My approach to my work has not changed, I still try to approach my duties with safety in mind, but now I would say I am more aware of why I do some of the things I do.”

The last word – Despite her unusually tough trench experience, Paula received the second highest grades in her cohort. Very well done. All of us here at the EIT thank Paula very much for her assistance with this article and wish her everything of the best.

Details: Written by: Evangeline Newby; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Past student Peter Bramall talking about his experiences with EIT studying the Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering Technology. He explains how the program fits nicely around his work and family commitments and how beneficial the degree has proven so far in his professional advancement. Hear for yourself!

Details: Written by: Evangeline Newby; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Well done to EIT graduate, Steve Schober, from Ergon Energy. Recently Steve sent us a note of thanks - not terribly remarkable on its own, but the words were particularly heart-warming. He expresses a justified pride in himself. Without the confidence of youth and the time available at that stage in life, he still did it! With determination and dedication Steve successfully completed the Advanced Diploma in Electrical Supply Industry (ESI) Power Systems. For a good three years he persevered through the course; alongside his full time work and up against the weight of adult responsibilities.

Thank you Steve for trusting EIT to help you advance your career; we wish you both personal and professional success and contentment. Congratulations on an outstanding achievement.

Read Steve’s experience below.

I recently successfully completed an Advanced Diploma in Electrical Supply Industry (ESI) Power Systems.

The prospect of achieving this qualification was initially quite daunting, having been out of the education system for some time. Prior to undertaking this qualification, I had been involved in the electrical industry for over 20 years and have a wealth of practical knowledge but was limited academically to Certificate 3, or trade studies, which were achieved many years previously. I am employed by Ergon Energy as a Substation Design Paraprofessional Trainee.

The EIT formula worked for me, I was able to work through the modules individually and systematically built my Advanced Diploma one subject at a time. The ability to see runs were being put on the board provided a great sense of achievement. The study materials were a good blend of practical knowledge and theory. I was rotated through several different work groups in order to complete my studies. This experience was immensely beneficial as I was able to learn about other parts of my company’s electrical distribution business that I normally would not be exposed to.

The online system of study was comprehensive and easy to navigate. The combination of Webcasts, Quizzes, Work Based Projects, Direct Observation Checklists and Summative Assessments provided a balanced approach to acquiring knowledge. These tasks were supported by ample reading materials, webcast recordings and slides. The lecturers were experienced in the subjects they taught and provided a practical approach together with a wealth of information.

I found the EIT study schedule suited my lifestyle. The online classroom (Webcasts) were scheduled at convenient times and all the Assessments, Work Based Projects and Direct Observation Checklist due dates were both practical and achievable.

After completing the Advanced Diploma, I was ecstatic with my achievement and felt a great sense of self pride. Thanks to EIT, it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks.

Steve Schober

Details: Written by: Evangeline Newby; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

When EIT launched its inaugural course – the Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation – we believed fervently that the content was good. The live, Online Learning teaching methodology, however, was very new and it was embarked upon with some trepidation.

EIT student Osemudiamen (Ose) Usifoh feedback on Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation In an effort to gather feedback from our initial foray into online education we recently interviewed Osemudiamen (Ose) Usifoh, a graduate from DIA01. Being members of our alumni you will understand that this indicates the very beginning of things – I believe our latest intake of intrepid students, into this particular advanced diploma, is our sixteenth (DIA16). We were pleasantry surprised to find Ose’s story positive, despite the inevitably unpredictable nature of firsts.

As with many of our students Ose was looking for a course which would provide him with some specific skills and professional development in a particular area of engineering. As an electrical engineering graduate he worked as a system integrator with Intech Automation, in Nigeria, and then moved to Total, a petroleum exploration and production company, where he worked in a range of engineering roles. It was his need to provide technical support to their petroleum production plants and development projects which nudged him towards requiring new competencies in automation; resulting in his enrolment with EIT in 2008. And as he says, ‘The rest is history.’

When quizzed about the usefulness of the course his response seemed a little enigmatic. His initial assertion was predictable; that the course provided him with a ‘deeper understanding of the automation profession, thereby improving my competency to deliver quality service to the various kinds of applications where automation is utilised’. But less foreseeable was his belief that the course was responsible for enabling his versatility on the job; allowing him to move into non-automotive roles and facilitating his usefulness to the company in areas not strictly related to automation.

There are a couple of aspects of learning which are daunting and which keep us, the educators, in awe of our students. To embark on and complete a course of study whilst balancing full time work and family is startlingly brave. The ability to do all this online, without the proximity of fellow students and lecturers, is a monumental achievement, showing incredible resolve and determination. Although EIT has embraced live, online teaching in an effort to ameliorate some of these inherent obstacles, when Ose was asked to respond to a question entailing ‘enjoyment’ I was not very hopeful. A tirade was expected, outlining the relentless rigour of the program, including module assignments and deadlines. Astonishingly, he commented instead on the ‘rich study materials’, ‘the in-depth, practical knowledge exhibited by the instructors’ and most hearteningly, ‘the privilege of using an Online Learning platform which is the most advanced that I’ve come across to date’.

It is indeed gratifying to hear from one of our first students after a significant passage of time and to hear his esteem for a program and teaching methodology which was wrought from very earnest intentions and much hard work.

Our deepest gratitude goes to Ose for his generous responses to our questions. We wish him and all our past students everything of the best for 2014 and beyond.

Lyndon B. Johnson, despite his distraction as the 36^th president of the USA, certainly gave some thought to the concept of education – the following is a quote from him:

“At the desk where I sit, I have learned one great truth. The answer for all our national problems – the answer for all the problems of the world – comes to a single word. That word is education”.

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

"One of our EIT students has had us thinking about the essential pairing of biomedical engineering and sport. Steve Parchert is completing our Advanced Diploma of Applied Electrical Engineering and should have his head down, but instead has his feet up!

As the image below indicates all is not as it seems. Steve is post-op and has logged into his scheduled webinar! Commitment and tenacity are descriptors that come to mind and are well deserved.

Steve Parchert EIT student of Advanced Diploma of Applied Electrical Engineering post-op

"He enjoys a range of sports which have lead to his injuries. Touch football and endurance motorbike riding are the culprits for Steve. Five or six years ago he had his first ACL knee reconstruction. This operation is necessary when the ligament attaching the femur (or thigh bone) to one of the calf bones (the tibia) is torn. At the same time his knee's shock absorbers, the cartilage and menisci, were repaired.

"And he is back again!

"This time, however, the surgeon had to be a little more inventive. A graft from Steve's hamstring needed to be taken to supplement the twice damaged ACL ligament. "Amateur or elite involvement in sport and fitness is on the rise and should be championed. With Steve in mind this seems a lame comment (excuse the pun), but studies have clearly illustrated that keeping fit allays a plethora of disease. Because there is no free lunch, however, medicine and engineering have become essential bedfellows. Biomedical engineering and its research are integral to the treatment of sport injuries and, more encouragingly, their prevention. "Our lives are, however, multi-faceted and this is succinctly reflected in Steve's case. Aside from his sport and his hospital stay with associated injuries, he is busy. He is a dedicated family man and is working in Bundaberg as an Electrical Systems Designer in the power supply industry. And, as mentioned previously, he is studying. His obvious commitment here he explains, is to secure his job and perhaps facilitate a promotion within the company. With this careful juggling of a demanding life, Steve is grateful that EIT's flexible online learning has helped him balance it all.

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

More than ever engineers cross and re-cross borders to tackle projects. Engineers Without Borders is a not-for-profit organization even named for its international work. It is, however, not alone. Many engineering companies employ teams who, by necessity, become seasonal (and unseasonal) travelers in order to work on assignments around the world.

Allen Doyle, one of EIT’s students and someone whose work has sent him to many countries, is justly proud of his qualification. He describes study as the one area of his life that he had previously been unable to successfully complete; largely because his work demanded that he remain on the road.

EIT student of Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation on the FPSO Capixaba located 100km offshore from Vitoria ES Brazil

Photo taken on the FPSO Capixaba located 100km offshore from Vitoria ES Brazil.

His own words reveal why EIT was able to provide him with the necessary platform for success,

“I could attend (the sessions with my lecturers; the live webcasts) from anywhere in the world; Brazil, Lesotho, South Africa, I even attended a class in the backseat of the car while en route to the Kruger National Park.”

Separate to experience gained on the job, regular professional development and study is critical in all occupations. It has always been considered essential for career advancement, but now the pace at which technology moves and changes has made it also vital for employees who need to remain relevant and technically savvy.

Traditional educational and training approaches and the often overwhelming demands of life are, however, stacked against individuals who plan to up-skill. Fortunately the economics truism of supply and demand has come to the aid of ambitious and/or hard-working individuals. Ironically, the key is technology: An online education platform; offering live, interactive learning.

A cultural shift is required, but the flexibility of a campus-free education has many converts. As Allen states, “There are enough options at EIT to accommodate you, financially or academically”.
A heart-warming fact is that having achieved the Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation Allen feels motivated to pursue further study. In his words, “I’m heading off to China in February for a new project; we will commission a Generation 3 FPSO. As soon as we are in a steady operational state I will look into another course to do at EIT.”

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

The pile of text books for the Vocational Graduate Diploma of Project Management in Industrial Automation is taller than Sammy, this very patient lab!

Helmut Schütte: EIT student's pile of books for his course taller than his labrador

Just before his final exam Helmut Schütte sent this photograph to his Online Learning coordinator and included the conversation he had had with his wife, “I have filled my head so full, to the extent that I think the info will never get out, it’s too tightly stuffed!”

Why we would use this image as a marketing ploy you may well ask – potential students have probably made a mental note not to embark on the course already!

But then Helmut goes on to comment, “Great experience, recommendable. I have a very high opinion of EIT and all of you, thanks :-)”

If that does not adequately ease any residual anguish, I must add that we no longer offer this particular program!

Instead students spend 12 months on a Graduate Diploma of Engineering (Industrial Automation) and can exit on completion. Otherwise, having completed this initial year successfully, students have the option of moving into a 12 months masters; the Master of Engineering (Industrial Automation)

Will the pile of books be much reduced? Probably not, but take heart! You will have access to lecturers who are industry savvy and gurus in their fields, great content, flexible learning, and coordinators dedicated to your success. And of course, at the end of the day, you will have achieved one, if not two, great qualifications which will hold you in very good stead.

Our thanks go to Sammy the dog and Helmut for their input here. And from all at EIT we extend our congratulations to Helmut for attaining his qualification.

(It needs to be added that the information in Helmut’s head did manage to escape, but in a timely fashion and to good purpose – he received an overall grade of 92%!)

Details: Written by: Evangeline Newby; Category: Student Stories; Published: 18 January 2017

Born and raised in a small farming community close to the border of South Africa and Botswana I would have never thought that I will end up living in the city and work in the Chemical Industry. I am married to a beautiful wife and a busy 2 year old son.

After High school I made my way to Johannesburg to start a Career in Aviation. I completed my theoretical training in Aircraft Avionics at Denel centre of Learning and Development (DCLD) after which I started my apprenticeship and later completed my training with a Trade Test at SAAT (South African Airways Technical). I worked in the Aviation industry for almost 6 years and was appointed as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer – Avionics/Instruments when I decided to make a career change to the Industrial sector.

In 2012 I had the opportunity to start a new career in Industrial Instrumentation and grabbed it with both hands. I soon realized that I had a lack of theoretical knowledge for the industry and that is when I started my search for part time studies and found EIT and applied for the Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation.

Outline your study experience at EIT. Consider, for instance: the content, your lecturers, learning remotely, your Learning Support Officer, the technology used and your interactions with your fellow students. Please include both your study highlights and challenges:

My first impression of EIT was a good one with extremely helpful staff that assisted me with my initial questions. Everything at EIT is well organised and I never felt unsure of what will be happening next. The course content is very relevant and applicable to day-to-day work and I could relate and implement my learning on a daily basis.

Lectures are organised and presented by highly skilled lecturers that have years of experience in the field. I liked the fact that they could give real-world practical examples/problems. We could even ask questions relating to current problems. Being part of a global student group was humbling and made everything interesting. It was particularly enjoyable to meet and work with various nationalities and experienced individuals from all corners of the world on the Module 5 group project.

Being in a technology-driven industry, I found it really enjoyable to make use of the technology EIT used, making it world-class and one-of-a-kind. This contributed to making my studies “easier” than the traditional way of learning.

One of the big positives was being able to spend time with my family, assisting my wife with our son making dinner together and after my wife and son went to bed having a really good EIT class. That to me that was the best about studying with EIT, still being able to spend time with loved ones and completing my studies while they are fast asleep in the next room.

I am overall very pleased and with the education I received from EIT and thankful for all the work that EIT put in behind the scenes.

I look forward to lifelong learning relationship with EIT and IDC Technologies.

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Describe how you have applied the EIT program knowledge to your work and if the program has helped you with career advancement:

From the start I was able to apply my learning from EIT in my work place. At the company I work at we do maintenance and small scale projects with guidance of from our Instrument Specialist.

We work on everything related to Automation from valves, control valves, temperatures, pressures, mass flows, mag flows, substation Automation right up to DCS system fault finding and programming. With the benefit of working in most aspects of Automation I was able to relate to most of the readings and lectures and gained important knowledge on why systems work, and are designed the way they are.

Knowledge gained from the lectures enabled me to ask questions with confidence and understand the principles used to design or set-up a system.

When confronted with a new system or concept I can relate back to an EIT lecture and can even go back and refresh my memory on a specific topic to make an informed decision.

EIT’s Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation has made me a more knowledgeable and confident worker and I will forever benefit from the knowledge gained in those 18 months

What are your training and career goals for the next 5 years?

Currently my short term goal is to apply the knowledge gained with the Advance Diploma and make a positive impact for my employer in my current position as an Instrument Artisan. Hopefully by proving my worth within my department my next goal will be to be appointed as a Technician.

I will also be making use of the EIT value plus option for the entry into 2 complimentary workshops.
My long term goal is to be a competent Professional Control & Instrumentation Engineer (ECSA).

There are currently discussing on the table to introduce a 10th engineering discipline within the ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa) framework that being Control & Instrumentation.

For me to achieve this goal I will continue my relationship with EIT for further studies.

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Industry; Published: 17 January 2017

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An environmental engineer would surely agree that when it comes to public health, noise pollution is a dangerous threat to a person's wellbeing. It has been well researched and proven that citizens of a country who live near airports have higher blood pressures than those who live elsewhere. People's health is directly affected by noisy engineering design.

The Federal Aviation Authority says that an aircraft's noise output should, at maximum, be 65dBA, observed at ground-level. Gas-powered leaf blowers emit 90 to 102 dBA and generate their own carbon footprint - which has captured the attention of the environmentalists. A town in California named Sonoma, in the United States, has banned the use of gas-powered leaf blowers around the city. Citizens have expressed that they look forward to the "restoration of the quality of life" now that the blowers have been banned.

Thanks to engineering ingenuity a new battalion of leaf blowers are making their way to the markets - some have already arrived. The leaf blowers are battery operated and only emit 65dBA of noise. The newer blowers will also outclass plug-in blowers due to their wireless capabilities. However, with the cheaper gas alternatives, I’m sure some countries will still stick to these tried-and-tested blowers until proper bans are put in place.

More engineering ingenuity is, arguably, needed in all engineering industries, so that noise levels can be driven down.

Steve Mackay tends to agree: "In your next engineering design, think about noise. Think about how to reduce the effect on your wonderful clients. You will probably have a far happier client."

Works Cited

"Acute Effects of Night-time Noise Exposure on Blood Pressure in Populations Living near Airports." European Heart Journal. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.

EngInstTech. "ENN41 Noise and Audio." YouTube. YouTube, 30 June 2016. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.

"Gas Leaf Blowers Banned in Sonoma." Sonoma Index Tribune. 01 Dec. 2016. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Industry; Published: 17 January 2017

Our buzzword for your engineering career this year is INVESTMENT. The modern world of business centers on the principles of investment. You put something in, and hopefully (with copious amounts of elbow grease) get something out.

When someone looks to invest their hard-earned money, the most important factor they consider is growth potential. The question they ask themselves is: Will my invested money grow?

Pursuing engineering as a career involves just such an investment, investment in your education for your future. Therefore, as a prospective engineer formulating career goals, it is well worth monitoring which engineering disciplines have the most growth potential for the future of your employment.

The Growers

RevPart, an engineering company which specializes in rapid prototyping and 3D printing for several engineering industries, has published their outlook on growing engineering industries with the most attractive starting salaries for the year 2017.

Engineering Employment Outlook from RevPart

RevPart indicates that the starting salary for Mechanical Engineers will be US$83,950 per annum as of this year. (They also say that mechanical engineers will be involved in the building of the next "wave of self-driving cars".)

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Automotive engineering - an industry that utilizes the discipline of Mechanical Engineering - has become a serious bone of contention in the United States as the country approaches Inauguration Day (20 January 2017). President-Elect Donald Trump promised car manufacturers, Ford, Toyota, and General Motors, that if he were to become president, there would be a tariff imposed on any vehicles manufactured in Mexico and sold back into the United States

Ford has since announced that it would drop plans to open a factory in Mexico, and rather opted to expand the Ford plant in Michigan and create 700 American jobs.

Other automobile manufacturers are also doing an about-turn on any foreign plans: Fiat Chrysler has announced an investment of $1 billion into making three new Jeep models in the United States, and plans to revamp factories in Michigan and Ohio. The move is set to add 2,200 jobs, the company confirmed in a statement.

Daimler AG has pledged $1.3 billion to expand production of SUVs in Alabama. And Volkswagen Group has recently announced that a planned expansion in the US will top $7 billion.

Mechanical Engineers will be in the pound seats, but the automotive industry, which is going through profound change and modernization, demands expertise from a number engineering disciplines.

To see how automotive engineering could fit into your career goals, take a look at this video from Jaguar Land Rover:

Jaguar Land Rover sold a record 583,312 vehicles in 2016, according to Reuters.

The other industry showing growth this year is the biomedical industry. It's expected to grow by 23% over the next 10 years. And it's easy to see why with engineering endeavors such as this: A flexible, wearable, 'Star Trek tricorder' health monitor is here.

Monitoring and improving the health of humans through biomedical engineering technology is just another example of how engineers are continually changing and improving the world.

We focus on industrial, material and aerospace engineering in Part 2 of our series on: Choosing the right Engineering discipline for your future career. Look out for it.

Works Cited

"Ford Scraps Plan for $1.6 Billion Plant in Mexico after Trump Criticism." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 03 Jan. 2017. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.

"Jaguar Land Rover Sells Record 583,313 Cars in 2016." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 09 Jan. 2017. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.

"Plastic Injection Molding Prototyping Services." RevPart. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.

"Your Future In Automotive - Rebecca Lees, Jaguar Land Rover." YouTube. 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.

Details: Written by: Steve Mackay; Category: Blog - Steve Mackay; Published: 17 January 2017

Dear Colleagues

As a young engineer I used to sometimes ponder on the long torturous career (ladder) path one could follow in ‘the firm’ – no matter whether you were an electrician, technician or engineer. I worked for a huge company (De Beers) mining and selling gem diamonds with billions of dollars of revenue and which had been around for over a 100 years.

A hugely wealthy company with generous conditions and a magnificent emphasis on training and education and other upliftment activities in their communities. The debate was always to move from being in a purely technical role to that with more management but the last thing on our minds was that this huge company with tens of thousands of employees would diminish to a shadow of itself. Which is what came to pass as the diamond mines were gradually sold off. A story replicated thousands of times around the world with other industrial and engineering firms.

Where is the Greasy Pole of Career Upwards Progression Today?
The metaphors vary – from ‘climbing the ladder’, ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ to ‘shimmying up the greasy pole’. All of them have the idea of steady upwards progression if you play ball and do the right thing by the firm.

However, this is not the case today as companies are in a constant state of flux – remember the days of ‘re-engineering’ a decade or two ago – this has simply accelerated? Even companies that were boring and predictable have been cast to the wolves. For example, the power companies (often government owned) sold a predictable thing – energy and they have suddenly woken up to huge competition from their consumers with PV solar panels proliferating meaning less power consumed from the utility. And some companies have plunged into the abyss.

What is worse is that the jobs we aspire to often have changed dramatically or have been outsourced because of some new corporate model. So the ‘job for life’ – as you no doubt repeatedly hear about – is not always part of our careers any more.

The Key Trick is Financial Freedom and Happiness in What you do
Naturally, two of the most important things is working on something you enjoy – hopefully using your strengths - and at the same time building up financial reserves for you and your family. But this doesn’t mean that your career has to follow the traditional ladder of progression but can follow other more interesting paths.

Consider your Engineering Career as moving on a Lattice
You don’t always necessarily continually move upwards in your career but may take some side ways moves. Similar to moving sideways on a lattice framework.
For example, you may set up a business (the ubiquitous web site) on the side of your current career. Or work in many different industries in your current career achieving a huge number of widely differing skills. Perhaps experimenting with areas that you may enjoy and can develop further in the future.

Strategically Reskill and Gain Know-how
There is a huge opportunity for reskilling and gaining new know-how on an ongoing basis – and not necessarily costing much at all. Certainly spending a huge $80,000 on a one year MBA may not be a good idea – there are many other approaches lower risk and considerably more affordable.
For example, the free Youtube learning channels are mindblowingly comprehensive and wide ranging. As well as the huge amount of often free resources on the web.
A friend of mine who struggled in his engineering career because of the demise of his current company has successfully moved into web marketing with Search Engine Optimisation with a focus on the industrial world. Another has moved from water resource engineering into running a chain of accommodation hubs in a sea side village. A technician told me of his successful foray into supplying and maintaining personalised low cost robots. Another who used to work on oil rigs is using drones to undertake surveillance tasks for a burgeoning list of clients. The list goes on….

Consider Retirement Flexible
Many people in their forties and fifties particularly regard retirement as a termination point when they suddenly stop working. A better strategy, perhaps, is to look at making this more flexible with a mix of work, study and travel or leisure activities. This could perhaps give you more financial freedom and at the same time – keep your brain active and challenged.

A Succinct Summary of What a Career Ladder Really is
Tom Freston puts his finger on what a career ladder really is: A career path is rarely a path at all. A more interesting life is usual a more crooked, winding path of missteps, luck and vigorous work. It is almost always a clumsy balance between the things you try to make happen and the things that happen to you.

Yours in engineering learning

Steve

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Industry; Published: 15 January 2017

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Smart cities are much more than solar-powered street lights triggered when pedestrians walk beneath them.

Smart cities refer to cities that use the latest in technological innovation in infrastructure and IT systems, and the Internet of Things, interspersed with environmentally-friendly nature-inspired elements.

However, to design a smart city, a sizeable redesign to old infrastructure is usually required. Architecture needs rethinking and reforming, the traditional disciplines of engineering are stretched and smart technology is at the crux of it all. This is all in pursuit of a better quality of life for the humans who live in these bustling cities.

In the book ‘Human Smart Cities: Rethinking the Interplay between Design and Planning’, Louis Albrecht, a Professor in the Department of Architecture, Urbanism and Planning, at the Catholic University of Leuven writes:

“There is a growing awareness that a number of planning concepts (compact cities, livable cities, creative cities, multicultural cities, fair cities, just cities, smart cities) cannot be achievable solely through physical hard planning.”

Albrecht argues that the transformation of cities into smart cities has historically been overrun by the forces of free-market capitalism; by private companies seeing market opportunities that can be exploited. Instead governments, he suggests, should properly implement a move toward smart cities that benefit the humans that live and work in them. He writes:

“There is also awareness of the fact that (in addition to traditional land use regulation, urban maintenance, production and management of services) governments are being called upon to respond to new demands and to adopt a more entrepreneurial style of planning in order to enhance city and regional competitiveness.”

Governments are noticing that the technology-literate demand that everything, from electricity to water metering, become smart, efficient and data-analysis-friendly, so that they know where their money is going to when to pay their utilities.

Moreover, as smart cities pop-up, with more people gaining access to education and job opportunities (thanks to the smart-city benefit of a city-wide internet), new challenges arise. And most of these challenges are usually infrastructural.

More Cities, More Traffic

Engineers are called upon to rethink transportation because once a city becomes a hub of middle-income activity, it equates to an overcrowding of cars.

The congestion of city roads is unsustainable and is projected to worsen. The BBC reports that 70% of the world’s population “will live in urban areas by 2050”.

How do we cut congestion?

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Auto Manufacturers Ford has recommended that cities address mobility challenges with a “fully integrated transportation operating system”. Their goals for the future of smart cities - or as they call it ‘The City of Tomorrow - are: No accidents, no emissions, no congestion and universal access to mobility - a fully automated approach to a city and its mobility.

The BBC spoke to Peter Coker, vice-president of innovation at KuangChi Science; he is quite certain that jetpacking around town will become a social norm. He said: “Jetpacks will be part of future cities. I see it as being the Uber of the sky.” Pigs might fly too, but if this futuristic innovation does eventuate, fewer drivers will remain on the roads and ease congestion there!

What about the more realistic driverless car, will they ease congestion? Perhaps. They will have the capacity to work out optimal routes and departure times and fewer accidents will certainly prevent resultant traffic jams. The Department of Transport in the United Kingdom says that once the technology is fully adopted, it could reduce congestion by 40%. However, experts believe the driverless vehicles could increase congestion in the short-term as the technology is interwoven with cars with drivers.

While the concept of a smart city is not a new concept, finding a clear definition that can be applied cross-continentally is the bigger challenge, as is applicability. Futurologists might get carried away with their vision of a unified, smart city future, but the emergence of these cities is likely to be impeded by practicalities including decision-makers seeing eye-to-eye and budget constraint.

Works Cited

Concilio, Grazia, and Francesca Rizzo. Human Smart Cities: Rethinking the Interplay between

Design and Planning. Cham: Springer International, 2016. Print.

"Driverless Cars 'to Increase Congestion' Says Government." BBC News. BBC, 06 Jan. 2017. Web. 12 Jan. 2017.

"Media Log In." Ford Partnering with Global Cities on New Transportation; Chariot Shuttle to Be Acquired, Ford GoBike to Launch in San Francisco | Ford Media Center. Web. 13 Jan. 2017.

Wakefield, Jane. "Tomorrow's Cities: What It Feels like to Fly a Jetpack." BBC News. BBC, 11 Jan. 2017. Web. 12 Jan. 2017

Details: Written by: Quintus Potgieter; Category: Developments; Published: 15 January 2017

EIT Stock Image Smart cities are much more than solar-powered street lights triggered when pedestrians walk beneath them.