Dr. Steve Mackay is the founder of the Engineering Institute of Technology. He firmly believes in Nelson Mandela’s mantra that, “Education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world.” His leadership has inspired EIT’s unique and distinctive approach to engineering education.

Since 2008 three core objectives define the essence of the institute:

Collaborating comprehensively with industry to ensure graduates are job-ready.
Employing platforms of learning to facilitate student accessibility and engagement.
Keeping the business of education student-centric.

Dr. Mackay has enjoyed a varied career in engineering, having worked in automation, data acquisition, instrumentation, data communications, and process control throughout Australia, Europe, Africa, and North America over the past 35 years. He has successfully pioneered the application of new technologies in Australia and overseas, installing industrial data communication systems and implementing live online education, (including remote laboratories), for engineering students worldwide. Dr. Mackay has been involved in a range of industries, including power stations, mining, mineral processing, oil/gas/petrochemical plants, and platforms. He has presented courses on industrial data communications, data acquisition, instrumentation, and process control to over 30,000 engineers and technicians worldwide for clients such as NASA, Rolls Royce, and BP. He has also co-authored and edited 25 engineering books that have been published across the world. Dr. Mackay is a Fellow of Engineers Australia with a license to practice as a Chemical, Mechanical, and Electrical Chartered Professional Engineer. As Dean of the Engineering Institute of Technology, Dr. Mackay leads the institute in providing microcredentials and engineering qualifications to over 2000 students per year from 140 countries. He has an unswerving focus on student outcomes and on excellence in education.

Learning how to become a leader

June 14, 2018 7:55 am
Can leadership be inherited? Can leadership be learned?  In a study published in 2013 by Science Direct, the answer to both those questions is ‘yes’ - but learning how to lead significantly outweighs the likelihood of the former working without some input. The researchers of the paper entitled, Born to...Read More

Australia’s 1.3GW renewable energy platform coming soon

June 11, 2018 11:07 am
110,000 Australian homes are to be powered by renewable energy sources before the end of 2018. Much of this is thanks to Partners Group - the global private market investment manager. They will be investing a total of AUD$700 million in a renewable energy platform named the Grassroots Renewable Energy...Read More

Paul Celenza – thoughts on building the hybrid college of the future

June 8, 2018 11:39 am
Paul Celenza is the College Manager at the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT); he has worked for the college for eight years. Upon a recent visit to South Africa, Paul reflected on eight years of change and innovation in the education sector and revealed more about EIT’s novel approach to...Read More

The (new) tallest building in the world

June 8, 2018 11:28 am
The world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, is about to be dethroned. 1,200 miles away, a new tower is nearing its completion in Saudi Arabia. In 2020, the tallest building in the world, the Jeddah Tower measuring in at one kilometer, will open. That is if engineers can...Read More

The largest, most efficient 3D printer in the world debuts

June 8, 2018 11:16 am
A startup in Melbourne, Australia, has introduced the world’s biggest 3D printer. The company in question is Titomic; they are experts in industrial scale additive manufacturing. They boast that they also have the industry’s fastest metal 3D printing production line. Source: Titomic They specialize in titanium, of course. They print...Read More

The 4G automated warehouse of the future is here

June 8, 2018 11:06 am
If you aren’t utilizing a service that delivers your groceries to your door now, you most likely will use one in the future. Thanks to automation, you won’t have to cast your mind to the nonexistent workers that are packaging all of your groceries up for you - because all...Read More

Order up! Engineering graduates open automated restaurant

June 8, 2018 10:46 am
Food and beverage processing has been achieved by heavy duty machinery controlled by ‘robots’ for many years. Now the world is poised to experience an automated dining experience. With the rise of automation the kitchen is beginning to look different. Not only are the chefs and kitchen staff being replaced...Read More

Insect robots have taken flight

June 6, 2018 11:44 am
Ahead of the International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Brisbane, Australia, a group of engineers from the University of Washington have announced something that might have tongues wagging at the conference. They are releasing a study they have conducted that will show the feasibility of wireless, flying, robot insects....Read More

Engineering companies face new data protection laws

June 6, 2018 11:29 am
If you start an engineering company today a lot of your operations - both on-site and at the enterprise levels of your business - are vulnerable to being hacked. This is due to the number of technologies which are connected to a cloud-based or internet-connected framework. The infrastructural technologies of...Read More

Things to Do in Perth this Winter

June 6, 2018 11:15 am
While Perth is known for its beaches, wildlife and hiking trails, the cold and wet weather doesn’t always make these activities seem so appealing. So, we’ve come up with a list of things to do which will keep you warm and dry this winter. AQWA Source: Explore Tours Perth The...Read More

How Engineers Pumped Water to the Goldfields

May 28, 2018 1:25 pm
The Swan River Colony was settled in 1829, and in its first 60 years Western Australia made little progress. In 1881 the state had a population of less than 30,000 people, however by 1911 the Source: Goldfields Tourism Network population had grown to 282,000. This was a result of the...Read More

Top Free Tourist Attractions in Perth

May 21, 2018 3:36 pm
Perth is home to many natural attractions, including bush walks, beaches and waterfalls. Here are some of the top places you can visit for free. Kings Park and Botanic Garden  Source: Lonely Planet This is one of the largest inner city parks in the world, boasting a total area of...Read More

Fremantle’s Engineering Marvels

May 18, 2018 10:58 am
The port city of Fremantle is located approximately 25 minutes from Perth’s CBD and has played a large part in Western Australia’s history. In 1829, Captain Charles Fremantle claimed the West Coast of Australia under the British Crown. That same year, the first British settlers arrived on the shores of...Read More

Seasteading: the floating civil engineering future?

May 18, 2018 8:48 am
With population numbers expected to rise exponentially, and the global growth of the middle class to continue, the topic of the sustainability of resources becomes more pertinent. More cities are needed, functioning infrastructure must be available, and it must all reflect the hallmarks of modern civilization. However, it has become...Read More

Russia’s first floating nuclear power plant

May 18, 2018 8:05 am
As Vladimir Putin gets another six years in the seat as the Russian President, Russian engineers tow something through the Baltic Sea, something the world has never seen before. The metal giant in tow has the symbol of an atom tattooed to its exterior, which onlookers know can only mean...Read More

Keeping the lights on in South Africa

May 17, 2018 8:13 am
A vast number of jobs are potentially on the chopping block in South Africa: engineering professionals, senior project managers, energy storage specialists, coal truck drivers, technicians, asset managers, operations officers, and others. They are seriously threatened if the state-owned power utility, Eskom, restructures its operations. Presently it powers 95 percent...Read More

Exploring the Eastern Railroad in Perth’s Hills

May 11, 2018 8:13 am
The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail follows part of the Eastern Railway Deviation from Bellevue to Wooroloo in the Perth Hills. It’s unique in that the trail is a 41 kilometre loop built entirely on railway formations — however there are multiple entry points, so it’s possible to complete smaller sections. The...Read More

What Inspired You to Become an Engineer?

May 9, 2018 2:07 pm
We have been asking EIT’s resident engineers to share with us the object that inspired their engineering career or the tool that has helped them the most throughout their career. Below is a video of EIT’s Dean Steve Mackay telling us about the book that ignited his passion for engineering...Read More

How to Increase you Study Skills in your Lunch Break

May 8, 2018 2:32 pm
How to Increase you Study Skills in your Lunch Break  Go for a Walk Don't sit still for too long - get up and go for a short walk in your lunch break! This will help you to clear your mind, de-stress and re-energise so you're focused when you get...Read More

Engineers simulate Mars for future missions

May 7, 2018 9:03 am
1969 was a big year for the engineers and scientists at NASA; the year they enabled humans to reach the Moon. Next year, it will be 50 years since Apollo 11 touched down on that lunar surface. This year the goal is Mars, although the players look a little different...Read More

Engineers simulate Mars for future missions

May 7, 2018 9:03 am
1969 was a big year for the engineers and scientists at NASA; the year they enabled humans to reach the Moon. Next year, it will be 50 years since Apollo 11 touched down on that lunar surface. This year the goal is Mars, although the players look a little different...Read More

Places to Spot Wildlife in Perth

May 3, 2018 4:14 pm
Many of Australia’s native wildlife species happily live in Perth. This includes kangaroos, wallabies, possums, black swans, quokkas, birdlife, reptiles and even koalas. Plus our oceans are home to much marine life such as dolphins, sea lions and tropical fish. Here is a list of the best places to go...Read More

A good outlook for online training and education in South Africa

May 1, 2018 8:29 am
The validity of any engineering education and training institution lies in the accreditation of its courses. An ongoing mission for qualification boards around the world is to find providers that are truly educating and training up to spec, and to flag those which are problematic. Technological advancement has enabled education...Read More

Must-See Museums in Perth

April 26, 2018 12:28 pm
With the weather cooling down as winter approaches Perth, it’s time to find some good indoor activities. Why not visit some of our museums? With subjects ranging from vintage video games and cricket, to trains and submarines, there’s something for everyone. The Nostalgia Box Video Game MuseumThis museum showcases over...Read More

A brief glimpse into Engineering AI

April 20, 2018 9:04 am
It was once the stuff of science fiction novels and films, but artificial intelligence and robot sentience are here and developing fast. A range of experts are responsible, including engineers. This burgeoning reality is presenting the world with advantages that cannot be understated, but we also need to remain vigilant....Read More

Grammar 101 - A presentation packed with grammar hints and tips

April 18, 2018 9:08 am
The staff at EIT in Perth, Western Australia recently participated in a grammar workshop presented by Danielle Techera our Project and Resources Officer.If you are looking for some hints and tips on how to improve your English grammar please watch this informative PowerPoint presentation. This is an embedded Microsoft Office...Read More

Perth’s Best Markets

April 16, 2018 3:32 pm
If you’re looking for something to do in Perth, why not check out one of our marketplaces? From souvenirs and artisan handcrafts, to fresh produce, food trucks and live entertainment, there’s something happening in every corner of the metropolitan area. Fremantle Markets  The Fremantle Markets have been running for over...Read More

Engineering students invent answer to winter biking

April 16, 2018 3:06 pm
As the northern hemisphere looks forward to a much deserved summer, innovators in engineering and technology are looking to make subsequent winters a little less hazardous for some. Source: Pixabay.com The engineering students at the University of Calgary in Canada are devising ways to keep cyclists and their bicycles safer...Read More

Sixteen Engineering Blunders

April 13, 2018 9:55 am
The Vasa Source: Vasa Museet This Swedish ship was constructed between 1626 and 1628 and intended to be part of the Royal Swedish Navy. However, it only got 1300 metres into its maiden voyage before it capsized and sank. King Gustavus Adolphus oversaw the project and put tight time constraints...Read More

“What a man can do, so can a woman”

April 13, 2018 9:42 am
Mulweli Yolanda Mafukata went from a high school nestled away on a farm, to studying towards a career in engineering in a big city. On the 8th of January 2018, she tweeted an image of herself on-site, wearing a hard hat, high visibility vest, and a pair of robust boots....Read More