This year two student ambassadors were selected to represent the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT), Aaron Brook and Douglas Mugweni.
In this profile piece, we are proud to introduce Douglas Mugweni. During 2020, Douglas completed EIT's Master of Engineering (Industrial Automation).
Douglas grew up in Zimbabwe, and his early interest in maths and science led to his flourishing career as an engineer. He holds a B.Eng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering from the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
“I love the fact that engineers are real agents of change in our society, and I’m proud to be part of it. Advances in industrial automation and machine learning are transforming the world through digitalisation and artificial intelligence,” he shared.
He believes AI, 5G technology and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and computing devices are unleashing a new digital world that is very symbiotic. It was completing his degree online through EIT that made it easier for him to adapt to the new digital normal during COVID-19.
“Last year I had just completed my studies with EIT so I had been used to the online way of doing things. Switching most of my work deliverables and meetings online was not difficult,” he says.
Douglas is currently a System Engineer for the national energy provider in South Africa, Eskom, fitting to his stance that electricity is still the greatest invention by humans.
“The discovery of the production of electricity by Michael Faraday and the conversion of it into other forms of energy enables all other technologies that are emerging today like electric vehicles, 5G, IIoT, Edge Computing and robotics.”
Douglas is an advocate for education, because it leads to advancements in the workplace.
“By acquiring new knowledge and skills, your knowledge and self-confidence as well as productivity increases. I also think your contribution to group discussions will improve and this also increases your visibility and could lead to more opportunities for promotions and career growth,” he says.
He’s also been serving as a board member at his daughter’s school – further entrenching the idea that education is important.
“I would also really love to use my education through participation in voluntary associations like EIT and professional bodies to change lives of the less privileged in our society and also to raise the profile of engineers in society,” he says.
Douglas is a Senior Member of the South African Institution of Electrical Engineers (SMSAIEE) and a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in the UK – but also keeps track of other engineering bodies. He allows for up to two hours every day to read articles from SAIEE, IET, and the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), keeping him informed when something new happens in the field.
“I have learned that a career in engineering requires you to have a curious mind and an appetite for continuous learning and professional development in order to remain relevant and effective in today’s fast changing global society.”
This year, except for being a student ambassador Douglas aims to participate more in voluntary professional bodies to raise the profile of engineering and engineers.
“Engineering is about spending effort in the design and creation of goods and services that will lead to a better society by meeting the needs of individuals in society,” he says.
We are very proud to introduce Douglas Mugweni as one of our 2021 Student Ambassadors. His dedication and motivation to lifelong learning is an admirable quality that we should all strive for.
We wish him luck for the coming year and will continue to follow his journey to more elevated positions within the engineering sector.
