Martin Mutale works in the mining industry.
He began his career with a craft certificate in electrical systems. After working for five years, he pursued a diploma in electrical engineering at a university in Zambia, which he did not complete.
After another seven years in the industry he realised that he had to upskill. Through the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) Martin now has two qualifications, a Professional Certificate in PLCs and SCADA Systems and an Advanced Diploma of Applied Electrical Systems.
Mutale is proud to claim that he can ‘design and develop a project to completion’ with the skills he has gained through work and study. It is also clear, however, that his love for the industry enables him; he describes his project work as fascinating, ‘from installation to commissioning.’
Mutale notes that the flexibility of EIT’s training curriculum allowed him to study and work at the same time. When he understood that he needed to gain professional development, he also knew he had to continue to work; finding EIT facilitated both.
Martin has always regarded a career in engineering his dream. He believes that studying through EIT was merely a logical step towards furthering his ambitions in the field. He said:
“Throughout my working years, I have been exposed to a lot of engineering systems and yet I had no higher education. When I shared this with my wife, she was like the one doing the course - she was so supportive! The day I started learning, that was the day I started applying the skills EIT equips you with.”
Martin is now mulling over the possibility of pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He notes, however, that in order to do this he needs to find the correct balance between being a father and studying.