Some Feedback & News from Past Students

 

Chats with Past & Current Students
 

In this new section you have the opportunity to listen to EIT students talk about the reality of the advanced diploma programs. Discussion is a wide-ranging and includes information about the study commitment required, the value of the qualification in their careers, the relevance of the subject matter, future pathways, and more. Listen to these short sessions to get some valuable feedback before you enrol!

 

 

---

 

WILL THAT ADVANCED DIPLOMA PROGRAM REALLY BOOST MY CAREER?

 

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.

---

Hazardous Areas Only in Africa

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.”

---

FATHER AND SON CHOOSE HIGH-TECH STUDY & SAY: “GO FOR IT

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 IDC Technologies’ 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 IDC Technologies 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 e-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.”
 
IDC Technologies’ course 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 e-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.”

---

Engineer, 70 Years Young, Attends Classes Online

 

Steve’s Career to date

Icebergs and wildlife tempt distraction from studies

---