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.

AI Won't Restart Your Plant

AI Won’t Restart Your Plant

May 4, 2026 4:31 pm
Practical instrumentation skills matter more than ever and your ability to troubleshoot is critical. The scaremongering has reached a crescendo; with the assertion that AI tools will replace knowledge-based professionals, including engineers. I don’t deny that AI is becoming increasingly sophisticated - including the ubiquitous ChatGPT - but the reality...Read More

AI in Engineering – No Immediate Solutions for Specific Projects

April 19, 2024 3:14 pm
One of the hottest shares at present is that of NVIDIA – a company prominent in the manufacturing of processors for use in AI – demonstrating that the AI hype has captured our imagination and is being enthusiastically embraced. It all began as a slow burn, but has been building...Read More

Artificial Intelligence in Industrial Automation: From Chatbots to Plant Chums and Hallucinations

May 29, 2023 7:38 pm
EIT Dean, Dr. Steve Mackay, explores the substantial potential of artificial intelligence in industrial automation. He underscores AI's transformative capabilities in optimizing processes and enhancing efficiency, allowing for more streamlined operations. Additionally, Dr. Mackay highlights the advancements AI brings to predictive maintenance, enabling industries to anticipate equipment failures and perform...Read More

The Next Big Driver for Instrumentation and Control: The ESG Criteria in Engineering 

September 30, 2022 10:36 am
The set of standards known as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Criteria may be considered an unnecessary distraction by hardened instrumentation and control engineering professionals. There is, however, a tsunami of demand globally to demonstrate these principles in an organizational setting, and almost a third of all professionally managed assets...Read More

Dean’s Letter: Never Waste a Good Crisis in Engineering Education

December 10, 2021 8:33 am
Dear Colleagues, The Queen wryly spoke of an Annus Horribilis when referring to her familial strife some years back. 2021 has been similarly challenging for our global community; a year full of stops and starts - a disconcerting mingling of hope and despair. Some pundits have remarked that one should...Read More

Artificial Intelligence – A Considered Approach

August 25, 2021 2:42 pm
Dear Colleagues In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (and Machine Learning) has been touted as the panacea for process plants: using instrumentation to gather the data and automated systems to effect improvements to the operations. There have been huge advances and some great successes, but maintaining a healthy cynicism is essential....Read More

EIT graduate celebrates an ongoing life in engineering

September 11, 2020 8:32 am
Ray Crawshaw is an engineer who currently works in the mining industry in Australia. He is also an Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) alumnus, having studied our 52883WA - Advanced Diploma of Applied Electrical Engineering (Electrical System) Master of Engineering (Industrial Automation). Ray has spent his working life pursuing more...Read More

Another reason to take the stairs? Elevators in a pandemic

August 17, 2020 12:12 pm
It is estimated that in the United States alone, elevators travel up to 4.5 million miles every single day. The 31st of July is International Talk In An Elevator Day — it encourages people to engage with someone in an elevator, instead of looking down at their devices and ignoring...Read More

Segway ends production of its iconic two wheeler

August 17, 2020 11:40 am
It was hailed as the next giant leap for personal transportation. Now, it seems, the idea has become redundant. The Segway PT was a one-person electric vehicle that was brought to market in 2001 — with extreme hype and expectation. Nineteen years later, the self-balancing, two-wheeled personal transporter is being...Read More

Lighting the path forward for illumination engineers

August 17, 2020 11:01 am
Lighting design brings together art and science: requiring the designer to apply both creative, visually appealing, and effective spaces. Lighting professionals work in a variety of roles and project areas: malls, hospitals, residences, roads, tunnels, sports arenas, and more. The Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) is offering a 52856WA -...Read More