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.

The Engineering Career Ladder is Dead – the Lattice is In

January 17, 2017 12:40 pm
Dear Colleagues As a young engineer I used to sometimes ponder on the long torturous career (ladder) path one could follow in ‘the firm’ – no matter whether you were an electrician, technician or engineer.  I worked for a huge company (De Beers) mining and selling gem diamonds with billions...Read More

The Smart City Condundrum

January 15, 2017 2:35 pm
Smart cities are much more than solar-powered street lights triggered when pedestrians walk beneath them.   Smart cities refer to cities that use the latest in technological innovation in infrastructure and IT systems, and the Internet of Things, interspersed with environmentally-friendly nature-inspired elements.    However, to design a smart city,...Read More

Higher Education and the Brain Drain

January 12, 2017 9:09 am
Higher education is changing because governments are changing. The benefit from higher education, for the individual and the country, where the qualification is put to work, is invaluable. Building toward a brighter future for oneself, whilst growing an economy, makes higher education the main vehicle that drives up the potential...Read More

Direct Current Making a Feisty Comeback against Alternating Current

January 3, 2017 2:56 pm
The Art of Support: EIT’s Learning Support Officers InformationCategory Education10 September 2020Written by: Quintus Potgieter The Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) is a unique global institute, delivering online engineering short courses, diplomas, and degrees. Students around the world log into EIT’s synchronous online virtual campus to network with other... Read...Read More

Engineering Amazing Possibilities Driven by Lower Surface Tension

December 27, 2016 2:59 pm
That virtually unheard of quantity - surface tension - is the cause of enormous costs in the engineering world and a slight reduction in this rather arcane ‘force’ could save billions of dollars. Dear Colleagues That virtually unheard of quantity - surface tension - is the cause of enormous costs...Read More

Engineer Success by Continual Failure

December 20, 2016 3:01 pm
“We are spurred on by the impossible” may be a fairly trite throw away line from Dyson’s Director of Energy Storage Development (Bruce Brenner). But it does show the attitude of the company driven by James Dyson in pioneering new inventions which are also commercialised with great success. As many...Read More

Neurosurgeons and Engineers to eliminate brain disease together

December 13, 2016 3:31 pm
A recent article (detailed below) in Engineering.com titled Engineering Implantable Devices for the Brain, caught our eye. It looks at the collaboration of a Paediatric Neurosurgeon and an Electrical Engineer determined to help eliminate brain disease by building brain implants. Biomedical engineering is in growing demand with shortages of both...Read More

FREE Webinar: Understanding and Using Lithium Rechargeable Batteries

December 13, 2016 3:28 pm
  FREE WEBINAR   |   6TH APRIL   |   9AM UTC   There has been a lot of news coverage in recent months about the dangers of Lithium rechargeable batteries – mostly related to fires on some motorized toys. Are all Lithium batteries the same? Join guest presenter, Simon Chan (Chief Engineer...Read More

Digitally Hunting for an Engineering or Technology Job

December 13, 2016 3:26 pm
Steve Mackay, Dean of Engineering at EIT and sister company, IDC Technologies enjoys writing his weekly blog including useful tips and current industry matters for his fellow engineering colleagues. With a loyal and expanding following base reaching over 600,000 people around the world, click here to read all of Steve's...Read More

Applications Now Open for EIT’s Master of Engineering (Electrical Systems)

December 13, 2016 3:23 pm
  The Master of Engineering (Electrical Systems) has a confirmed 2016 start date. On the 27th of June the first cohort of approved students will embark on this long awaited program. EIT is very proud to introduce the lecturers for the degree; highly experienced industry experts and passionate academics. Among...Read More