Clifford Harrington

Pursuing a Doctor of Engineering degree at the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) while balancing work and family commitments can be challenging. Clifford Harrington is proof it can be done with careful planning and discipline.

In this interview with EIT Doctorate program student Clifford Harrington, he discusses the benefits of studying at EIT, the challenges of pursuing a rigorous Doctorate degree, and his future career aspirations.

He also shares some wisdom for aspiring engineering students pursuing advanced degrees in multiple disciplines and pays homage to Richard E Morley, a mentor, and former EIT lecturer.

Why did you choose EIT for your studies?

I needed to support my family, so stopping work to study wasn’t an option. EIT allowed me to study while working without affecting my family’s financial security. EIT was the only online study option when I started, and they have since become a staple for online professional degrees.

During COVID-19, while many universities struggled with online learning, EIT’s existing platform remained reliable and effective. My success with EIT has inspired three tradespeople in my workplace to enroll themselves.

What challenges have you encountered during your studies, and how have you tackled them?

Time management and focus can be challenges. Learning to pool your resources and exercise discipline throughout the process is critical to seeing things through. Many things can distract you from being focused; you must prioritize what is most beneficial to you in the long run and keep working towards that. At the doctoral level, you have the support and advice of professors. However, your progress depends entirely on your personal, organizational skills and work ethic.

How has your diverse educational background enriched your doctoral research and studies?

The diverse educational pathway I took is important in contributing to the doctoral program and, specifically, the thesis and research, as complex engineering systems always consolidate multiple engineering disciplines to coordinate a highly effective operational plant or subsystem. A diverse knowledge base enables engineers to interface across disciplines and exchange information contributing to the overall success of research, development, and company goals.

Tell us how you stay focused, motivated, and productive while pursuing your education.

Create a comfortable workspace, and make sure the lighting is good. Invest in the best affordable computing power. Latency in your PC operations will frustrate you. Ensure you have the best internet plan with the fastest possible speeds. Manage your time and health, go to the gym, jog, and get sunlight. It all contributes to your well-being. Look at time spent developing yourself as a solid investment.

I have a hobby, I make time every year to work on my project cars, rebuild the transmissions and engines, repair rust panels and paint, rewire, do electronic repairs, upgrade, and get them better than new. This serves as an outlet for my interests and satisfies my need to engage in the physical work element.

How has your EIT experience contributed to your professional development and career growth?

My career has never been static. It has been dynamic as my goals changed. Developing an academic portfolio strengthens your network of professional options and choices. You are more confident of your capacity to perform and execute scopes of work effectively. Your contribution is valued within the workplace and rewarded financially. In your workspace, you will experience more job satisfaction.

In what ways has EIT benefited your education regarding resources, research opportunities, and collaborations?

The professors you collaborate with are the most valuable resource and source of encouragement. The online Remote Labs with multiple software platforms are also a great way to gain access to otherwise very expensive programs. Access to IEEE Xplore journals, Knovel (Elsevier), IDC technical engineering manuals, free online workshops, and eLibrary is an extensive network of resources.

Any advice you have for engineering students pursuing advanced degrees in multiple disciplines?

If you have a passion for a particular engineering field, pursue it. Remember, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day. Studying a subject you are interested in will be enjoyable and less burdensome. Use your studies to question your motivations, justify your choices, and plan your career path. Tradespeople should know that studying while working is a viable path to an engineering career without years of lost income.

This option benefits not only the individual but also their workplace and community. Focusing on one area as a specialist can lead to limiting factors like a smaller window of opportunity for contracts. Embracing diversity in your work experience allows you to interface across multiple engineering platforms and lead interesting new projects with multiple teams, such as image processing, convolutional neural networks, and project planning. This work-life satisfaction is worth it if you’re comfortable working across multiple engineering platforms.

What are your future career aspirations after completing your DEng program?

My commitment to continuous learning has been acknowledged by my line manager, who referred to me as a ‘lifetime learner’. I find learning new things intriguing and have discovered that expanding my academic profile is necessary to stay engaged and avoid boredom. This has led me to consider pursuing post-graduate computer science or reliability engineering degrees. Academic development has opened doors for increased employment opportunities and provided me with higher thinking and better problem-solving methods.

I now approach problems with clearer thought patterns, established procedures, due diligence, and academic rigor. This academic journey has also contributed significantly to my personal development; I can now confidently make informed decisions, reducing risks and threats in all future endeavors. One particularly important module to me was engineering ethics, which emphasizes aligning a company’s goals and societal and environmental well-being. As an engineer, my work should always benefit industry, society, and human endeavors while prioritizing safety.

Do you have a favorite engineering joke or a light-hearted anecdote to share?

The optimist says: “The glass is half full.”
The pessimist says: “The glass is half empty.”
The engineer says: “The glass is twice as big as it needs to be.”