Some of Louis Erasmus’ earliest engineering lessons took place beside his father, long before he entered the industry himself. His father worked as a fitter and turner, and Louis often helped him in the workshop and around cars. Those experiences left him wanting to understand how mechanical systems worked.
“I inherited my interest for mechanical engineering from my father when I was just a little boy,” Louis recalled.
That early curiosity eventually led him into engineering consultancy. Louis began his career as a trainee draftsman and has spent the past eight years progressing through the field. During that time, he worked for a company specializing in food and feed processing equipment, where he had the opportunity to join the design team.
The experience changed the way he saw his future. Working closely with mechanical equipment showed him how much there was still to learn. It also confirmed that design was the direction he wanted to pursue.
Building knowledge around full-time work
Louis wanted to strengthen his technical foundation without stepping away from his career. Finding a course that could fit around consultancy deadlines and long working hours was therefore important.
He enrolled in EIT’s 52884WA Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering Technology*, delivered online. The format allowed him to continue working while studying after hours. Access to two class sessions during the day also gave him some room to adjust when a busy week arrived.
“If I know the week ahead is going to be busy at work, the two classes during the day make it easier for me to plan my daily tasks around whichever class suits me most,” he said.
Being able to open study materials or attend a class from his phone has helped on days when work disrupted his usual plans. Still, balancing the two commitments has not always been easy. Consultancy work can bring tight deadlines, and assignments compete with long hours. Louis found that the course structure suited the realities of balancing study with full-time work and helped him keep moving forward.
Lessons he can use the next day
The practical focus of the course has been especially useful in Louis’ daily work. Studying hydraulics and pneumatic systems introduced him to simulation programs that can be used to model real equipment. In consultancy, where the next project may bring an unfamiliar problem, these tools give him another way to examine possible solutions.
Structural mechanics and mechanical drive systems also stood out. Louis regularly works with equipment such as conveyors, so learning how to calculate forces gave him a stronger basis for making design decisions. He could then use those calculations when specifying suitable original equipment manufacturer parts.
“The course work is so well set out and practical orientated, I can take what I learned and apply it the next day at work,” he said.
As his studies progressed, Louis began taking part in bigger projects and working with people from other areas of expertise. Meeting fellow students and lecturers from different parts of the world also widened his view of where an engineering career could lead.
Designing what comes next
Louis now wants to gain more responsibility across the full life of a project. One of his short-term goals is to oversee both design and installation, giving him more practical insight into how robust mechanical systems are developed and put into operation.
His plans for further study have grown alongside that ambition. After completing the advanced diploma, he hopes to enroll in EIT’s Bachelor of Science (Mechanical Engineering) and eventually specialize in design
His long-term goal reaches beyond one workplace or country. Louis wants to build a career that allows him to design and consult on projects around the world.
His advice to other students reflects the determination that has carried him from his father’s workshop into mechanical design.
“Never stop dreaming, never stop chasing and never give up,” he said, “because opportunities open up for you where and when you least expect it.”
*VSL approved course, maximum tuition fee for Australian students: AUD $12,112.00
This article was published September 15th, 2026 and the content is current as at the date of publication.
