For years, psychrometric charts were a familiar but frustrating part of Mostert Mutekwa’s work in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. He had first encountered them during his apprenticeship about 15 years earlier, yet applying them confidently remained a challenge. It was through online laboratory activities at the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) that the charts began to make sense.
“Through EIT’s laboratory activities and the clear instructions provided, I was able to understand and use psychrometric charts much more effectively,” Mostert says. For a technician whose work depends on understanding HVAC systems, that was a practical gain he could carry beyond the classroom.
Now based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, Mostert works as an HVAC technician in the mining sector. He completed EIT’s 52884WA Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering Technology online in 2024. His goal was to build on his trade experience with a deeper understanding of the engineering principles behind the systems he works with.
Building on Years of Trade Experience
Mostert came to engineering study with years of hands-on experience in HVAC and refrigeration. He already knew the demands of technical work, but wanted to understand more of the design, analysis and decision-making that shape it.
“My background is in HVAC and Refrigeration, which is an engineering trade, and I wanted to build on my practical experience by developing a stronger understanding of engineering principles and their wider applications,” he says.
EIT’s industry-focused approach appealed to him because he could study while continuing to work. That flexibility mattered: alongside a full-time job, he also had family responsibilities. Finding enough time and energy for each was one of the hardest parts of the course.
“Good time management, discipline and the support of my family helped me stay focused and keep progressing, even during busy periods,” he says.
When the Learning Clicked
Mostert remembers the Applied Fundamentals of Engineering Practice modules, particularly the laboratory software and practical activities. The psychrometric chart exercise stands out because it helped resolve a difficulty that had followed him since his apprenticeship.
The virtual group discussions were another important part of his experience. Working with students from different backgrounds gave him a chance to hear how others approached engineering problems and to share the challenges he had encountered in industry. He says those discussions also helped him develop his teamwork and time-management skills.
Together, the laboratory work and conversations connected new engineering concepts with the practical experience he had already gained. They gave him more confidence in applying what he learned in his field.
Finding a Path Forward in Australia
Furthering his engineering education had been a long-standing personal goal for Mostert, but pursuing it was difficult while he lived in Africa. Moving to Australia opened a path to study, although settling into a new country brought financial pressures of its own.
An EIT scholarship and support through the BHP Regional Education and Skills Program helped ease that burden. Mostert is proud to have completed the advanced diploma and progressed to becoming an Engineering Associate while balancing work and family life.
He sees the qualification as a step in a longer journey. Next, he hopes to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, drawing on the foundation he built through EIT.
“My journey has been about continuing to learn and grow despite the challenges of moving countries, working full-time and supporting a family,” he says. From his HVAC trade background to his next ambition in engineering, Mostert’s progress has come from making room to learn, then putting that learning to work.
*VSL approved course, maximum tuition fee for Australian students: AUD $12,112.00
This article was published October 20th, 2026 and the content is current as at the date of publication.
