Rincy George

Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) student Rincy George chats about her inspiring journey studying Industrial Automation, highlighting the unique perspective women can bring to engineering and offering advice to aspiring students.

What motivated you to pursue an online 52886WA: Advanced Diploma in Industrial Automation Engineering with EIT while working?

My career has been focused on Process Instrumentation for the last couple of years. I have always wanted to learn more about the wider concept of Industrial Automation and expand my knowledge. While looking for options for providing distance education, I came across EIT’s brochure. The course content was very impressive.

Could you share why you chose EIT for your Advanced Diploma studies in industrial automation?

An Australian degree has always been of interest. But one must choose a legitimate institute while looking for online education options. One could easily fall into traps these days. I did a lot of research and background study on EIT. I could only find helpful reviews. EIT also had a flexible payment plan where I could pay my fees in monthly installments over the duration of the course.

How do you balance your work responsibilities, personal life, and studying for your online program?

It is not easy; I must tell you. It is particularly important to follow a proper schedule and set aside at least an hour for daily studies. My hybrid work model and EIT’s flexible class timings helped me manage my classes. Some days can be busy at work or home, but EIT always provides the option of attending recorded classes without losing attendance. This makes it very convenient for professionals to manage work and studies smoothly.

Have you faced challenges as a woman in engineering, and how did you overcome them?

My work experiences are mostly related to sales and proposals of engineering solutions. Women often faced common challenges, including a lack of representation, opting out of opportunities to maintain a work-life balance, and encountering limited networking prospects.

However, the current generation need not be worried too much about these factors. The industry has advanced a lot now. If you have an open mind to learn and experience new opportunities, nothing can stop you from developing your career.

What unique perspectives do women bring to engineering, and how can they break through gender barriers?

Increasing women’s representation in all engineering fields is especially important to improve the diversity of thoughts. Women have natural problem-solving, collaboration, organized thinking, and communication skills. Women should open themselves to more exposure and networking opportunities. Women should also not shy out to discuss our achievements or highlight the values we can add to a position or job.

In what ways has your diploma from EIT enhanced your professional career?

It helped me look at the Automation Industry from a wider perspective. Coming from a background where my focus has been on Instrumentation all these years, the course exposed me to different topics. I developed a personal interest in SCADA [supervisory control and data acquisition] and Telemetry and understood how the different pieces of the puzzle fit together.

Can you provide some insights into your strategies for staying organized and efficient while juggling work, home life, and studying?

For my course, EIT offers live online classes in three different time zones daily. I used to select the early morning classes, where I got some quiet time from home and office routines. The classes were appropriately timed to an hour. After putting my kids to sleep in the evenings, I tried spending 30-45 minutes reading and attempting my assignments.

Following a proper schedule helps one in completing the assignments without much hassle. There were situations where I had to go through medical appointments or important project submissions at work, which delayed my assignment submissions. But EIT’s learning support officers are always generous in providing deadline extensions, which helped me. The lecturers can also be contacted through email to clear your doubts. The staffs of EIT are very responsive and happy to help always.

Are there any specific resources or support systems you have found particularly helpful during your studies at EIT?

EIT’s library has a wide array of books, additional resources, and journals for reading. They also have simulated labs that we can pre-book and use as much as we want for additional practice.

What advice would you give young women aspiring to enter engineering, particularly in industrial automation?

Industrial Automation is a great field to pursue your engineering. It is evolving so rapidly that you will not feel bored at all! Open yourself to education, experience, and exposure. Try to learn from your seniors and mentors and spend time reading and keeping updated with the latest technologies. Everyone out there is ready to help. All we need to do is ask.