Etienne Fourie

Experience came first

Etienne’s career developed mainly through practical work in heavy industry and mining. He started in hands-on roles with electrical equipment and gradually took on wider technical and operational responsibilities. He now works as an Electrical Superintendent, dealing with systems that include high-voltage distribution, power generation, protection, and major electrical infrastructure. 

With seniority came harder questions. Etienne was no longer solely working on equipment. He was contributing to decisions about large electrical networks, often with significant consequences if something went wrong. 

That change happened gradually, and so did his decision to study again. 

“I did not simply want to know what works because I had seen it before; I wanted to fully understand why it works from an engineering perspective,” he said. 

Etienne had already built a solid career. He was not looking to start over. What he wanted was a better theoretical foundation for the work he was already doing, especially as the scale and complexity of his responsibilities continued to increase. 

After completing EIT’s 52872WA Advanced Diploma of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering*, he enrolled in EIT’s Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering). The industry focus and flexibility appealed to him, since stepping away from work to attend a traditional university campus was not a practical option. 

The reality of studying while working

Mining operations rarely arrange themselves around a study schedule. An urgent problem at work may take priority, even when an academic deadline is approaching. Etienne also has family responsibilities to consider. 

Time management has therefore been the hardest part of the experience. He describes the balance as one that sometimes requires sacrifice. Recorded lectures help because he can return to difficult topics and fit his study hours around changes at work. 

The arrangement gives him another advantage: he can compare what he learns with the equipment in front of him. Concepts from electrical systems, automation, and control are easier to recognize when similar principles appear in his daily work. 

His experience also helps him make sense of the academic material. In return, the theory gives him another way to examine workplace problems. He now spends more time questioning assumptions and working through the principles involved before settling on an answer. 

“Practical experience develops engineering judgement, while education gives you additional tools to understand and validate that judgement,” Etienne said. 

The synchronous motor was one example. Instead of seeing the calculations as something confined to a textbook, he used them to interpret a real machine with incomplete information. That connection has been one of the most useful parts of studying while remaining in industry. 

Etienne has since progressed into his current superintendent position. He is careful about linking that progress to education alone. His years of experience, performance at work, and leadership development have all played a part. Further study has given him more confidence in technical discussions and helped him contribute at a higher level. 

For now, his goal is to finish his bachelor’s degree while continuing to develop in his role. Over time, he hopes to take on greater responsibility within the engineering industry. He also wants to hold on to the practical background that shaped the early years of his career.

Completing the degree will be another step in his education, rather than a signal that there is nothing left to learn.  

That perspective shapes the advice he gives other working professionals. Waiting until work settles down or family life becomes less demanding may mean waiting indefinitely. 

“Don’t wait for the perfect time to study. There probably isn’t one,” he said. 

His final point is equally direct: “A qualification may open a door, but your ability to understand and apply what you have learned is what ultimately gives that qualification value.”