While everyone correctly marvels at the brand-new Faculty of Engineering building, the Department of Electrical Engineering has been quietly learning to use its new equipment to enhance their students’ skills.
Industrial Technician, Nokuthula Msweli, said the department was given a five-day training, that started on 1 March 2023, at one of its new laboratories.
“This is an AS-interface and IO-link training. AS-Interface is smart wiring solution, which is used by industry,” said Msweli.
The machine covers the industrial networking requirements, which are AS-interface, IO-link, Modbus TCP, EtherNet IP, Mqtt, OPC UA and DA, and JSON coding. Msweli said the training brings Automation world to the Information Technology world. Industries such as Clover are now fully utilizing this equipment, Msweli said. Msweli also said that they needed the training to bridge the gap between universities and industries.
Like industry, MUT will now use the latest technology, and this will have a positive spin-off; it will increase the employability of students from S2 and S3 level and Advanced Diploma students.
“The same equipment is used to train customers from different industries,” said Msweli.
The training was conducted by Soh Mntambo, an MUT graduate who now works at IFM Electronic.
Msweli said that having students learn to work on the new equipment would bring their skillset to a world standard, particularly as everyone is moving towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), a time when most communication is done wirelessly.