27 Jul 2018
We continue our series meeting engineering academics from tertiary institutions around New Zealand. This month we catch up with Yusuf Khan, Lead Engineering Tutor at Western Institute of Technology (WITT) in Taranaki. Yusuf is a Member of Engineering New Zealand.
What is your role at WITT?
At present, I am a Lead Engineering Tutor & Senior Academic Staff Member of NZDE Mechanical & Electrical programme. Prior to becoming an academic, you were in the aviation industry.
Tell us a little bit more about that time.
I am ex-Indian Air Force officer in the rank of Squadron Leader in Aeronautical Engineering branch. I am trained in Aeronautical Engineering with various other specialist courses like EMI/EMC test Engineer, Guided Weapon Engineer, Electronic Warfare to name a few. I served for 10 years leading the engineering team on Russian and Western origin aircraft systems.
What attracted you to the world of academia?
I didn’t realise until I started studying in a group during my post grad studies in Auckland. My peers observed my hidden talent and skills in and encouraged me to continue in academia.
What do you do in a typical day as an engineering academic?
Revise lesson plans, including latest examples from the real world of engineering, to be shared in the class on the specific topic of the day.
How do you encourage your engineering students to get involved with Engineering New Zealand?
Firstly, to register as a student member on day 1 of the course, and make them participate along with me in the Engineering New Zealand local branch activities – the latest was Young Engineers pool night.
As an academic, how have you got involved with Engineering New Zealand over the years?
I have been member of Engineering New Zealand for last six years for teaching and while doing my Master of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering from AUT in the final stage of thesis submission.
What is the most rewarding part about being an academic?
Sharing the experiences, spreading the knowledge and building the nation by producing quality engineers for the development of society. Feedback of the employers on my students doing great in industries is the ultimate rewarding part of being an engineering academic.
What have you been doing with AAEE?
I am the first batch and only New Zealand selected member for newly formed Early Engineering Educators Academy under AAEE, where I will be presenting an oral paper on improving NZDE Maths pass rate resource development in December 2018 at Hamilton. Also, at regular intervals we are having video conferencing on the discussions of latest trends in the engineering education learning and teaching conducted by our mentors.
What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I do the following:
1. For mental agility, doing exercise through loads of readings on current engineering, social, environmental issues
2. For physical agility, by running long distance, playing badminton, lawn tennis and cricket depending on weather or go to gym for light exercise, stretching and yoga breathing exercise. I follow the principles of healthy mind, body and soul will lead to be a successful human being and a professional.
