Strong leadership and strategic vision are at the heart of every successful institution. The Board of Governors at the Engineering College of Technology (ECT) plays a vital role in guiding the college’s direction in supporting academic excellence and ensuring continued innovation in engineering and technology education.
In this feature, we introduce the members of the Board of Governors – experienced leaders whose expertise, insight, and commitment help shape ECT’s future and support its global learning community, beginning with Professor Mike Rodd, the first Chairman of the Board of Governors, who played a foundational role in establishing ECT’s vision and guiding its early strategic direction.
A Living Force in Engineering Education
Mike Rodd is a Chartered Electrical Engineer with a PhD from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and a Senior Doctorate from the University of Wales. His interest in engineering began in his teenage years while working alongside his father on house wiring installations, which set the direction for his future career. Mike went on to study electrical engineering at UCT while simultaneously gaining practical industry experience as a Trainee Signals Engineer with the Zimbabwean Railways. This combination of academic study and hands-on work laid a strong foundation for his early career in engineering practice.
Mike later joined the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as a research engineer before transitioning into academia, where he expanded his focus on teaching, research, and leadership. He served as Professor of Electronics at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and later as Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Head of the School of Engineering at Swansea University, where he was also involved in several university-related SMEs.
Building on this blend of academic and applied experience, Mike moved into senior professional body leadership roles, first as Knowledge Services Director at the Institution of Electrical Engineers and later at the British Computer Society. After taking early retirement from these positions, he continued to contribute to sector-wide leadership, serving as Chairman of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.
Taking the ECT Initiative
A few years ago, Mike was approached by one of his former students from his time in South Africa, Dr. Steve Mackay, to assist in the development of a UK-based engineering education provider, as a sister college to the Engineering Institute for Technology (EIT), which Dr Mackay had already established in Australia. EIT operates internationally as a provider of engineering education, delivering vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through flexible learning modes, including online and blended delivery. Some of its courses are professionally recognised by relevant accreditation and industry bodies, that reflects its established engagement with engineering education and professional development standards. The extension of these activities to include UK-based provision ultimately led to the establishment of ECT.
Leadership in Motion
Building on this foundation, Mike became the first Chairman of the Board of Governors, the legal body responsible for the governance and oversight of all aspects of ECT. This role aligns closely with his long-held belief that the internet would fundamentally transform the delivery of degrees and related programmes, a belief rooted in supporting professionals who seek to enhance their qualifications while remaining in employment.
Drawing on his background as a university researcher, mentor, and accreditor, he strongly values the benefits of full-time university education, especially in the early stages of a learner’s career, while also recognising that the rapidly evolving nature of professional engineering requires continuous updating of knowledge and skills throughout one’s working life.
For this reason, Mike sees learning while in employment as an important part of professional development, both for professionals seeking to advance their skills and for the organisations they support. In addition, he emphasises that the involvement of industry-based instructors helps ensure that course content remains practically current and closely aligned with real-world engineering environments and evolving industry needs. These principles reflect his commitment to advancing flexible, high-quality engineering education, with this vision continuing to shape ECT’s institutional direction and long-term future.
As Chairman of ECT’s Board of Governors, Mike’s experience and strategic insight have been instrumental in guiding ECT’s development, with his dedication to advancing flexible, high-quality engineering education that continues to shape the institution’s future direction.
