MSc Project Management in the Built Environment: 10 years

Esra (left) introducing the module to the distance-learning students on the MSc PMBE...the full-timers joined later

The MSc Project Management in the Built Environment is now 10 years old! Esra Kurul introduced the 10th run of her module, People, Leadership and Organisations, at the first of the MSc Study Weeks for 2017-18 yesterday. The MSc Study Weeks bring together the distance-learning and full-time postgraduate construction students for two weeks each academic year and this year, the introductory sessions took place in Oxford Town Hall. I went along to take some photos and was interested to hear the students introduce themselves...so many different backgrounds and from so many different areas of the world. To mark the 10th anniversary of the MSc PMBE, here are two profiles showing the diverse background of our students...

Mirona Tomala (MSc PMBE as a full-time student) and Arran Peters (MSc PMBE as a distance-learning student) both entered the JCT Student Competition this year. Mirona's essay entitled 'Confessions of a female conversion MSc student: an essay addressing the factors contributing to skills shortage in the UK construction industry, focusing on the poor industry awareness and draconian expectations' was chosen by the panel of construction industry judges as the overall winner and Arran's essay 'Brick Laying in Brogues: how Project Managers can increase their on-site construction knowledge to better manage skilled labour shortages' was selected as a runner-up. And now for their profiles:

What is your background and why did you choose to go into Project Management?

Mirona: You could say my background is quite varied. My undergraduate degree was in Modern Languages, followed by a graduate job in an electrical wholesaler as an inventory controller. A career in construction never crossed my mind before my graduate job, due to a limited access to information about the roles. It was during that graduate job, that I became more aware of the industry, the roles available and the skills shortage, all which led me to applying for this Project Management course.

Arran: I read Design and Management at the University of Leeds for my undergraduate knowing that I really enjoyed managing a programme concluding in a well designed final product. I spent a year after graduation as a graduate for Whitbread Plc in the Property Team where spending time with project managers who were monitoring the expansion of the Whitbread estate exposed to me to what seemed a really challenging but rewarding career path, managing the completion of new buildings. As a RICS discipline allowing me to build upon my undergraduate study, I knew from then that I wanted to go into Project Management. After my year with Whitbread, I joined a Project Management consultancy, consulting back to Whitbread as EPMs, EAs and QSs.

Why did you choose the MSc PMBE at Brookes?

Mirona: Oxford Brookes University seemed like an obvious choice, given Oxford's incredible architecture and the university's commendable reputation. The School of the Built Environment is also highly regarded within the industry, as a result of great quality of teaching and a track record of high calibre graduates. I wanted to make the best possible start to my career, and I believed a degree from Oxford Brookes would be able to offer that.

Arran: My undergraduate studies were not RICS accredited, so naturally I had to secure an accredited MSc to progress through the RICS APC in Project Management which I decided to do when I finished my year with Whitbread . I wanted to apply to a university ranked highly for RICS accredited postgraduate study which offered flexible part-time study around a busy full-time work schedule consulting back to Whitbread. The PMBE course itself covered things I was already working on and knew I'd continue to work on. It also covered things I wasn't being exposed to but wanted and needed to learn about in order to take them on further into my career.

What was it like when you arrived and started the course?

Mirona: When I first arrived and started the course,I felt both excited and apprehensive. I was aware that the course was going to be a steep learning curve, but I soon learnt that many of my peers were in the same position and everyone was friendly and helpful.

Arran: It was good to sit down in the first instance with other students in very similar but also completely different positions to mine from the start. You can really appreciate how management technics and styles which are at the core of Project Management are best learnt through sharing the different approaches of others. There's a certain type of analytical thinking and concise presenting needed when putting together postgraduate level work, which I enjoyed getting back into; it's more applicable to think and communicate in academic ways to the working world, than you would ever think.

What have been the highlights? And the most challenging bits?

Mirona: I believe the highlights were definitely the social and networking opportunities, such as presentations, site visits, intensive weeks and the trip to the Netherlands. All of these allowed me to make invaluable connections with both the industry professionals and my peers. The most challenging part was definitely the work load in the spring semester. It takes a lot of time management and organisational skills, and I would recommend starting all coursework as soon as its set, otherwise it can soon pile up.

Arran: Two things stand out as highlights for me; one was the school wide trip to Amsterdam and the other was study on the Project Planning, Control and Risk module. The trip was highly enjoyable, with a real diverse mix of other students, some of whom became really good friends during the trip. The mentioned module was my favourite because it allowed me to build on my strengths but also take on things I'd not worked on previously. I put together development appraisals and upgraded my floor plan drawing skills which I've since been able to put into my work elsewhere. There's no doubt that the main challenge for me was the final Managing Technologies for Sustainable Environments module where there was quite a large work load required over several weeks which at times clashed with my employment commitments.

Bearing in mind your experience, what advice would you give to someone starting the course?

Mirona: I would definitely recommend arranging work experience as soon as possible, since many graduate schemes close in December/ January. If you can do any during the summer before you start university, that's great. If you're a distance learner, feel free to do it over your summer holidays after your first year. The key to this is forward planning and lots of networking!

Arran: Only take on studying Project Management and choosing it as your career path if you can project manage your own life and its activities. That may sound cliché, but I had to project manage and gantt chart my own work obligations and timetable, in partnership with my MSc requirements and critical path dates for submissions, alongside the other areas of my life. One will struggle to balance study requirements with other areas of their life if they don't plan and manage things properly.

Which subject area did you focus on for your dissertation and why?

Mirona: Quite early on in the year I realised that BIM and technology are pivotal topics in the industry, and have the potential to significantly improve it. For that particular reason I decided to focus my research on the adoption of emerging technology, such as augmented and virtual reality, in construction.

Arran: 'Can the use of project management consultancy support the UK requirement to build new homes quickly?' - I wanted to focus on how of all the areas being continually explored to provide new homes quickly in the UK, there doesn't seem to be any emphasis on management quality overlooking new homes developments. Effective project management consulting/leading on all manner of projects is essential to successful delivery; now seems a more important time than ever to have effective project management supporting the building of new homes.

What have you got planned for the next 5 years career-wise?

Mirona: I am planning to enrol on the Project Management pathway with RICS and complete it within the next 24-30 months. Subsequently I'd like to start taking more responsibility leading my own projects and help bring more talent to the industry through mentoring. Ultimately I would love the chance to work on some of the landmark projects, as they tend to be extremely challenging, innovative and rewarding.

Arran: By the time I reach 29/30, I want to have concluded my RICS APC, risen to a PAM or Associate Director level of employment, increased my portfolio of projects to cover a vast variety of types (hospitality, public services, education, resi) and if possible exposed myself to working in different locations outside of my current base in London; either elsewhere in the UK or potentially overseas.


In addition to the MSc Project Management in the Built Environment, we offer the following (click on the course name for more information):

MSc Construction Project Management
MSc Building Information Modelling and Management
MSc Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management