PMBE Study Week - the last one of 2011-12

The fourth and final Study Week for the MSc Project Management in the Built Environment started on Tuesday 8 May 2012. Full-time and distance-learning  students (second year) came together for another week on campus. No bricklaying this time, more of a wrapping up week. Or unwrapping in the case of the lunch on Wednesday. A welcome break in the middle of a day focusing on Project Management and the Law.

Wednesday's working lunch

A computer QUIZ on Thursday morning for the Opportunity and Risk Management module was followed by a VIP session on dissertations with Ramin Keivani, Research Coordinator in the Department. Full attendance was reported and dissertations were discussed.

Thursday afternoon and the students went out on a site visit to the Oxford University Student Accommodation Project close to the railway station with George Blumberg. The site is being developed by Longcross and the students were shown around by the Senior Site Manager, Richard Etherington. As well as witnessing the installation of the slabs and drainage, the students were there to discuss various site issues including working next to Network Rail, BREEAM, the protection of badgers and remediation. BREEAM is the world's foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for sustainable buildings and Longcross are working towards an 'excellent' rating for the completed development. Protection of the badgers living on the site was an important issue and they have been moved to a suitable location next door. No complaints so far.

On site - photo courtesy of George Blumberg

Photo by George Blumberg

The day finished with a fantastic meal at the First Floor Restaurant in Oxford. The staff and students had such a good evening they forgot to take any photos. So here's a photo of an excited bar tender mixing cocktails instead.

Making cocktails - photo courtesy of First Floor, Oxford

The week finished with another wrap up session on Friday morning and a dissertation tutorial in the afternoon. The next big thing? Writing the dissertations.