PG Construction: 2023 and 2024

 I feel that I have been neglecting this blog a bit since we started the Instagram page for @oxfordbrookesconstruction so here is a summary of some of the things that have been going on for the postgraduate students in Construction at Oxford Brookes (it's all on Instagram). Let's start back in May 2023 with our first PG social event...

In May 2023 we held our first networking evening at Headington Hill Hall bringing together students, alumni and staff from postgraduate construction courses @oxfordbrookes. It was a huge success.

Towards the end of May 2023, a group of postgraduate construction students went on a field trip to Belgium and the Netherlands. They stopped in Antwerp to look at the Museum aan de Stroom and the port building (designed by Zaha Hadid) and then continued to Amsterdam. During the trip the students looked at sites and listened to presentations about locations in Amsterdam, Apeldoorn, Rotterdam and Delft finishing with a stop over in Bruges on the way back to Oxford.

On 11 August 2023, a group of postgraduate students in Construction visited two sites in Oxford the Life and Mind Building and the Schwarzman Humanities Building. The visits were organised by the new PG Construction Student/Alumni Committee. 

In early September 2023: Graduation!

Later on in September 2023, we welcomed a new intake of students onto the PG Construction courses. Shortly after they arrived a group of them went off to explore Oxford (in the rain). They also started to form a student committee (coffee essential)...

The Built Environment Careers Fair takes place every year in October and is an excellent opportunity to network with employers, students and alumni...

At the end of October 2023, a group of PG students and staff went on a field trip to Manchester via the Midlands. First stop: Coventry and a visit to Prism Offsite Manufacturing and then on to Manchester where the students visited @factory_international at Aviva Studios, Salford University, Salford Quays and the Urban Splash development as well as taking a look around the city. The final stop was Birmingham where the students visited Curzon Street, Birmingham Library, the Bullring, the canal and Brindley Place.

Prism Manufacturing, Coventry

In Manchester

Urban Splash development in Salford

By the canal in Birmingham

In November 2023, we held the second student/alumni networking event at Headington Hill Hall. Advice from alumni, an jntroduction to the work of the student/alumni committee, the offer of a cricket match, pizza, drinks and networking. And live music from Adrian.

With the student/alumni committee up and running, a trip to London was organised for December 2023. The students visited Battersea Power Station for a site visit and presentation on the redevelopment and then moved on to Turner & Townsend where they were given a presentation on the graduate scheme. They finished off the day with a visit to St Pancras Square, Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard (King's Cross) before spending the evening in Covent Garden.

As we have two entry points for our MSc/PGD courses in Construction, we welcomed a second intake of students in January 2024 - they went for a look around Oxford (of course)...

Did you know that Oxford Brookes is undertaking a major development at Headington Hill? The new buildings should be ready in early 2025. Staff and students went to see progress on the new building at the end of February 2024...

A small group of students went to have a look at the building work taking place at Clive Booth Hall on the Headington campus - they found it a very instructive experience...

A group of postgraduate students from Construction went on a site visit to North Oxford on 9 May. An excellent visit and a beautiful day! 

During May 2024, a group of postgraduate students and staff from went on a field trip to Paris and called in at Lille on the way. During the trip, they visited a number of offices and buildings and investigated a series of sustainable construction case studies. They also gained an understanding of the European employment market. 

At the end of May 2024 we held our 3rd networking evening bringing together PG students and alumni in Construction. Thanks to the Student/Alumni Committee for organising and to all the students, alumni and staff who helped make it a success.

And that is it until Graduation on 2 September 2024! A busy two years. For more information about the PG courses in Construction, take a look here and follow along on Instagram here: @oxfordbrookesconstruction.