Hi Chris/All Young IPWEA Members,
Firstly, I would like to introduce myself. I am Anuj Sharma, Asset Management Engineer at Pittwater Council.
I am pretty much in the same boat as you Chris. I am a Graduate Engineer and now doing Masters of Engineering Management (MEM) and plan to follow it up with my MBA.
I have had quite a few discussions in my work place (talking with my senior staff) about my course choices. I found that people in higher management are more supportive of the MBA whereas the Engineers/Supervisors feel that MEM is more relevant. This package allows you to reach out to both.
Currently in my last semester of MEM, I found it to be very useful because it discusses relevant issues that I have to deal with (and sometimes make decisions on) which aren't taught in the undergraduate degree such as Risk mitigation strategies, the concept of OH&S and the constraints it can put on while acting as a Project Manager to name a few.
I am going to make a guess that you probably will be doing your degree through UTS as well. In that case, I can completely assure you that the lecturers, knowledge delivery and the Course material:
a) is highly relevant (from my perspective),
b) is of very high quality.
I can also say that I have learnt more from the post-graduate degree when compared to the undergrad engineering as I have been able to apply the knowledge, verify the content in real world situation and assess the results from the application of this knowledge.
However, if you are solely focussed on increasing your Asset Management knowledge, I suggest looking into Postgraduate courses offered by IPWEA / UTAS in Infrastructure of Asset Managment as these are designed for this purpose.
-------------------------------------------
Anuj Sharma
Pittwater Council
Warriewood NSW
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 18-09-2013 19:29
From: Christopher Wahbe
Subject: Course to improve my knowledge of Asset management
Hello All,
I have just recently joined the IPWEA and attended my first conference meeting last night at Penrith. The conference was a great opportunity to come face to face with managers and engineers from other Council's and talk about how the IPWEA works and different aspects of Local Government.
I have currently worked with Council for just over 2 years and recently decided to do my Masters in Engineering Management and possibly my MBA after that. To progress my career in management and with the opportunities that may arise here at Council I thought this would be a good idea.
In any case, I figured this post would be a good way to introduce myself to the young IPWEA world and to see if anyone has been in a similar situation before or could offer some good advise or their opinion based on previous experiences.
-------------------------------------------
Christopher Wahbe
Blacktown City Council
BLACKTOWN NSW
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 01-07-2013 22:30
From: Anthony McMahon
Subject: Course to improve my knowledge of Asset management
Truong,
I think that the course you are looking at would be extremely valuable for a career in local government engineering (as well as private civil works and consulting). I would also be more focused on what is best for you not what is best for your current employer.
Any of the financial management, management accounting and corporate governance type electives would be good. I know that I studied an economics subject in my undergraduate engineering (an masters) and it changed my perspective quite a bit on the banking system and government policy, so I think it is valuable to do some exploring into areas that aren't necessarily core to what you do every day.
All the best with it.
cheers
-------------------------------------------
Anthony McMahon
Assistant General Manager
Boorowa Council
BOOROWA NSW
-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 01-07-2013 20:18
From: Truong Vu Nguyen
Subject: Course to improve my knowledge of Asset management
Hi All
Been reading many interesting articles on this site over the last couple of months and very excited about this new Young IPWEA forum.
Just a quick question regarding post-graduate courses. I have made some inquires about the Master of Infrastructure engineering and management at Monash.
Has anyone out there completed this degree and what are the benefits to council?
Currently I hold a B Science, majoring in Environment and management and my manager would like me to continue working in the Engineering department.
I am very interested in the course offered in the Engineering core subjects, but are unsure about the finance electives that one must choose.
I think my manager is hoping I participate more in Assets management in regards to council assets.
Many thanks.
-------------------------------------------
Truong Vu Nguyen
Upper Hunter Shire Council
SCONE NSW
-------------------------------------------