10 October 2012
The School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Newcastle University is determined to ensure that a range of training is accessible to those engineers in full time employment; whether they are graduates seeking chartered status, those with new areas of responsibility mid-career, or those seeking an overview of the latest research to inform strategic decisions. To ensure that the School's expertise can be tapped by those requiring training, all eighteen of the School's Masters programmes may be studied part time. Some are available as flexible learning programmes, combining study on campus with distance learning. These are complemented by Masters modules that may be studied on a standalone basis, 60 short CPD courses and bespoke training at a client's site.
To make part time study a feasible and practical option for engineers, the School has structured its teaching so that Masters level training is taught in five day blocks. Masters projects are often completed within the student's workplace on a topic agreed between the University and employer. This has many benefits, such as shared expertise from both the University and employer, the research time spent on work based projects, and the strong links established.
A recent MSc student comments, "The MSc is challenging and industrially relevant. It was an essential prerequisite for my job and prepared me well for the rigours of consulting work."
The CPD courses form a flexible part of the School's training portfolio and are very popular, with over 400 delegates attending the short courses over the past 12 months. An increasing number of delegates are travelling from overseas; the distances travelled to attend these courses, which range from one to ten days, is surely an endorsement of their quality, relevance and value. Indeed some have then signed up for the full Masters programmes.
The School increases the accessibility of its training by delivering bespoke courses, and has a proven record, working with organisations such as the Environment Agency, Ordnance Survey, Fugro and Balfour Beatty to develop and deliver training, both on campus or at a client's site.
Paul Cruddace of the Ordnance Survey says that "Using a centre of excellence such as Newcastle University to develop and deliver a course sends an important message to our staff: personal development is taken seriously and they are provided with access to the best". These sentiments are echoed by the Environment Agency: "Having high profile and respected people delivering the courses develops both confidence and competence."
The School is keen to encourage engineers to consider part time or short courses and has found their contribution very valuable. Dr Anil Namdeo, who leads many of our Transport and Environment courses, comments "The mix of students and delegates, often from a range of organisations, and with different roles, leads to lively, productive discussions, which combined with the presenters' industrial experience, and close links with industry and government organisations, ensures that the training can be firmly placed in a range of real life work contexts."
For more information call 0191 222 7439 or visit www.ncl.ac.uk/ceg.
10 October 2012
The number of delegates attending the School's masters modules as standalone CPD courses is on the increase. The five day courses are proving attractive to delegates who are seeking to extend or update their knowledge and to develop new skills. An increasing number are travelling from overseas, from countries such as Kazakhstan, Libya, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Malaysia, India, Norway, Spain and Hong Kong. The distances these delegates are prepared to travel is surely an endorsement of the quality and relevance of the training, as is their desire to attend further courses at Newcastle, an increasing number are returning for further training or recommending the courses to colleagues.
The interest from overseas is across all subject areas, e.g. Joshua attended an Intelligent Transport Course:
Whereas Hiralal attended Real Time Flood Forecasting and Warning Systems:
The contribution of delegates from overseas is appreciated by both the presenters and other participants as the delegates' experience helps to set the topics discussed in real world, global settings.