Student Profiles
Michael Beck graduated on the MSc Engineering Management in November 2011
I came to Brunel in September 2010 to do my Master’s degree in Engineering Management. Before that, I had finished my Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and gained first working experience in Germany. The Engineering Management programme syllabus at Brunel seemed to match my personal interests and therefore appeared worthwhile to study. Further reasons why I chose Brunel instead of any other university in the UK were simply its excellent reputation for the School of Engineering and Design (top ranked university in both academics and student experience), its diverse mix of people and cultures (you will make friends from all over the world) and its privileged location (short journey to Central London and easy to reach from abroad).
Looking back, I had a great year at Brunel with lots of new experiences that I don’t want to miss. Brunel is a campus university with all facilities within short walking distance. Students are being offered state of the art facilities and technologies to make the most of their studies, which includes for instance high-standard lecture rooms, access to the latest computer programmes used in the specific field of study and a great postgraduate community with dedicated study and leisure facilities.
The School of Engineering and Design in general, and the AMEE programme in specific, are truly student orientated. Through the student representative scheme, feedback is provided in both directions, to and from the lecturers, on an ongoing basis. I experienced the academic staff to be highly interested in the student’s views and thus open to any kind of suggestions. For instance, this dialogue between students and lecturers made it possible to bring external speakers out of the industry, to some of the lectures and to overcome book availability constraints in the library.
The teaching at Brunel is state of the art. As all lecturers are experts in their fields of study, the course content not only covers best practices and theory, but also practical examples and current research trends, which cannot be found in any academic publication yet. On top of that, the lecturers always search the dialogue with the students, rather than performing a one-way monologue, although the Engineering Management programme is a relatively big course of about 70 students.
My dissertation was set up in collaboration with BAA, the airport operator of Heathrow Airport. Its topic was about using system modelling and simulation techniques to improve passenger security screening from a passenger throughput perspective. This project was initiated by BAA, giving me the opportunity to deal with a real-life problem in an existing operational environment, and to apply tools and techniques that I have learned in several modules across the programme. The work together with BAA then helped me to get my first step into my current job – Process Consultant for BAA.
Only two months after I submitted my dissertation I was called by one of my contacts from BAA regarding a job opportunity. Now, I am in this role for about eight weeks and really enjoy the work I do. I work in the Process Engineering Department, dealing with process optimisation and improvement projects against the background of airport security processes. This involves for example capacity requirements planning, operational performance analysis or solution findings to overcome operational constraints. Within the short time I have been here, I already came across a number of tools and techniques covered in my Engineering Management course, such as the use of computer simulation software (Systems Modelling and Simulation) or quality tools like SPC, FMEA and DOE (Quality Management and Reliability).
If you are considering studying a programme which covers a broad range of topics like systems thinking, operations, general management, project management or supply chain, Engineering Management at Brunel would be the right choice. You will not only get to know the latest trends and best practices in your specific field of study, but also enjoy the vast opportunities besides your academic life, joining clubs and getting in touch with people from all over the world.
Luis Mauricio Martins - MSc Engineering Management
I studied the MSc in Engineering Management at Brunel from 2007 to 2008 and graduated November 2008. I was attracted to study at Brunel because of the privileged position Brunel occupied in the UK ranking of best universities for General Engineering: 5th in the UK (Times online), and in respect to the MSc itself, I felt that basically the course syllabus and the programme would give me a good grasp on fundamental managerial aspects of engineering.
I personally had an excellent experience at Brunel. The University provided me with all the necessary elements in order to undertake my taught modules and conduct my dissertation in the most convenient way, as far as lecture rooms, computers and the library are concerned. Apart from that, the lecturers were always accessible and very keen to help at any time. Above all, I was lucky to have a very good and forthcoming supervisor who helped me to keep my focus and drive.
The Brunel campus is very pleasant, with lots of open spaces, a very nice café area to relax, a convenient restaurant, pubs and a gym of which I was an active member. For the ones living in London area like myself, the commuting was quite accessible, linking Uxbridge to Central London in about an hour, which was very convenient.
Before coming to Brunel I had over 7 years experience in the FMCG food industry, particularly on the aseptic packaging sector. Basically I performed roles as a Project Engineer, Commissioning Engineer and finally as Project & Engineering Manager in Latin America. The MSc allowed me to learn a great deal of technical knowledge, people management and also taught me aspects about engineering systems and the whole value chain and its several interconnections.
For my dissertation, I did a case study on my former employer, a worldwide leading company on the aseptic carton packaging sector. The dissertation focused on how the attitudes and initiatives of a core Department (i.e. Technical) influenced the overall company’s competitive advantage, and how a secondary company could use its rather smaller structure as a benefit and a propeller for its success. I chose it because I had access to vast material, a significant experience in this area and also because it was an interesting subject which I felt very comfortable with.
My degree helped me to link all my technical experience with a more complete and broad view of a business as a whole. I became more aware of the many issues involved in the workplace such as Project Management, People and Finance Management and also Operations Strategy and Global Supply Chain Manufacturing.
Today I am very glad that I have recently found myself a job in such turbulent employment times. I am a Project Manager for a company situated in Aberdeen, Scotland, which supplies ingredients for the bakery industry. I am responsible to the Operations Director and my basic duties include Operations capital expenditure, improvement projects to product, process, plant and infrastructure. My principal working relationships are Operations, Maintenance Manager, Head of R&D, Marketing Manager, OEM, Consultants and Architects.
My key tasks involve:
- Managing asset improvements in line with the wider company strategy enabling the site to achieve targeted levels in quality, service, cost and new product development.
- Working closely with the Site Engineer, Technical, Commercial and Production teams to develop and deliver cost effective capital expenditure solutions.
- Leading site development and implementation of projects ensuring that engineering tasks are completed in line with HS&E standards, legislation and industry regulations.
- Delivering the value engineering solutions to the company’s manufacturing processes.
- Responsibility for the entire project cycle to include design, development, delivery and project completion.
- Negotiating, liaising and managing third party contractors to ensure all equipment are fit for purpose.
I would encourage applicants to study Engineering Management at Brunel, because it gives you a good general view of the main aspects of today’s workplace as far as the managerial aspect is concerned, and also a global perspective of the many business trends and inter-relations. The lecturers are very capable, the University’s structure very pleasant and the campus is a place you would wish to spend your entire day.
Alexandra Fernandez - MSc Engineering Management
I was born in Colombia and having completed my bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering in 2001, I worked in industry for a number of years. I studied the MSc Engineering Management program in 2007-2008. I chose this program because it offered a good balance of technical and business content, with a strong managerial focus. Coming from a technical background in Engineering, the MSc in Engineering Management was a good opportunity to enhance my knowledge of current business subjects. I chose Brunel University because of the reputation of its Engineering programs, its convenient location in West London and its facilities.
My overall experience at Brunel was very satisfactory. The course content was relevant for my discipline and the university offered many opportunities for additional learning and development. I was lucky to be able to take full advantage of many of the benefits of being a full time student at Brunel: the art classes, the learning and support services, the placement and careers service, and the international centre. For recreation, I took advantage of the excellent gym facilities, took free oil painting classes and even had some of my paintings displayed in the annual exhibitions, took salsa classes, and attended many presentations and workshops on study skills organised by the effective learning unit.
I also enjoyed the multicultural diversity of the students at Brunel. I met people from all over the world. The year went by very quickly and even though the Masters was hard work, I had plenty of opportunity to enjoy life in London and to travel.
My dissertation was about the issues and challenges of managing projects on a global scale and the special skills and competencies these demand of project managers. I chose this topic because I had previous work experience in this area.
After university, I found a job as a graduate in the area of logistics and supply chain and am currently employed as a Logistics Analyst with Shell in London. I am happy to say that many of the things I studied at Brunel are directly relevant to my current job. I really enjoy my job, the learning curve is quite steep and I truly enjoy the challenge.
Overall I am very happy with the experience I had at Brunel and it lived up to my high expectations. The quality of the professors and the diversity of the student body really contributed to an excellent program. The Masters I’ve completed at Brunel has served to open doors for me here in the UK, and I am very pleased with the outcome.
Keerati Boonvanich recently graduated from the MSc in Engineering Management
There are several reasons why I decided to study my master’s degree at Brunel University. First, the course modules for the Engineering Management program were exactly what I was looking for. Although there are many Engineering Management courses provided by other universities, all the modules at Brunel University satisfied my needs, and they are all properly related to each other.
Second, the reputation of Brunel University influenced me to study there. According to the good university guide of The Sunday Times online for general engineering, Brunel University ranked 6th.
Third, there are many scholarships allocated for international students, and I was fortunate enough to be selected to receive one.
Fourth, it is a good place for students to meet people from different backgrounds, as there are many international students from all over the world studying at Brunel University. I feel that the friendships you make while at University can last a lifetime and prove to be beneficial in your future career.
Last but not least, the university’s main campus is located in west London, which is only a 45-minute train journey into central London. The campus is quiet and peaceful and allows you to concentrate on your studies and at the same time is minutes away from one of the world’s greatest cities.
