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Waterford Masters degree for infrastructure specialists scoops national award
Posted: Mon, April 20, 2009 |
The MSc in Construction Project Management offered by Waterford Institute of Technology in partnership with infrastructure specialists BAM Contractors has won an outstanding achievement award from the Irish Institute of Training & Development (IITD).
Joint venture contractors for the Waterford City Bypass (including a 465-metre cable-stayed bridge) and responsible for several major infrastructure projects in Ireland, BAM Contractors have worked with the Department of Construction & Civil Engineering at Waterford Institute of Technology on the Masters degree programme which 20 of their key personnel are already undertaking.
The MSc has helped the company become the first main contractors to win recognition as one of the Top 50 Best Workplaces in Ireland.
Dr Ken Thomas, Head of the Department of Construction & Civil Engineering, Waterford Institute of Technology said the Institute was delighted to see the partnership with BAM Contractors on the tailored MSc in Construction Project Management win national recognition.
“BAM Contractors are excellent partners to work with and during their work on the Waterford City Bypass in particular, we have developed deep ties with them that have brought real benefits.
“The bespoke version of the MSc that we are delivering in conjunction with them is an excellent example of how we can forge clear links with private sector partners to ensure what we deliver meets their ‘real world’ requirements. Some of what we have learned in this way is already being applied on other programmes. When you consider the budgets and scale of some of the projects that BAM are main contractors on, you can see why they place such value on having skilled people in key project management roles.”
Reflecting on the positive experience that BAM Contractors have had with the Waterford City Bypass, David Crowe, Learning & Development Manager, BAM Contractors added, “The relationships that have been built with Waterford Institute of Technology are a very positive spin-off from our work on the bypass which is a major piece of national transport infrastructure now nearing completion.
“The feedback from our team members who are completing the MSc in Construction Project Management has been very positive and it’s particularly useful from a business perspective that we have been able to input proactively to the development, delivery and evaluation of the programme. It’s a real ‘win-win’ partnership for us and the Institute.
“The recognition by the IITD of the programme with an outstanding achievement award endorses the work done by all those who have contributed to the tailored MSc since the concept first surfaced.”
The outstanding achievement award secured by BAM Contractors and Waterford Institute of Technology was presented at a reception in the Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare in specific recognition of the work being done to develop middle management talent in a company of 250-plus people. The IITD national training awards aim to recognise organisations that have demonstrated best practice and ongoing commitment to training and development in their workplace.
• Further information is available at www.wit.ie; www.bamcontractors.ie and www.iitd.ie
