BSc in Construction Site Management students organised an online masterclass with three leading figures from the Irish construction industry
Students of WIT’s part-time BSc in Construction Site Management recently organised and participated in an online masterclass with three leading figures from the Irish construction industry. As part of their studies, the students who work in the industry, were tasked with organising a “Leadership in Construction Management” online panel discussion.
They had to arrange every aspect of the event, from choosing three well-known leaders from industry, setting the agenda for the day and moderating the event in a virtual environment.
Networked
Using their network of industry contacts, the group secured the participation of Tommy Drumm, Managing Director of Collen Construction; Paul Cremmins, Technical Director with Suir Engineering; and Chris Chambers, Regional Director with Clancy Construction.
After extensive preparation, the session was hosted virtually via Zoom.
The 3 leaders began the discussion by talking about their education background and their careers in construction. The diversity of experiences which they have encountered was vast, from building houses to multi-billion dollar oil & gas facilities, and everything in between. The students asked the leaders about a range of issues currently impacting upon the construction industry, including: Covid-19; Brexit; Sustainability; and Innovation & Technology.
Insightful discussion
The discussion that followed was extremely interesting and thought-provoking and gave all participants an insight into current and future issues within the industry. The importance of continually developing throughout your career was a common theme, with all of the leaders heavily involved in promoting education and careers in the construction industry through active involvement with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and SOLAS.
Commenting on the panel discussion, course leader Brian Graham, commended the group of students for “organising a fantastic event. The students excelled in working as a team to plan, coordinate and execute an event of a professional standard…from the high calibre of the 3 industry leaders to the agenda for discussion and execution of the event in an online environment. It was fascinating to get the insight of 3 very busy people who are at the forefront of the industry…an incredible learning event for all involved.”
Ideal for tradespeople
The BSc in Construction Site Management is specifically targeted at busy tradespeople, foremen and site managers who wish to gain a recognized qualification whilst remaining in employment. The course employs a blended learning model for delivery on a part-time basis over 1 year, culminating in a Level 7 award in Construction Site Management. For the past three years, the course has been successful in securing Springboard funding which heavily subsidizes costs for participants, resulting in a fee of €500. The Construction Industry Federation and South East Regional Skills Forum have been critical to the initial development and continuing vibrancy of the course.
Further details on the course are available at www.wit.ie/sitemgt or by contacting Brian Graham at [email protected]
SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford City, 
