MANAGEMENT IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY

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1 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY 2-YEAR MASTER OF SCIENCE IN TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME CAND.TECH.

2 MODERN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT BECOME AN EXPERT The Master s programme in Management in the Building Industry gives you insight into all phases of modern construction; from ideas about shape and use to project design, construction, management, operation, and maintenance. Besides the technical aspects, the programme also covers fields such as organisation, economics, project management, working environment, logistics, and information technology. Thus, the programme in Management in the Building Industry focuses on the whole - in both the construction project and in the construction company. COOPERATION WITH THE INDUSTRY An important element in the Master s programme in Management in the Building Industry is cooperation with the industry. Almost all projects are carried out in cooperation with companies and knowledge organisations within the construction industry. Also, the programme is closely connected to the development initiatives within the building sector. Experience shows that problem based project work in cooperation with companies is fruitful for both parts; as a student you learn how to combine theory and practice, and the company gets valuable new input on both existing and future challenges. Thus, the programme gives you an academic understanding of the phases of construction. As a graduate from Management in the Building Industry, you are therefore well equipped to meet the demands of modern construction. 2

3 My name is Damir Kandic. I am 28 years old, and I am trained as a construction manager. I have studied at a business school, and for a short period of time I have worked at a drawing office. However, I quickly recognised that I want to work with more than design. I chose to study the Master s programme in Management in the Building Industry due to its professional content I was especially intrigued by the economical, organisational, legal, and managerial aspects. Moreover, the emphasis on collaboration with the industry appealed to me. I am glad that I chose this specific education programme as it has provided me with a profound insight into the construction industry and an ability to rise to its challenges. In addition, the problem based project work in collaboration with various companies has been both rewarding and motivating for me. Damir Kandic Studying Management in the Building Industry 3

4 ACADEMIC CONTENT 1ST SEMESTER During the 1st semester of the programme, you work with the interplay between design and execution of building structures and civil engineering. You work with alternative design of selected construction elements and execution methods. Moreover, you learn about elements such as soil mechanics, time consumption, construction costs, design of the workplace, timetables, and project cash flows. Semester structure Design and construction of buildings (15 ECTS project) Project management and economics (5 ECTS course) Geotechnics and foundation (5 ECTS course) Problem based learning and Introduction to statics (5 ECTS course) 2ND SEMESTER The point of departure during the 2nd semester is the building sector. It could be the management taking place in connection with a project at a construction site or in a designing company, but the semester can also focus on more industrial types of production, for instance concrete panel firms or window factories. No matter which focus you choose, you will engage in analysis and development of systems for control and quality assurance of production. Semester structure Project management and production in construction (15 ECTS project) Management of the construction process (5 ECTS course) Framework of construction (5 ECTS course) Development of project and quality management systems (5 ECTS course) 3RD SEMESTER During this semester, you build and implement an efficient management system for a company based on a thorough analysis of existing management systems. Semester structure Choose between a project in Option A: Management of construction industry companies (15 ECTS project) Option B: Management in construction industry facilities management companies (15 ECTS project) Information technology and building modelling (5 ECTS course) Development of advanced project and quality management systems (5 ECTS course) Strategy and performance measurements (5 ECTS course) 4

5 4TH SEMESTER During your 4th semester, you conduct your final Master s thesis. The Master s thesis is conducted in small groups of 1-3 students. This project usually takes its point of departure in a problem within the building sector, and for this reason it is often developed in close collaboration with the industry. Examples of Master s theses include: New strategy.dk The project concerns willingness to adapt in the construction industry. Through questionnaire surveys among a number of construction leaders, the willingness to adapt was examined. On the basis of the questionnaire surveys, the project group developed a web based strategy tool which allowed for a strategic snapshot of the company through entry in a strategy development programme. Trust in the construction industry The project concerns the question of how to improve trust within the construction industry through an increased focus on trust and trust generation during the educational course, including an increase of productivity in the construction industry in a process perspective. On the basis of a questionnaire survey the project group analysed the concepts of trust and prejudices, and they developed a set of guidelines for the course. Integration of sustainable construction The project focuses on the issues in the Danish building sector in connection with implementation of sustainable construction, and how these issues can be resolved in the future. The project includes an analysis of available tools, and how these relate to the aspect of sustainability. 5

6 My name is Martin Madsen. I am 30 years old, and I graduated as a construction manager from Copenhagen School of Design and Technology (KEA) with a craftsman background as a plumber. Before enrolling at Aalborg University, I worked for 2,5 years in an architectural firm with project design and construction management. Though I was happy with my position in this company, I still had the urge to upgrade my skills, which made me explore the various opportunities for this. For this reason, I did not hesitate for a second about moving to Aalborg when I was laid off due to a reduction in order intake actually I had already signed up for a student apartment. Before this, I had researched the Management in the Building Industry programme online, and I had asked around among a couple of my former classmates who had already signed up for this programme. Besides the social aspect of the study programme, which is related to group work, I chose this programme because it deals with topics such as organisation, strategy, financial management, project management, and work environment. Due to this programme, I have developed in the right direction, and I feel well-prepared. Martin Madsen Studying Management in the Building Industry 6

7 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES The Master of Science in Technology programme allows for a series of different career opportunities. Client consultants, architectural firms, consulting engineers, contractors, building completion companies, and suppliers are all examples of industries demanding the specific competences which candidates from the Master s programme in Management in the Building Industry possess. After graduating from the Master s programme in Management in the Building Industry, I quickly obtained a job as contract manager within the company Wicotec where I work with sewer and district heating projects in the Copenhagen area. The size and technical difficulties of the projects vary, but I feel well equipped to handle them. Otherwise, help is just a phone call away. Where the construction manager is very technically oriented, the graduate from the Master of Science and Technology programme is conceptual and has focus on the business as a whole. An example concerns the course in business economics which has provided me with competences which I use on a daily basis today. Likewise, I think that the academic breadth of the programme has contributed to the fact that both I and several of my fellow students were offered more than one job shortly after graduation. Steffen Kaas Contract manager at Wicotec Graduate from Management in the Building Industry Graduating from the Master of Science in Technology programme in Management in the Building Industry gives you the opportunity to work within the field of contracting but also as a consultant. After graduation I was offered a job at Rambøll which is a large consultancy company. I was offered a position as construction leader where I manage the developer s interests as well as the schedule and the financial situation. Moreover, I supervise the building sites, and I make sure that the work tasks are conducted in a safe and correct manner with regard to safety. This means that I sometimes spend a lot of time at the building sites, and sometimes I spend more time in my office planning future work tasks. In my work, it has been a great opportunity for me to use the knowledge which I have gained at Aalborg University. For instance when I work with thorough scheduling and risk assessment in different types of work tasks. In addition, the study programme has provided me with an understanding of the legal obstacles which can occur between consultants and contractors. Therefore, if you wish for a job with an exciting and versatile working day where you experience the designing part as well as the operating part of a project, then the consultancy business might be of interest to you. Thomas Dahl Construction leader at Rambøll Graduate from Management in the Building Industry 7

8 PROBLEM BASED LEARNING As a student at Aalborg University, you will work closely together with your fellow students by way of problem based project work. Aalborg University is host to a successful UNESCO Chair in Problem Based Learning in Engineering Education and a Centre for PBL and Sustainability approved by UNESCO. The Aalborg Centre for Problem Based Learning in Engineering Science and Sustainability under the auspices of UNESCO will build upon and develop the work of the UNESCO Chair and Centre for PBL and Sustainability, and is keenly supported by Aalborg University and the Danish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education. When writing your problem based project, you will typically be part of a group consisting of 4-5 students. Once you have formed a project group, you need to define a problem together that you want to examine. The problem forms the basis of your project, and you are to a great extent responsible for defining it yourselves within an often very broad theme frame. The group work ensures a great variety of approaches and perspectives, which results in a sound and thoroughly prepared project. Together, you are able to discuss the details thoroughly. At the same time, you are able to solve larger and more complex problems than if you were studying on an individual basis. With group work, you will quickly realise that you might have different opinions about how to solve a problem. Group work means that you have to compromise, and you will learn a lot about how to cooperate. Group work is very popular in the modern labour market so both you and your future workplace will benefit from the skills in cooperation you have acquired at Aalborg University. RATED FOR EXELLENCE Aalborg University is rated for excellence in the QS-ranking system. Aalborg University has received five stars certifying the world-class position of the university based on cutting-edge facilities and internationally renowned research and teaching faculty. Within Engineering and Technology, Aalborg University ranks as number 79 in the world. 8

9 STUDY IN AALBORG Aalborg is Denmark s fourth largest city and has approximately 125,000 inhabitants of which 10% are students. As a student at Aalborg University, you can enjoy Aalborg s many opportunities with regard to cultural experiences, sports, and spare time activities. In recent years, Aalborg has undergone a transformation from an industrial city to a city of knowledge and culture. The city s development is particularly apparent at the harbour promenade where a lively urban and cultural life with cafes, cultural event venues and sports facilities has replaced factories and smoking chimneys. As an international student at AAU, your chances of finding accommodation in Aalborg are also great. ACCOMMODATION IN AALBORG Before you arrive in Aalborg, Aalborg University s International Accommodation Office (IAO) will assist you in finding a place to live in order to begin your studies at AAU. The types of accommodation offered to you by AAU s International Accommodation Office include a single room in a private house, a room in a hall of residence rooms or a large flat shared with other students. The rent and location vary according to the type of housing. You can find more information about accommodation in Aalborg at studyguide.aau.dk 9

10 During the process of writing my Master s thesis, I thought that I would never do a PhD. However, I chose science and the freedom as well as the frustrations that come along with dedicating one s life to becoming an expert in a certain field. I have a very pragmatic approach to research. This means that my research has to make a difference, and there has to be advantages to using it. For this reason, the interplay between research and reality at Aalborg University suits me perfectly. For me, a PhD is a great way of combining research at the university with collaboration with industrial partners in the real world. In my PhD, I seek to challenge the culture of the construction industry and to examine the current stage of the implementation of governmental initiatives regarding construction politics and in extension of this, I want to be able to formulate a series of sustainable recommendations for the construction politics that can form the basis for effective improvements. Moreover, there were other aspects of writing a PhD which intrigued me as well. As a graduate, I was hired as a scientific assistant, and I got to supervise and teach at the university. This was something which I wanted to engage further in, and that is exactly what the research-based teaching environment allows me to do. Kristian Ditlev Bohnstedt Graduate from Management in the Building Industry Former PhD-student at Aalborg University 10

11 PRACTICAL INFORMATION APPLICATION AND REQUIREMENTS In order to apply, you are required to have a Bachelor s degree in: Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) Bachelor of Science (Civil Engineering) Students with another Bachelor s degree may upon application to the Board of Studies be admitted following a specific academic assessment if the applicant is considered as having comparable educational prerequisites. The official English language requirements for international students applying to Aalborg University are: IELTS (academic test): ielts.org or TOEFL (paper-based): ets.org/toefl or TOEFL (internet-based): 88 - ets.org/toefl or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency (CPE) - cambridgeenglish.org or Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - cambridgeenglish.org or Cambridge First Certificate with the grade B - cambridgeenglish.org The test must be less than two years older from the date of study start. TUITION-FREE STUDIES Students from EU/EEA countries are not required to pay a tuition fee. However, all students must pay all other costs related to studying in Denmark: for example costs related to books, living expenses, and accommodation. With the exception of students from partner universities outside the EU/EEA, a student from a non-eu/eea country will need to pay a tuition fee. For more information, please see: apply.aau.dk APPLICATION DEADLINE 1 October COMMENCEMENT OF STUDY The Master s programme in Management in the Building Industry starts February 1 11

12 2-YEAR MASTER OF SCIENCE IN TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME CONTACT If you have questions about how to apply or general questions about studying in Denmark and life at Aalborg University, please contact: ADMISSIONS & CONTINUING EDUCATION Aalborg University Fredrik Bajers Vej 5 DK-9220 Aalborg East Denmark Phone: (+45) incoming-student@adm.aau.dk If you have questions regarding the study programme, please send an to civil.sg@ses.aau.dk. STUDYGUIDE.AAU.DK MOVETHEWORLD.DK