This masters offered me the opportunity to develop the diverse range of skills engineering managers require but that are not covered in undergraduate engineering programmes. Competing the programme has improved my confidence as an engineering manager and helped advance my career. I would recommend the MEM to anyone interested in transition from a purely technical role to technical management.

This course became of interest to me as I looked to develop my management skills as part of my overall career development plan for when I move from a technical role to a management role. This course would introduce me to the relevant areas of expertise I would need to develop to become an effective manager. A big advantage of this course being part-time is that I can apply my learnings to work situations as I go through each semester. The blend of online and in-person lectures helps with the busy schedule of professionals on the course, while still allowing for team interaction. I also saw it as an opportunity to meet people from different companies and roles, and to see what has or hasn’t worked for them on their journey.

I undertook this program to gain the knowledge and confidence to bridge the gap from being an individual contributor to having the tools and techniques required to become an effective manager within a technical industry. Most courses I have researched within the space focused solely on the business aspect and moved away from industry-specific applications. This course built on my engineering knowledge, while providing me with the knowledge and context to be able to provide meaningful input at leadership level.

In the spring of 2020 I made the decision to study at Masters level in an engineering related field. I remember thinking what was it going to take to progress my career to the next level? I looked at a number of different courses and settled on a Masters in Engineering Management with UCD. The course seemed a good fit for me as it covered aspects of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Management, which suited my role as Engineer with responsibility for fleet management and capital procurement with the Office of Public Works. Since completing the Masters in Engineering Management programme in UCD I feel I have gained a new level of professional competence and wherewithal to tackle complex engineering problems in my organisation. The programme certainly increases your ability to “think on your feet” as an engineering manager. To help me meet the ever-changing demands in the fast-paced world of engineering, the course of study has provided me with vital skills in decision analysis, quantitative and qualitative reasoning and business and financial acumen, no doubt leading to improved commercial, ethical and environmental outcomes for my organisation.