Profile: Nerys Evans
Course: MSc in Facilities Management
Job: Head of Estates and Facilities Management
Employer: National Assembly for Wales
Why CEM?
I looked into a number of institutions providing master’s courses in Facilities Management. I knew the College had an excellent reputation and I was keen to gain a qualification from a respected institution so that, together with the contents of the syllabus, clearly identified CEM as offering the best course.
Why distance learning?
Having previously completed postgraduate qualifications through formal half-day release courses, I was keen to find a distance learning course that would make room for both personal and work commitments. I found that the combination of distance learning, together with a small number of study days, provided the right balance between self-study and face-to-face interaction with tutors in more traditional classroom teaching sessions. Additionally, being able to post queries on the VLE meant that support was available when you reached any hurdles. Personally, I found distance learning to be a more efficient and fl exible method than previous formally taught courses.
The course
My role in the National Assembly includes a wide range of facilities management responsibilities and I wanted to develop my professional skills and knowledge and pursue a formal qualification. My previous roles were in procurement so, having gained a postgraduate diploma and chartered membership in the purchasing arena, I was aware of the benefits of acquiring a professional qualification in support of practical job experience and skills. The course covered a wide range of facilities- and estates-related topics which were relevant to my current role and responsibilities, but also included other areas which were relatively new to me, such as portfolio planning and corporate real estate. It is also well structured to ensure that you progress through the study materials and complete modules and assignments methodically throughout the year.
The benefits
The three-year structure of the master’s course, with each year building on the previous year and a focus on management, has helped to develop both my facilities management and generalist skills. The course has improved my performance in these areas and has definitely sharpened my thinking and report-writing skills, analysis of problems and development of solutions. Completing the dissertation in Year 3, whilst initially a bit daunting, is also
The support structure
I was very fortunate that my employer sponsored me and supported my professional advancement. In terms of contact with other students and tutors, the interactive online sessions were a great way of enhancing the exchange of ideas, as were all of the study days. The latter gave an overview of the module content, further information, and responses to queries or concerns, e.g. how to tackle assignments. While session materials are available online for those unable to attend, I would advise future students to attend the study days if they are able to do so, as they are a valuable part of the course. In Year 3, for the dissertation, valuable one-to-one support is provided by your supervisor, which again helps to keep you on track.
The future
I feel confi dent that the skills and knowledge I’ve gained will enable me to successfully address new and future work challenges; these may include responsibilities for developing an Asset Management Plan, reviewing the arrangements for the in-house and contracted team and following through on the dissertation topic to improve the sustainable performance of the Assembly’s estate. Whilst I’m content in my current role I’m confident that, if I did decide to seek new challenges, the qualification and skills i've gained will equip me to move on effectively.