Projects play a key role in many organisations. This program will enable students to use project management tools and techniques, engage stakeholders and obtain systemic insights into projects. Students will have opportunity to see and analyse the project management and organisational techniques used by real engineering companies and will be able to apply and develop the skills learned in real engineering projects, working with industrial collaborators.
The course is the result of a collaboration between Lancaster University Management School and the Department of Engineering. It is suitable for all types of engineer or other students with a technical background interested in project management in an engineering context.
Four core modules are offered teaching project management theory, one of which is project based. These lay the foundations of techniques and skills necessary to plan, manage and close an engineering project, to evaluate and apply change in an organisation and to apply team leadership. The modules also show how projects and project management relate to broader business and strategic situations, and the advantages and disadvantages of different organisational structures.
There is also another module offered which is based on real companies and speakers from industry sharing details of their team, organisational, project and management structures to illustrate how the theories and techniques are applied in real engineering situations. There is then a short (3-week) industry-linked group project. This is usually a problem-solving or design type problem that the company has proposed. Teams are formed from all Engineering MSc programmes so include different types of engineers. It is an opportunity for some of the project management skills to be developed and tested in practice.
As part of the course students will also select and complete a large dissertation project as part of a small team. The projects are proposed by industrial/commercial collaborators so students will be working on a real project with a real ‘client’. The project gives the opportunity to apply the project management skills together with combined technical skills from the group to close the project, which is an invaluable experience to demonstrate to an employer.
