Reflection
I feel my professional development at the university has been a rapid one. I am vastly more experienced and knowledgeable about the higher education construction sector than when I began as a student project manager back in 2011. I still believe I am gaining new knowledge and experience at the same rate as when I first began and will continue to for the foreseeable future.
Since I began in 2011 I have been eager to learn and develop my skills. I was quick to pick up on the basics of effective project management as well as the universities numerous policies and procedures, from my appointed mentor and other senior colleagues. I have participated in external and internal training as well as CPD sessions to broaden my knowledge on various construction topics. I now hold both CSCS and SMSTS certification.
In the beginning I was tasked with small value projects but by working hard and demonstrating my ability and competency I was gradually given more responsibility and opportunity’s to test myself on larger value and complex projects, until I was given my first sizable project while still employed as a student placement.
I was tasked with project managing the refurbishment of the Student health, Staff Wellness and SHU Wellbeing services based on Surrey Level one, with a total value of approx £280K. This was an exceptionally large value project to be assigned to a student project manager but my peers felt I had showed the ability and competency to deliver the project. I learnt a huge amount from that one project alone, it was the first time I had worked with a full design team made up of external consultants. The project was also subject to a thorough and detailed procurement process.
After virtually every project I have completed I can always recall where I have made a decision or taken a certain approach that I would have changed if I had the chance again to result in a better outcome. I always learn from these decisions and experiences to ensure I incorporate what I have learnt into my next project.
While developing my own skills and abilities in project management I have also been observing more senior colleagues not only in my own team but in others to see how they conduct themselves and what skills they have and what is successful and not so successful. I then try and take on board the more effective methods and use them in my approach to project management.
Working at the university it has given me a good experience of what it is like to work within a large public organisation. I have experienced working within the universities vast and sometimes onerous policies, procurement rules, approval stages and procedures which can sometimes hamper the delivery of projects to the timescales clients would like. However on the other hand working for a large public organisation there is a huge need for accountability for expenditure so this has given me good experience of financial management and control and having to justify expenditure.
I believe my experience at the university would differ to a project manager working in the private sector as there is less accountability and approval stages required to progress decisions and projects. They would have greater freedom and decision making powers to ensure they get a project complete by any means necessary.
In summary I have developed enormously both personally and professionally in my time at the university. I have developed skills required for carrying out my role as project manager but these skills can be transferred into life in general. Skills such as effective communication, problem solving and dispute resolution are all qualities required to get on in life. However I still have a huge amount to learn to improve my competencies and skills, this will come with experience and by completing more projects.
Since I began in 2011 I have been eager to learn and develop my skills. I was quick to pick up on the basics of effective project management as well as the universities numerous policies and procedures, from my appointed mentor and other senior colleagues. I have participated in external and internal training as well as CPD sessions to broaden my knowledge on various construction topics. I now hold both CSCS and SMSTS certification.
In the beginning I was tasked with small value projects but by working hard and demonstrating my ability and competency I was gradually given more responsibility and opportunity’s to test myself on larger value and complex projects, until I was given my first sizable project while still employed as a student placement.
I was tasked with project managing the refurbishment of the Student health, Staff Wellness and SHU Wellbeing services based on Surrey Level one, with a total value of approx £280K. This was an exceptionally large value project to be assigned to a student project manager but my peers felt I had showed the ability and competency to deliver the project. I learnt a huge amount from that one project alone, it was the first time I had worked with a full design team made up of external consultants. The project was also subject to a thorough and detailed procurement process.
After virtually every project I have completed I can always recall where I have made a decision or taken a certain approach that I would have changed if I had the chance again to result in a better outcome. I always learn from these decisions and experiences to ensure I incorporate what I have learnt into my next project.
While developing my own skills and abilities in project management I have also been observing more senior colleagues not only in my own team but in others to see how they conduct themselves and what skills they have and what is successful and not so successful. I then try and take on board the more effective methods and use them in my approach to project management.
Working at the university it has given me a good experience of what it is like to work within a large public organisation. I have experienced working within the universities vast and sometimes onerous policies, procurement rules, approval stages and procedures which can sometimes hamper the delivery of projects to the timescales clients would like. However on the other hand working for a large public organisation there is a huge need for accountability for expenditure so this has given me good experience of financial management and control and having to justify expenditure.
I believe my experience at the university would differ to a project manager working in the private sector as there is less accountability and approval stages required to progress decisions and projects. They would have greater freedom and decision making powers to ensure they get a project complete by any means necessary.
In summary I have developed enormously both personally and professionally in my time at the university. I have developed skills required for carrying out my role as project manager but these skills can be transferred into life in general. Skills such as effective communication, problem solving and dispute resolution are all qualities required to get on in life. However I still have a huge amount to learn to improve my competencies and skills, this will come with experience and by completing more projects.