Balancing work and study with the Master of Engineering Management

Following on from Where a career in engineering management can take you – current learner Stuart Banks got in touch with us to share his journey. While Stuart is studying on campus, his experience and practical tips are useful for anyone considering starting their Master of Engineering Management online.

Stuart hails from Ōtautahi Christchurch and started his Master of Engineering Management (MEM) degree with Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury in 2022. He started his career as an electrician, before becoming an engineer working across the commercial, banking and electricity sectors. He is now completing his MEM after securing a new engineering management role.

What inspired you to return to study?

I’ve been working in the electricity industry as a consulting engineer for some time. But I was looking for some new challenges, and was particularly interested in studying the Sustainability Systems in Engineering (EMGT605) course, which is part of the MEM programme.

I met with the Director of Engineering Management Programmes, Enda Crossin, who helped me decide that the entire MEM programme was worth studying. And he was right!

As you’re learning while working, how do you balance work and study?

I’ve been really open with my employer about taking this programme on, and they’ve been supportive. I have an agreement to be present at work for a minimum number of hours per week and for days as agreed.

My employer has been understanding of different course requirements and has been flexible to suit around study requirements.

Photo: Stuart Banks

What have you found most helpful or interesting during the MEM programme so far?

I’ve enjoyed all the courses in different ways. I particularly enjoyed the course on Engineering Knowledge Management (EMGT602). I often refer to course content and have used tools I have learned about through this programme in my workplace.

I enjoy sharing the knowledge I’ve learned with my colleagues. Completing courses that were co-taught through the UC Business School, including Accounting for Managers (MBAZ601) and Business Law (MBAZ605) has been especially useful in my work.

When you applied to the programme, you found that your prior learning and experience could be credited towards the programme – how did that work and how has that helped you?

I had a discussion with Enda around some of my previous experience. He asked me to write up how my previous work experience and study aligned with specific learning outcomes from some of the courses included within the MEM programme. I cited professional work completed by me and submitted this as a package of work to be reviewed by the Director of Engineering Management Programmes and the Dean of Engineering.

This meant that I only needed to take 7 courses (including the research project) to complete the degree, rather than the full 10 courses – making the MEM more manageable for me while working.

In my case, approval of my prior learning was conditional on me studying Managerial Finance (MBAZ603) as part of the MEM degree. The Dean had noted that the depth of my experience demonstrated did not satisfy some of the financial content covered within the courses I was to receive credit for. I have now completed this course.

When do you expect to finish the degree and what are your plans for the future?

I’ve recently started a new engineering management role, and I will complete my final project as part of this; mitigating risk relating to project management processes and systems.

I expect to finish my MEM degree at the end of 2024 and want to continue to work in engineering management.

Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us Stuart, and all the best for your final course!

Find out more about the Master of Engineering Management and sign up online.