Scholarship / HOW I LAUNCH AND SUSTAINED AN EVER-GROWING NETWORK [4]

CHEVENING NETWORKING SKILLS QUESTION

I was able to launch and sustained an ever-growing network of my professional, social and personal contacts. How did I manage to create such a network? It all stated in 2011 when I was a freshman.

As a fresh student I was assigned mentor, Mr. Mu'awiya, who from onset has exposes me to the nitty-gritty of how things are done in academics and academia. For instance, first, he inspired me how to develop my teaching skills, how to communicate with younger people and how to deliver a lecture. I became overly dedicative, zealous and resilient. For that reason, we became very close that I even became widely known to most of my lecturers both seniors and juniors. As a result of the competence, tenacity, and persistence I continued to displayed, some lecturers trusted me so much that they would always recommend I tutor my colleagues and younger ones some parts of their courses. The students on the other hand, because of the way I was open and direct to them, till today, they contact me for advice and guidance on their research and even career path. This had really help me broaden my academic network to younger generation and higher academic class.

In 2014, when I did my Internship together with colleagues from other institutions, I realised that they are deficient in some integral aspect of what a competent Builder/construction manager should know. For example, they lack the knowledge of the practical application of the Health and safety procedures, builders' ethics, operating software such as the MS Project, AutoCAD etc. for that reason, I organised classes to put them through and it was a great success. Most of them feel the impact of the classes. This earned me great admiration and respect not only among my colleagues but also the managers. After my internship had ended, I have maintained my relationship with the people in the organisation through attending their meetings and also personal contact in order to sustain and build on my network.

Currently at the National Youth Service in Enugu state, I am working under Ministry of Housing. The ministry is in charge of most of the construction undertaken by the state government including 340 units of houses in Akpouga-Nike. For the past six months that I have been with them, I got the opportunity to meet and interact with so many contractors with many years of practical experience. I was able to learn so much, particularly, on the consultancy aspect and how to relate well with contractors in order to achieve the set goal. This is a lifetime network I promised to sustain which I believed will certainly have positive impact on myself in the near future and the coming generations.

I am optimistic that, by having masters in the UK, I will get the chance to enrich my knowledge along establishing a new partnership and network with my future international colleagues and university. This will certainly bring many positive improvements to my country.

Scholarship / Picking Loughborough University, University of Reading, and Salford for their reputable achievements [3]

Hey guys! Help me review this please. Thanks

why I chose those 3 universities

During the course of my undergraduate studies, the curriculum of Building had exposed me to various components of the construction industry and the challenges ravaging the industry, which helped me broaden my horizon. However, I came to realised that my undergraduate degree had given me only glimpse of knowledge in some course. For instance, modules such as the Building Information modelling (BIM), lean construction, sustainable construction, economics and financial management are some of the areas I seek to explore in my post graduate studies in order to realise the growth potential of Nigeria in terms of infrastructure provision for sustainable development. That is the reason why I choose to study construction management in my post graduate studies in the UK.

Considering myriad schools offering post graduate degree in construction management in the UK. The three universities that cut my attention were university Loughborough, university of Reading, and university of Salford for their reputable achievements, high students satisfactory rate, high research quality, collaboration with industries, erudite scholars.

Loughborough university is known for its great heritage, being the oldest in the UK and the 2nd in the world, which is always regarded as one of the best universities in construction managements has become my first choice. Loughborough has an excellent and well planned modules and 87% of her school research scored as internationally excellent; coupled with strong collaborations with the industries, state of the art teaching facilities, 3000 m2 open-plan laboratory, made it perfect destination for me to achieve my ultimate goal of becoming a world class researcher who will be deeply involved in finding solutions to challenges facing the industry.

My second choice, University of Reading, is multidisciplinary in nature with staff having extensive experience in teaching research, consultancy, visiting lecturers to organisations and universities around the world. The module prepared for this course is well designed and diverse. Moreover, their world class facilities such as their computer lounge equipped with the latest digital technology and software including the BIM, 3D laser scanning, building energy stimulation etc. made them impeccable for potential researchers like I. This will really help me in realising my long time objectives.

Salford university, my third choice, is considered among schools with the highest number of international students, that allow students from different countries to meet, interact, and share ideas. Their modules are planned and developed in such a way to synergised what is learned in class and what exactly is in the industry. Similarly, it provides hand-on training in the use of state of the art software tools and technique. This will certainly teach me how to successfully plan and organise complex construction project and a lucid understanding of how international market operates, learn how to diagnose cooperate problems and manage multitude of areas including people, finance and risk. These are major areas where a country like Nigeria is still lacking which I seek to explore.

Scholarship / Commonwealth Scholarship: Future Career Plan - Advancing the Nigerian Construction Industry [2]

The Commission would like to get a clear idea of how the proposed qualification will assist you in your planned career. Please give brief details of the skills that you expect to gain from this award and of your professional plans once you return home on completion of your award.

CAREER PLAN RELATED TO construction management

Nigeria construction industry has, for many decades, been marred by decline in productivity, poor waste management, decline in innovation among other things. However, obtaining Master's degree in construction management from a UK university will equip me with relevant skills to improve my research expertise, advance my leadership capabilities and intellectual exposure, which will give me the adroitness in undertaking cutting-edge researches that will advance and revolutionize the Nigerian construction industry: an industry known for its resistance to change. For that reason, I aspire, immediately after my post graduate study, to return to my Alma mater, XXXX University, to engage myself, together with my professors in active teaching, research, and the use of emerging technological solutions in addressing the numerous challenges ravaging the industry. I would also immediately join the Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) and Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON). I will utilise the opportunity to attend conferences, seminars and myself present papers for the advancement of the industry. Moreover, I will meet a lot of professionals from various universities, disciplines and the industry. This will serve as a synergy in providing a lasting solution to the menace bedeviling the industry.

Five years after my postgraduate study, I would like to be deeply engaged in writing and publication of journals, periodicals, conference proceeding both local and international, particularly in the field of circular economy and sustainable construction and innovation. I will also, at this stage, further earn my PhD in related construction management sub-discipline. This will further give me the opportunity to interact with professors in the UK and around the globe in order to broaden my horizon, keep me abreast with the latest and emerging technology. Being a student of knowledge who derives much pleasure, fulfillment and satisfaction from helping others grow academically, I desire to, actively engage in online and live counselling service, particularly to Students in construction-related field so as to help them identify their areas of interest and to sensitise them about the career prospect and challenges within the field.

As for my long term plan, I would like to be part of the National Executive Council (NEC) at both the university and national level, and a fellow with the NIOB. With this, am assured of power and authority to be part of the decision-making team. Therefore, this will give me the supremacy to correct and amends all ills. The National Youth Service, for instance, I will make sure that policy is being made and implemented that all graduate from professional disciplines are sent to institutions or organisations pertinent to their course of study. I will also ensure the standard of our construction industry are reinvigorated, productivity level is improved low profit margin are addressed in order to realise the growth potentials of the country in terms of infrastructure provision for sustainable development.