Let’s talk engineering management with Professor Sabu John

Professor at the School of Engineering, Sabu John, speaks about the necessity of blending engineering and management principles into the one postgraduate program. He delves into the importance of engineering management and why RMIT’s postgraduates are highly sought-after.

To discover more, watch Professor John below.

Call one of our Student Enrolment Advisors on 1300 701 171 to learn more about our online Master of Engineering (Management) program.

Transcription

Hello, my name is Sabu John and I am a Professor of Smart Materials and Systems in the School of Engineering at RMIT, and the Program Director of the Master of Engineering (Management) Online.

The area of work that has been exciting for me recently is the melding of technology, enterprise and management. And I suspect you are watching this clip now because you perhaps might share the same type of enthusiasm, and you might be seeking ways in which your aspirations could be met.

What makes engineering management exciting?

You may think engineering and management are two very different disciplines. It might be surprising to some of you to know that in the early modern day, management principles emerged in engineering journals. It’s hard to think that the construction of the pyramids, which started around 4500 years ago, happened without any management principles. Another example is the industrial revolution in England which happened some 300 years back. Again, one could argue that this revolution flourished with some input from management principles.

This historical perspective of the management-engineering nexus only amplifies the virtues of this field in this increasingly complex and multi-disciplinary world. The rapidity of change is relentless and it makes ongoing education all the more relevant for today’s aspiring professionals.

What makes this program so relevant?

Albert Einstein said, ‘Education is not the learning of facts but it’s rather the training of the mind to think’. The master's program in engineering management attempts to do just this.

This is reflected in the way the course material and the assessment is designed. World’s best practice in the online mode of delivery and the close interaction with the course delivery designers ensure that ‘thinking’ is at the core of the courses taught in the program.

The master's program in engineering management is well aligned with the vision of RMIT, which is a global university of technology, design and enterprise.

Why are RMIT’s graduates sought after?

Now that this program is offered in the online mode, the expectation is that the appeal and attraction is global, which is consistent with the vision of the university.

The courses in the program will address topics such as industrial systems management, management of technology, risk management, engineering economic strategy, international engineering management. There is also research project components, where students can work on a deeper level to solve operational or analytic problems of their employers – especially when these projects can be recast as projects, which meet both industry and academic imperatives.

Who should study this program?

This program is best suited to graduates with a business/management or engineering degree, either currently working in an engineering-related organisation or with aspirations to work in one. Course graduates with degrees from other disciplines will be considered.

What skills will students gain?

The program is structured to use the current practice in both fields of management and engineering – and the expectation is that the students will emerge with more than just knowledge of engineering management, but with other broad transferable skills, such as the need to constantly seek innovative solutions, master a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving, and communication with peers and the wider community.

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