Engineering Inc. - September/October 2008 - 31

Online Training an Increasingly Viable Education Option whether to pursue a degree through traditional on-site classes, or through a growing selection of distance and online learning options, such as online education. online courses are becoming an increasingly popular choice because of lower costs and greater convenience, especially for professionals wedging graduate study into full-time jobs and family responsibilities. advancements in distance learning technology also are improving connections among far-flung students. “We must remember too that this generation of young o ne important consideration for prospective graduate students is engineers finds computerbased instruction a more natural environment,” drexel’s güceri says. “online interaction also has an educational element, as tomorrow’s project managers will be coordinating more of their work across multiple offices and time zones.” cost. the constantly updated session topics range from strategic planning and professional ethics to risk management, better contract negotiating, safer electronic information transfer, structuring merger and acquisition deals, and new ways of thinking about recruitment and retention. today’s hot topics such as calculating carbon footprints as a client service, developing a “cleantech” business strategy, and risk management in green building, provide current industry best practice education. “as the cost of travel rises and budgets for professional development are tightened, we’re seeing increased demand for our online seminars,” says deirdre mckenna, deputy director of acec’s Institute for Business management. “our response to this demand has been to add topics to the calendar of seminars so we’re offering dozens of titles over the upcoming months.” as part of the online seminar calendar, acec offers its market forecast series, which feature federal agency leaders presenting an inside look at budgets for upcoming projects, timing and scope. upcoming market forecast series participants include the general services administration (october 9) and the u.s. army corps of engineers (november 13). for a complete calendar of acec online seminars, visit www.acec.org and follow the ACEC Online Seminars acec offers one of the industry’s most comprehensive online seminar programs. the seminars are interactive learning events accessible anywhere the Internet is available, typically given in an hour-and-ahalf format, and offering 1.5 Pdhs. With one registration fee per connection, a room full of staff can participate at no additional education link. Shaw says MEM programs offer the potential to master a new technology or pursue a technical discipline that is different from what one might encounter when earning an undergraduate degree. “The classic example today is the need for computer technology, but not a computer science degree,” he says. MBA programs promote interaction with a more diverse range of students, whereas many SEI and BDC graduates often point to the industry-specific backgrounds of their fellow graduates as one of the highlights of the programs. “All my classmates were in the same business,” says Fraese. “That’s something no other program of its kind could offer. The connection to what we do is of the highest value.” Regardless of which direction an engineer chooses, postgraduate education remains important. “Anyone who wants to grow in this profession should seek additional education,” says DeGood. “Along with enhancing your value to your company and your profession, it’s always helpful to go back and catch up on new technologies and new ideas in your field.” The need for technical, business, financial and personnel project-management skills will grow in step with the scope of the challenges that society confronts in the coming decades. “There are many major lifestyle changes ahead, with many complex, large-scale projects to address them,” says Drexel’s Güceri. “Who will make the decisions, and who will carry projects through? It won’t be lawyers or MBAs; it will have to be engineers.” n Jim Parsons is a freelance business writer based in Bristow, Va. The University of Utah’s Engineering Management Program is in collaboration with the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the David Eccles School of Business. The MS program is designed to give students a solid engineering background and the tools of business management and decision making. For more information visit our web page, www.civil.utah.edu, or contact Christi at forsyth@civil.utah.edu. 31 sEptEmbER / oCtobER 2008 ENGINEERING INC.

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Engineering Inc. - September/October 2008

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