RICS SBE Blog

Completed Civil Engineering? Here’s What’s Next!

Written by Satya N Mandal Ph.D FRICS | Mar 9, 2019 6:18:42 AM

It goes without saying that India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and the construction sector has vastly propelled this growth. If you’re a civil engineer, we’d just like to say: Welcome to the world of a goldmine of opportunities!

The built environment sector plays a crucial role in the economy’s overall developmental process. Today, India represents a goldmine of infinite opportunities with its steadily growing industrial base, rapid digitisation, clear growth vision from the government, and growing infrastructure. With so much funding and emphasis laid on the development of the built environment, it only makes sense for renowned companies to hire highly skilled professionals who are in sync with how the industry functions.

This is where the RICS School of Built Environment comes into play. With a variety of specialized MBA courses, this institution can provide you with the chance to make a lucrative career in the field of built environment:

MBA in Construction Project Management

An MBA in Construction Project Management will provide you with a stepping stone to excel in the role of a project manager. You would be required to lead a team of specialists, including architects, electrical engineers, structural engineers, finance experts, and sustainability experts. Studying in this field will help you learn how to manage, control, and understand the projects in the construction industry. The duties of a project manager include directing, planning, & coordinating activities on construction sites, hiring & supervising workers, overseeing project designs, monitoring supplies, and choosing contractors. They also prepare progress reports and map out budgets in the construction projects.

It is essential for the project managers of tomorrow to be well-equipped with new-age technologies, which are needed to become a dominant player in this domain.

MBA in Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure

With an MBA in Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure, you get to apply economic principles related to real estate, land, planning, property management, environmental laws, and construction technology. If you are inclined towards any of these core values, an MBA in REUI will come in handy. The course will enable you to analyse real estate markets and figure out optimal scenarios for development and investment, along with crafting a project-specific marketing plan.

If you’re someone who possesses sound decision-making skills, then this course is ideal for you.

MBA in Construction Economics and Quantity Surveying

The primary responsibility of a Quantity Surveyor is to understand all the technical aspects of a construction site. As a Quantity Surveyor, you will be responsible for achieving the highest quality of work and understanding budgets, quantities, and measurements. Here’s the interesting part: Quantity Surveying professionals have the luxury to specialise and work exclusively for either clients or contractors. This means that people who aspire to achieve a balance of office-based and on-site work can enjoy the best of both worlds. This specialised MBA course will help you excel as a professional advisor on both cost and commercial matters.

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1. Which one is better: MBA or Masters in Engineering?

The choice is solely yours. If you're going for an M.Tech course or Masters in Engineering, then the focus is more on the technical side and less on the management side. There will mostly be design houses and consultancy firms, who’d want to employ you. If you feel that you’re more inclined towards managing processes instead of executing them, then an MBA is the best course of action to take.

Q2. Construction or Real Estate? Which is a better option for a civil engineer?

Eventually, it boils down to construction. Construction Project Management (CPM) will cater to both infrastructure and real estate. However, it depends on the kind of inclination you have. If you want to be a little more technical, then CPM is a viable course of action to take. However, if you feel you'll fit more into a service-oriented role, then Real Estate is a better option.

Q3. Before pursuing a management course, would it be better to gain some work experience with a company?

While there is no prerequisite attached to the admission process when it comes to the concept of work experience, it would definitely be a huge help nevertheless. Such experience would allow a student to understand concepts faster as they would have practical knowledge of the industry and would be well aware of the technical terminology as well.

There are a plethora of opportunities lying ahead of you after graduating as a civil engineer. It is up to you to make the right choice and tap into a lucrative career in the built environment sector!