RMIT construction students play a key role in refurbishment
30-05-2010 - Construct - February 2009
RMIT University's extensive $500 million capital works program heralds an exciting time in the history of the University.
Two major buildings will be constructed over the next three years and will transform the Swanston Street "spine" running through the City campus. A large number of buildings across the City and Bundoora campuses are also being refurbished and university grounds are being given environmentally sustainable makeovers.
In this climate of construction, renovation and architectural innovation, the team of project managers in RMIT's Property Services group are juggling an enormous workload.
Assistance has arrived in the form of three students enrolled in Construction Management and Project Management programs within the School of Property, Construction and Project Management. One of the students, fourth-year Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management) student Rocky DePace has been working with Property Services part-time for eighteen months.
Mr DePace said that it was a requirement that all senior level students in the Construction Management program complete sixteen weeks / eighty days - of industry experience. This requirement is set by the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) as part of its accreditation of the degree program.
"Working with Property Services has been a great experience for me," Mr DePace said.
"I have acquired many new skills and the projects that I have been working on relate to the theory I have been learning in the Construction Management program."
Mr DePace said that his communications skills had also improved due to frequent dealings with a diverse range of people, including architects, contractors and RMIT staff.
Mr DePace has also developed a firm grasp on the project management and delivery process.
"I have been project-managing the rollout of new signage across the University," he said.
He says he is excited to be involved in the design and construction phase of the refurbishment of Building 55 in Cardigan Street, which will become RMIT's advanced manufacturing precinct.
Another of the students, Simon Sung, is a third-year Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management student and thrives in his role with Property Services. Mr Sung is involved in a number of projects, ranging from RMIT building fitouts and the construction of the City campus cafeteria balconies and outdoor cafe space. He believes the experience he has gained in Property Services is really valuable.
"The project management skills I am gaining will really enhance my employment prospects once I have graduated," Mr Sung said.
Terry King, Associate Director of the Projects Branch within Property Services, said that Property Services had been placing students in Building Project Officer roles for the past three years.
"This has been a very successful arrangement for Property Services because our project managers benefit from the input of these up-and-coming students, who offer fresh perspectives and share their knowledge about new technologies," Mr King said.
Mr King went on to say that the students also reap big rewards, given that they can cut their teeth on important building and refurbishment projects. The university has had several students who worked with them who are now in challenging roles within large companies.
One RMIT student with experience in the university's Property Services section is working with the Baulderstone Hornibrook construction company and another has a position with Mirvac, a real estate group which is listed on the ASX. There's also a student who worked with Property Services who was awarded a John Storey Junior Memorial Scholarship to study building construction at the University of Florida in the US in the first half of this year Mr King said.
Mark Vines, Program Director for the Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management), said that the School of Property Construction and Program Management had been engaged in enhancing the work experience component of the degree to bring it in line with RMIT's Work Integrated Learning (WIL) strategy, which aims to provide an education that enables students to put their coursework theory into practice.
"The industry-relevant work experience component is an integral part of our Construction Management students' learning program," Mr Vines said.