Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the CEM programme will be equipped with the technical, leadership and analytical skills they need to play a transformative role in the construction sector. The key learning objectives for students are as follows:

To identify technological advances that will enhance the production of constructed facilities
To understand the range of financial instruments and constraints on managing large-scale construction projects
To gain a broad knowledge of the construction sector with specialist components of the course covering topics such as digitalisation of construction design, finance, and management, construction technologies, integration of other services and operational priorities, maintenance procedures, safety-critical components, robustness in the different areas of civil infrastructure and buildings
To explore current thinking in advanced materials, sustainable development practices, energy management, supply chain management, recycling and life-cycle assessment and management

To gain an insight into good research practice based on university research programmes and the ability to report research outcomes
To understand business practice and tools in the areas of technology management, technology transfer and exploitation with particular emphasis on the construction industry
To understand the application of generic skills in modelling, simulating and experimentally evaluating construction projects
To carry out critical evaluation of technical problems and examine alternative approaches and technologies to solve them
To develop the ability to act as a change agent within an organisation, manage change effectively and respond to changing demands
To be able to solve complex research issues both systematically and creatively and make informed judgments in the absence of complete data and in unpredictable situations
To plan, execute and critically evaluate an original and individual investigative piece of work through a major dissertation
To prepare formal reports in a range of styles
To reason critically, think creatively, exercise independence of mind and thought and be able to communicate ideas
To manage time and work to deadlines
To find information and learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development and in a wider context throughout their career

To work effectively both independently and in groups, and develop the ability to assess the relevance and importance of the ideas of others
To contribute to and receive effective peer-to-peer learning

To learn how the construction industry must and will change to accommodate the legally binding targets for sustainability and reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases
To develop an awareness of sustainable development and in particular how the Sustainable Development Goals apply to and affect the construction industry

To appreciate the significant current and future impact of digitalisation on the construction industry, including in the use of digital technologies in design, construction and asset management
To understand the emerging impact of data science and AI (including machine learning) in the sector.
To recognise commercial exploitation routes for construction-based technologies and evaluation of options for technology transfer and/or implementation

To understand the key factors in national policies governing construction
To be able to apply holistic thinking in solving problems and designing systems by applying professional and engineering judgment to balance technological, environmental, ethical, economic and public policy considerations