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The Panasonic Trust Awards
Michael Shipley – MSc Sustainable Electrical Building Services Engineering, University of Manchester.
 I graduated from the University of Manchester in December 2008 with an MSc in Sustainable Electrical Building Services Engineering, with Merit. A key decision to continue as a mature student was to attain appropriate matching sections in order for me to work towards chartered engineer status. This will enable me to compete at the highest level in my profession.
Distance learning has offered maximum flexibility, allowing me to study while remaining in full time employment. The taught element of the programme was assessed through a combination of course work and examinations. The 8 modules that I chose to form the basis of my MSc programme consisted of Building Electrical Services; Integrated Artificial and Natural Lighting Design; Advanced Lighting; Microprocessor Control of Building Services; Environment, Sustainability and Sources of Electricity; Total Engineering for the Built Environment; Management of Electrical Services Design and Installation Projects and the Design Project. After successfully completing the modules, I commenced the dissertation ‘Post-Occupancy Evaluation’ this took a further 12 months.
The research was based on how occupants actually perceived
the environment in which they work. Once the building has been designed and
built, comparing the feedback to the original design criteria for the
building. This was a very demanding part of my degree. In addition to
undertaking this level of research and keeping a young family together, I
was also seconded to India for a six
month period to establish a new engineering design department within one of
our new offices. This certainly did test the flexibility of the course!
I am extremely proud of what I have achieved considering the hurdles that I faced, on reflection I have no regrets in deciding to embark on an MSc. I offer my gratitude to The Panasonic Trust, without their support I would not have been able to start this course. In addition to this, I would like to offer my special thanks to both Anne and Ian for their words of encouragement and support throughout the duration of my course.
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