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Ryan Rodrigues, alumnus, MSc Building Services Engineering
Ryan Rodrigues completed a part-time Masters degree in Building Services Engineering at LSBU while working for engineering consultancy firm HurleyPalmerFlatt“I knew I wanted to study a Masters degree as it would give me the technical knowledge I needed to progress further in my career,” says Ryan. “I already had my Honours degree under my belt, and was working at HurleyPalmerFlatt. A lot of the directors there were LSBU graduates, so they obviously trusted the quality of the University – it is world renowned within the construction industry. Throw in the fact that the course is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and was available on a part-time basis, and it was ideal for my needs.”
Planning ahead
Ryan was sponsored through his studies by HurleyPalmerFlatt, working while he attended LSBU part-time, and admits that he found it difficult at first. “Getting that balance right between part-time study and a full-time job is quite hard,” he says. “You have to be motivated and plan ahead. Don’t wait for a deadline three months from now; start working on it now! Your office workload and your university workload can ebb and flow, so you have to get ahead whenever you can.”
Graduate of the Year
It was a challenge that Ryan more than rose to. After successfully graduating from the course, he was crowned CIBSE Graduate of the Year at an awards ceremony in London. “It was a great feeling,” he grins. “It was an honour just to be shortlisted, but winning was amazing.”
Challenges
Ryan’s current role for HurleyPalmerFlatt is as a building engineering consultant. “I design the engineering services for buildings, from commercial offices to residential apartments,” he explains. “Both have their own challenges when it comes to working on them. On residential properties, you can be more creative, but commercial tends to be on a bigger scale.”
It’s crucial that you can think on your feet. You need to focus on solutions, and good communication and teamwork skills are at the very heart of that – two of the skills my degree at LSBU helped me to develop.
Ryan Rodrigues
No compromise
Regardless of the setting, however, Ryan’s role is to follow on from the work of the architect who has designed the property. “Architects create bold and innovative schemes to make the building stand apart from the rest and my role is to ensure that the services will be able to adapt to it.”
Read more about studying MSc Building Services Engineering.