Cranfield University

Name: 

Alex Massie

Course: 

Water Management – Community Water and Sanitation (CWS) option (2009-2010)

How did you first find out about Cranfield? 

I was given a recommendation for the CWS course by former supervisor at Cambridge as she knew that the course was well respected.

Why did you choose your postgraduate course?

I had volunteered overseas before, but wanted to obtain a job in the field. In development and disaster relief it is now necessary to have an appropriate Masters qualification before you can be considered for the job and so I decided to take the course.

Describe your experience of postgraduate study at Cranfield

The most important factor is that the people who you are learning from are experienced and knowledgeable about the subject which was the case, particularly with regards to the course director. The modules themselves were well designed and evidently based upon years of honing the content. I enjoyed the flexibility afforded by many of the learning tasks, and the week of practical work was excellent, though all too brief. The facilities at our disposal for study were generally excellent.

What skills are you acquiring from the study?

Whilst I had a significant understanding of the engineering elements in advance of the course, the social aspects and implications were something I had not addressed fully. Through the course I have learnt about the issues regarding communities and development, problems to look out for and methods of addressing this in the field. I was able to complement this by choosing a largely anthropological study for my MSc thesis which really gave me a chance to think about the ‘soft’ factors that are often overlooked by engineers. I believe that the course has therefore enabled me to complement my engineering skills.

Were there any parts of the course that you found particularly enjoyable/useful?

The drilling week enables hands on experience of drilling technologies. Whilst it is unlikely that many development workers will be conducting drilling themselves, it enables you to be confident when commissioning drilling and supervising the work.

The thesis was also valuable experience overseas where there was an opportunity to work with an NGO and observe in a manner that might not be possible when actively engaged in work. This was both enjoyable and very useful in helping me understand the issues surrounding development, with regard to both my specific thesis topic and my broader interest. This overseas experience is the point at which you consolidate everything else you have learnt.

What was your individual thesis project about?

My thesis was about the hygiene beliefs and practices of the Batwa tribe of central Africa, specifically in south west Uganda. I funded it entirely myself, though the major costs are air travel as living in country is usually very cheap. I was partnered with an NGO that I contacted at my own instigation as I proposed my own project. Proposing my own project gave me the flexibility to do what I wished, though it meant that I had to do all the groundwork myself.

Would you recommend the course? Why?

I would recommend the course because of the experience of the lecturers and course director in particular. The extensive overseas experience of those running the course is vital for the vibrancy, success and relevance of the course and I was lucky to be able to learn from such people. I would urge anyone considering a similar course anywhere to look at the overseas experience of those running the course as well as the reputation among NGOs.

What do you most like about Cranfield?

Besides the course, the thing that attracted me to Cranfield was that it is a postgraduate only institution which means that mature students are the norm, not the exception. This means that socialising is perhaps easier than in a university dominated by undergraduates.

Have you already been offered employment?

I have an unpaid stint at the Centre for Alternative Technology, though I also had the opportunity to take two overseas unpaid placements through SAFAD (Cranfield’s own NGO) and Engineers Without Borders.

What are your plans for the future?

Despite the course focusing on development and disaster relief I have come to believe that making our water and sanitation more sustainable here in Britain is very important as well. I am therefore working at the Centre for Alternative Technology, hoping to put my knowledge and overseas experience into practice here in Britain. I may still work overseas in the future, and the course has given me the contacts to make this possible.