Reading University, Department of Construction Management and Engineering and Department of Engineering
Introduction:
The Department of Construction Management and Engineering and the Department of Engineering at Reading University form the School of Construction Management and Engineering. By forming the School, the University has created the opportunity to formalise the historical links between the Departments of Engineering and Construction Management & Engineering and to achieve a rethink of the existing portfolio of activities.
At Reading, the staff has a wide range of interests and research expertise in key areas that have been recognised by government and funding bodies. However, as student members we aim to become more involved in the activities of the School in order to be aware of the opportunities and knowledge that it can offer.
The Student Chapter aims to provide better facilities and opportunities for its researchers and postgraduate members in terms of support for networking opportunities. Good PhD research requires support from both academics and practitioners. We believe that students can contribute to new ideas if they have the opportunity to express themselves in "academic" or "professional" environments, where they can be heard. The main objective of the Student Chapter is to create such a platform.
Within the postgraduate community in the School many of the activities currently being undertaken are comparable to those recommended for a CIB Student Chapter. Each week the postgraduates and researchers meet informally to discuss issues regarding their research, facilities and opportunities. Researchers and postgraduates are encouraged to attend and deliver papers on their research at CIB Working Commission and Task Group events and conferences. Staff of the School are active on various groups and committees of CIB.
The postgraduate students are very keen on the development of the Student Chapter and they welcome the interaction with members of the different students' chapters. Moreover, this provides a means to increase involvement of people from all the Masters courses that are currently taught in the School of Construction Management and Engineering.
In March 2002, the first PhD mini-conference was held within the School of Construction Management and Engineering. The PhD mini-conference was an effort by the researchers in the department to promote co-operation amongst its members. Special guests were invited in order to obtain a different view on the research projects carried out in the School.
Lunch-time seminars were also held within the department every week in order to share opinions about the different projects within an informal environment that helps to disseminate ideas and useful comments.
The School of Construction Management and Engineering provides research support through seminars in order to improve research methods and methodology of all its members. People form all levels of research can attend, MSc, PhD and research assistants are always very welcome to the seminars.
The proposed CIB Student Chapter will work within this structure providing internally and externally led seminars of particular relevance to CIB activities.
Vision:
The chapter provides a forum for the exchange, dissemination and sharing of research skills and interests amongst its members. The activities to meet this objective are:
• To improve contact with other Student Chapters. Developing and maintaining the CIB Reading Student Chapter web site. The purpose of this site is to publish information about the chapter activities. It will have a link with PhD students at the School of CM&E at The University of Reading. An abstract of the current research projects by them will be held here. Any events, news or slides will also be posted on the site. Information on PhD conferences and workshops members would be found here.
• To encourage the development of research interest among its members. Organizing workshops and seminars to disseminate research findings by invited speakers or members of the Reading Student Chapter of CIB.
• To encourage best use of IT services and methodology techniques by providing training sessions useful for researchers specifically and construction industry participants in general.
Programme:
The Work Programme is as follows:
• Produce a regular newsletter on its activities a minimum of twice yearly.
• Build on links previously developed with international institutes and actively pursue new links with other CIB Student Chapters internationally.
• Actively encourage other CIB member institutes to establish their own CIB (Endorsed) Chapter.
• Support CIB events by encouraging student members to attend and to submit papers for publications at such events.
• Build confidence in young researchers into the research activity thanks to the seminars and workshops promoted by the Student Chapter and the School of Construction Management and Engineering.
• Least but not last, have up a running a Student Chapter website with a database of activities carried out by the chapter.
Membership:
Membership of the CIB Student Chapter will be open to all postgraduate students as well as undergraduate students undertaking a research-based activity. Members must:
• Have an interest in research and innovation in the area of the built environment
• Take an active part in the activities of the Student Chapter
• Encourage networking and knowledge dissemination
The Student Chapter will have its own clearly established Membership rules. The rules will comply with the CIB's Mission Statement as set out in the CIB constitution. Student membership will be free, at least for the first year of its existence. It will be then considered whether a fee would have to be charged in order to maintain funds for its activities. However a search of potential sponsors in the area will be made in order to obtain some funds to run this first year.
Contact:
The Director of Postgraduate Research, David Shipworth, is the main contact for CIB. The President of the CIB Student Chapter is working closely with Dr. Shipworth to encourage collaboration from all the members of the chapter. The CIB contact is in charge of encouraging new students to contribute with the Student Chapter, facilitating monitoring and ensuring continuity to the Student Chapter administration. The President raises the profile of the CIB activities amongst researchers at Reading and encourage collaboration with other researchers around the world. The role of the Vice President is to support the President and act as the President's representative on occasions when he/she is unable to attend. The Vice President is specifically in charge of collaboration and dissemination through Internet communications. The general secretary is in charge of any internal communications and he/she is responsible for any organisation of events regarding the students' chapter.
Finances:
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