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New Zealand Engineering 1998 March
IPENZ News</h3>
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IPENZ News
<HR><strong>Review of University
of Waikato Technology Management and Innovation Executive Programme
<p><em>David Parkin MTM,CEng,MICE,MCIWEM,MIPENZ Registered Engineer</em></p>
<p>In February 1995 I attended, as a pilot project, one of the Technology
Management and Innovation (TMI) modules. This was highly successful so
I decided to pursue the whole programme of completing 12 modules in three
years leading to a Master of Technology Management degree (MTM).</p>
<p>Each module is one week of intensive residential study led by two presenters,
each highly qualified and generally one in private practice commercialising
new ideas and products. Graduates of the programme are expected to make
a measurable contribution to growth in New Zealand's gross domestic product
(GDP).</p>
<p>The week's programme is highly interactive and participants are given
individual and group assignments to complete during the week. Presenters
allocate marks for these assignments and the level of participation by
students. Two or three guest speakers from industry/business will also
attend at critical times to stimulate discussion.</p>
<p>Pre-course reading is sent out about four weeks before the module starts.
It is vital to complete the readings as individual assignments/presentations
and case studies are drawn from the readings.</p>
<p>Whilst the atmosphere on the modules is "pressure cooker" it is realistic
and mirrors the nature of corporate life today in the public and business
sectors of New Zealand and elsewhere.</p>
<p>The group assignments are challenging and each group of four or five
has to present a full business case analysis to the presenters and other
participants on the last day. Research and preparation for this has to
be done mostly outside the formal teaching/lecture sessions. Hence a few
late working nights are the norm! Other group case studies also feature
during the week with the presenters available as mentors. All participants
must therefore quickly adapt to working in a new team environment and make
a major contribution to the group's work for these exercises; all members
get the same mark based on the overall performance of the team.</p>
<p>Just when the week is over and you think it's time to relax you have
to sign the contract for the post-module assignment! The contract is between
the presenters and the participant. The assignment is due six weeks after
the completion of the module and should involve 80 to 100 hours of work
on implementing some or all of the aspects of the teaching back in the
workplace. The assignment brief and objectives are agreed before closure
of the module.</p>
<p>Participants in the MTM programme are able to submit a major project
as a credit for two modules. My own contribution to the TMI programme as
my major project, was to prepare material for a module on environmental
management. I was invited to jointly present the environmental management
module.</p>
<p>Overall, for those looking for an executive business programme but with
a focus on technology and innovation the University of Waikato's TMI programme
is tailor-made. Unique in New Zealand, it is beginning to attract overseas
students via the internet. Innovation in action!</p>
<p>For details of the programme see: <a href="http://tmi.sci.waikato.ac.nz/">http://tmi.sci.waikato.ac.nz/</A>
<br />
</p>
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