No workplace is just dependent on the employees working. A productive office, an efficient hospital, an effective residential complex, a retail centre, or an educational establishment relies on effective management of space, services, systems, and people. And this is when the concept of facilities management comes into play.
Facilities managers ensure smooth working of building systems, take care of maintenance, safety, and sustainability, and manage employee expectations and operations.
A Post Graduate Diploma in Facilities Management is intended for graduates wishing to specialize in facilities management. It helps learners gain knowledge about facilities management along with the skills necessary for managing the workplace/property environments.
What Is Facilities Management?
Facilities management is a form of management that involves managing buildings, spaces, infrastructure, and other services in order to ensure that the physical environment of an organization works effectively. Some of the possible settings for a facilities manager include:
-
Corporate offices
-
Commercial buildings
-
Hospitals
-
Hotels
-
Education establishments
-
Residential communities
-
Industrial facilities
-
Retail spaces
-
Infrastructures
A facility manager will have operational, technical, and managerial duties. This means that a facility management officer will, among others, be responsible for building management, services provision, vendor coordination, operation of the workplace, asset management, sustainability projects, and management of employees.
In simple language, facilities management ensures that the spaces are working effectively so that those utilizing them can carry out their business effectively.
Why Better Workplaces Need Better Facilities Management
The workplace has come a long way since then. Organizations today have started focusing on the well-being, efficiency, safety, sustainability, and overall workplace experience of their employees. Instead of just being a mere physical place, the workplace is now an environment that has the capability to impact work and interaction.
Facilities management helps organizations achieve:
Therefore, it has become a very important aspect of organizations today.
What Do Facilities Managers Do?
The duties of a facilities manager can differ based on the company and type of properties they work with. But one thing stays constant – their goal is to make sure that all facilities and services work properly. The main duties include:
Management of building operations- The management of the daily operations of the buildings and facilities is done by facilities managers.
Facilities Planning- Facilities planning and maintenance can help to keep building systems performing at their best.
Service Provider Management- Facilities management involves working with many partners and vendors which makes it an important part of the job.
Employee Experience Support- Facilities management professionals may work to provide comfortable and efficient working conditions for their colleagues.
Logistics and Operational Management- Big companies can need experts that will manage logistics and operations connected with facilities.
Sustainability- Facilities management can promote sustainability through efficient resource utilization and building operations.
Assets and Space Management- Knowledge of space and asset utilization can be helpful in future planning.
What Will You Learn in a PG Diploma in Facilities Management?
PG Diploma in Facilities Management consists of building knowledge alongside management and operational skills. Based on the structure of the program, students have an opportunity to learn about topics like:
-
Building Services
-
Facilities Operations
-
Strategic Facilities Management
-
Maintenance Management
-
Corporate Real Estate
-
Financial Management
-
Project Management
-
Asset Valuation
-
Sustainability
-
Data Analytics
-
Human Resource Management
-
Professional Leadership & Ethics
It is crucial due to the interdisciplinary nature of facilities management, which involves various aspects at the same time.
From Building Maintenance to Strategic Management
Facilities management is always thought of only in terms of maintenance. Yet facilities management is not always just about maintenance. The modern facilities manager may find him/herself responsible for making decisions related to the planning of the workplace, to the performance of assets, to sustainability, efficiency, and service provision.
This means that the facilities professional will have to look at things beyond the demands of the building.
Questions that he or she may have to answer could be:
-
How will this facility be run more efficiently?
-
How will maintenance be planned better?
-
How will the workplace environment be improved?
-
How will we be using our resources more responsibly?
-
How can the operations of the building help to achieve organizational objectives?
-
How will data improve facilities management decisions?
The PG Diploma in Facilities Management can provide the necessary perspective on the matter..
Career Opportunities After a PG Diploma in Facilities Management
Increasingly, there is a demand for professionally managed environments, which opens up possibilities within various fields. Some options for students include becoming:
- Facilities Manager
-
Facilities Executive
-
Building Operations Manager
-
Workplace Manager
-
Property Operations Specialist
-
Corporate Facilities Specialist
-
Maintenance Manager
-
Asset and Facilities Coordinator
-
Vendors and Services Manager
-
Facilities Consultant
Some possible employers could be:
Since facilities management spans various industries and different types of properties, there is scope for exposure to various fields
PG Diploma in Facilities Management at RICS School of Built Environmentrics
The Post Graduate Diploma in Facilities Management program offered by the RICS School of Built Environment (RICS SBE), Amity University, Noida will equip the graduate students with the skills required for jobs in facilities management in various building complexes.
As per the program description provided by RICS SBE, the program integrates both managerial and technical education and is focused on building operations and maintenance. Some of the subjects covered include Building Services for Facility Managers, Strategic Facilities Management, Sustainable Practices, Advanced Building Services Management, Data Analytics, Corporate Real Estate, Project Management, Asset Valuation, and Professional Ethics and Leadership.
RICS SBE program description also notes the scope of work of facilities managers in aspects including but not limited to managing the performance of the buildings, performing preventive maintenance, managing facilities managers’ expectations and the well-being of employees, logistics, and organizing events. RICS SBE has mentioned that the program is offered from their Noida campus.
RICS SBE describes itself as an industry-led institution providing specialized programs for a career in the real estate, construction, and infrastructure sector.
Who Should Consider a PG Diploma in Facilities Management?
A PG Diploma in Facilities Management can be an appropriate choice for graduates looking to pursue management of the built environment. This diploma could be right for those wishing to:
-
Pursue a career in facilities and workplace management
-
Gain knowledge of building operations and maintenance
-
Work in corporate and commercial properties
-
Develop managerial competencies for the built environment
-
Explore career options in property and asset operations
-
Learn sustainable facilities management practices
-
Handle complex building facilities
-
Seek careers in operations and management
As per the program page, the qualification criterion for the RICS SBE program is graduation with at least 50% marks, subject to the admission criterion of the institution.
Conclusion
Great workplaces don't just happen. They come into existence because of professionals with an understanding of how buildings operate, how services are managed, and how spaces can better serve their occupants.
A PG Diploma in Facilities Management can help professionals-in-the-making gain technical, operational and managerial competencies to make contributions to improved buildings and workplaces.
For buildings such as offices, hospitals and residential facilities, to large-scale commercial buildings, there will always be the need for effective operations. For graduates willing to have careers in these environments, facilities management provides the opportunity to do more than simply manage buildings; it offers the chance to create better workplaces.
FAQs
1. What is a PG Diploma in Facilities Management?
It is a specific course which concentrates on operations, maintenance and management of buildings.
2. What career opportunities do I have after this course?
There are many options for you, such as Facilities Manager, Workplace Manager and Building Operations Manager.
3. Who can apply to the course?
People who want to deal with facilities, property and workplace operation may apply.
4. What skills will I gain?
You can gain such skills as building services, maintenance, operations, project management and strategic facilities management.
