Faraz Khan, MBA CPM (2016-2018), Placed at Turner & Townsend

Faraz Khan
MBA CPM (2016-2018)
Placed at Turner & Townsend

Being from a construction background, infrastructure, skyscrapers, bridges and buildings always fascinated me and I always dreamt of building one. I used to watch 'Mega-Structure' in Nat Geo and it gave an educational look of varying depth into the construction, operation and staffing of various structures or construction projects like Petronas towers, Golden gate bridge and Burj Khalifa. Thus, I decided to pursue something in construction or Architecture.

Any advice to students considering joining RICS SBE?
RICS being 150 years old have its brand name with the presence in almost all parts of the world, doing a course from this reputed institute is a privilege and the course is well recognized globally. You get a master’s degree from here which is not the case of the certificate given by other institutes on completion of the course.  The course is Industry-led and focuses more on learning and its practical implications rather than just notes and assignments. Pre-placement activities act as a catalyst to enhance your personality and skill sets to grab the best opportunity in the industry.

How did the MBA program at RICS SBE help you?
The program equipped me with practical as well as theoretical skills, exposed to global ideas and prepared me to be a future leader. It has given me a broader perspective of the entire project lifecycle from inception to close-out with an in-depth understanding of the competencies required to deliver projects and programs efficiently.

How was life at RICS SBE? (Campus, faculty, activities, events)
Life at RICS SBE was a golden period for me which has better equipped me for all the challenges in professional life and created a strong foundation of knowledge. It was a perfect blend of joy and hardships where I have met different people, interacted with them and grown as an individual both professionally and personally. Faculties are well equipped with theoretical and practical knowledge and always willing to extend additional support.

Share experiences from work life.
Currently, I am working for an Automobile Client running their Program for India and Nepal.  The direct exposure to one of our key clients has worked wonders for me by enhancing my skills and competencies. As I have been involved in Program management, it has allowed me to take control over the projects as a whole and deliver outcomes and benefits related to strategic objectives that would not be realised without the programme structure.

What was your experience while studying at RICS SBE?
At RICS SBE, the learning experience has been excellent from the core subjects like construction technology and management which covered the basic civil engineering concepts to subjects like construction contracts, procurement and supply chain management systems which covered the various project management aspects. Various site visits during the curriculum paved the way for actual site experience and bridged the gap between the theoretical and the practical aspects of the learning. Various other subjects like pre-construction planning helped me understand the various project management aspects before the project starts. Various software learned here will also prove to be of great use in the coming future. Overall the learning experience has been 360 degrees covering all the aspects of managing a construction project and its various stages.

What were you doing before coming to RICS SBE?
I pursued my B.E. in Civil Engineering from Bangalore and started working, after working for 2 years I realized that the Technical degree won’t suffice my big goals, so I planned to pursue a management course in construction. I came to know about RICS SBE from an internet advertisement when I was searching for a specialized MBA in the construction domain. The advertisement created a sense of curiosity in me, so I went through the RICS website and got to know about the esteemed history of the organization. When I finally decided to go for MBA in the construction domain and looked for various colleges offering the course, RICS seems to be the best. Most of them offered course structure which was either more inclined towards the technical side or management domain. The course structure at RICS is industry-based and offered techno-managerial kind of course which covered both the technical and managerial aspects, that was the reason I joined RICS. Moreover, the course does change as per changing industry demands.

Where did you get placed?
I got placed with Turner & Townsend as Assistant Project Manager and currently working in Gurgaon.

Where did you intern? How did the internship help you?
I got to intern with Colliers International in Noida, and it was a great learning experience as I was introduced to several departments and I got to know about the brief insight of all these departments and functioning of the project. Concepts learnt at RICS have helped me to understand things at site better and the application of these concepts helped me a lot.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
My future right now is to be an MRICS and PMP certified professional. I want to use the knowledge and skillsets I have learnt and developed here in the construction world and mark an impression in the industry.  5 years down the line I am looking forward to leading major Programme and delivering great outcomes for the clients