Back to reality

Having completed my clutch of conferences for the time being at least, I’m back in the office today ploughing through the usual pile of emails that always accompany any period of absence from the computer. Local Government always seems busier around election time and with May 5th being the polling day for County Council elections along with “the other one” this office is no exception.

My priority today is to complete my assignment from the Environmental Law module. Keen readers will remember that the EngD has about 16 modules dispersed through the course that are equivalent to the approximate level of work associated with an MSc (allegedly). The last module was taught at Surrey University In March and went through many of the important pieces of environmental legislation that affect business and Local Government in particular and also the planning process.

The final day of the course consisted of a mock planning enquiry for the construction of a new incinerator. Each delegate was given a particular function within the scenario (expert witness, local pressure group etc). I played the advocate for the incinerator firm – allowing me to draw on many years of watching Perry Mason when I should have been in lectures. Sadly, the planning application was rejected. Truly, Raymond Burr must be spinning in his grave.

Each module requires the completion of an assignment, primarily to test your understanding of the material presented. This is certainly the part of the EngD course that most closely resembles life as an undergraduate – not only the taught element but also the whole ‘coursework treadmill’ familiar to many. As with undergaraduate modules, some are more interesting than others. With the EngD in particular, some are more relevant than others depending on the area of research that you happen to be involved with.

This particular assignment isn’t too bad so the motivation to complete it is fairly easy to come by. When the assignment happens to be that bit more difficult/irrelevant, its very easy to start resenting the fact that you’re being made to ‘jump through hoops’ even though a Postgraduate is meant to be a ‘grown up’ student….