How did you come to TU Dublin’s Sustainable Transport and Mobility course?

After working in the civil service for ten years I took a career break to complete my BA in history and politics by repeating my final year. I’d always been interested in transport planning and I needed a life change, so I applied for the MSc.

I thought it was a good course because it looked quite broad. I also spoke with one of the lecturers beforehand and she pointed to the connections with industry in Ireland.

How did you find the course, not having an engineering background?

I found it to be very accessible and it provides a good, general introduction to most concepts involved in transport planning and policy.

The course certainly introduces a lot of engineering concepts! My colleagues from an engineering background were more comfortable with modelling and some of the other core modules that would be closer to engineering – but they were more challenged with the planning and the policy side of things. I was more comfortable in that area.

Take for example, the modules on local government development and innovation that involved political science. Others on my course were less comfortable with that and more at ease with traffic management. That was the strength of the course! There were areas where everyone was in and out of their comfort zone.

Did this diversity of backgrounds prove valuable on the course?

The diversity of people is a great strength: just having that breadth of life and work experience coming into the course. The people on my course were fantastic. Some of them, as I said, were already working in the sector, and it's always really helpful getting their insights. I learned a lot from them, as well as the actual course content, the research and so on.

And all the lecturers on the course are also brilliant. They are very supportive during the course and are genuinely interested in your career and how it's progressing.

How has the course had an impact on your career?

The course finished in January and I officially graduated in April. I've been quite fortunate in finding a job straight away with Safe Routes to School, a project that campaigns for better cycling and walking infrastructure, and encourages people to change their habits – behaviour change was one of the first modules we did on the course!

And I have just accepted an offer of another job as a transport modeller with a major transport organisation in Ireland.  I was initially hesitant to apply but at our end-of-course get-together, one of my classmates strongly urged me to apply for it, pointing out it was an entry-level position and that it would be a great opportunity to continue to expand my knowledge of the transport planning sector.  I am looking forward to learning more and being able to apply my learnings from my MSc.

Learn about the MSc in Sustainability Transport & Mobility at TU Dublin and review the full list of TPP-approved Masters programmes.

Brendan Meskell was in conversation with Craig Thomas.

Words by Brendan Meskell.

Learn about the MSc in Sustainability Transport & Mobility at TU Dublin and review the full list of TPP-approved Masters programmes.