Opportunities, improvements and confidence
Keeping pace with the latest thinking, and a passion for lifelong learning, have spurred on automotive engineer Chris Mudd to study for a master’s at Brookes.
Taking the initiative
I wanted to get deeper insights into the changes in ways of working that are happening all around me
Chris Mudd, Principal Engineer, Tata Motors
Chris’s decision to study for an MSc in Automotive Engineering was about staying up-to-date with the latest developments in his industry. “Automotive engineering is undergoing rapid changes, like so many other work areas, and it’s vital to keep pace. I wanted to get deeper insights into the changes in ways of working that are happening all around me.”
Brookes’ reputation as a leading provider of engineering courses, the university’s location and the opportunity to study part-time were all reasons for choosing to study for his master’s at Brookes.
Balancing work with study
Balancing seminar and lecture time at Brookes alongside his full-time job as a principal engineer has been challenging but rewarding. Chris uses the drive from work to Brookes to get into the appropriate mindset for studying. “It’s a time when I need to switch from the more immediate demands of my job to the more reflective requirements of learning and absorbing the materials for the course.”
Applying studies to the workplace
Chris says his new skills and knowledge are already informing his job. He now has a deeper understanding of new engineering processes including modelling and simulation techniques used to test car engines. “In the past, colleagues at work may have applied these more readily, and now I have the knowledge, understanding and confidence to apply them for more effective results”