TRAINING FOR LEADERSHIP

Master in leadership in civil engineering

In 2004, the Rafael del Pino Foundation and Castile-La Mancha University agreed to sponsor a Master’s course in leadership aimed at the best new civil engineering graduates. The first course began in 2006.

The aim of this Master’s course is to help to expand the mainly technical training received by civil engineers with further training to strengthen their skills of leadership and innovative management at the civil engineering firms where they will pursue their careers. In short, the aim is to train leaders in civil engineering who are able to perform managerial, organisational or executive functions in any type of civil engineering firm and sector in which leadership skills are required.

Master de liderazgo en ingeniería civil Master de liderazgo en ingeniería civil

The 2008 course was arranged in 10 modules of specialist theory (160 hours in total), supplemented by one month of work placement at major civil engineering firms and other organisations. Each of the modules consisted of basic courses taught by specialists from institutions, civil engineering firms and other organisations, and also Spanish and foreign academics; assessment sessions; and a supervised project.

The modules were as follows:

  • • Organisational behaviour
  • • Fundamentals and styles of leadership
  • • Leadership in civil engineering projects
  • • Basis of negotiation: cooperation, conflict and negotiation
  • • Managing civil engineering firms
  • • Strategic management, entrepreneurs and Business plan
  • • Managing innovation and technology in civil engineering
  • • Process re-engineering. Integrated score card
  • • Communication and emotional intelligence
  • • Knowledge management. Mentoring and coaching. Talent management.

The Master was organised by the College of Civil Engineers of the University of Castile-La Mancha, with the collaboration of 25 academics and professionals from other universities and organisations. The faculty consisted of: Paul Lambert, ESSEC Business School-IAE of Aix-en-Provence; Raúl Calvo, Girona University; Alfredo Font Barrot, Pompeu Fabra University; Stuart Walesh, University of Wisconsin; Daniel Manrique, Jane Egmon and Alison Niederkorn, Northwestern University; José María Menéndez, José María Ureña, Enrique Viaña, Javier Conde, J. Ramón de Páramo and Gonzalo F. Ruiz, University of Castile-La Mancha; Francisco Rivas Ródenas, Endesa; Antonio Linares Sevillano, Iberia Lae; Elena Peña del Cura and Jesús Rubio, Spanish Ministry of Infrastructure and Development; Jill Andrei, MOTIS Coaching; Anna Castells, Communication Consultancy; Antonio Monfort, Ineco-Tifsa; Antonio Sánchez, IBM Manager; Luis J. Conde, Empresa Municipal de Transportes; Gloria de la Torre Muñoz and Antonio Gómez-Guillamón, Aertec; and Jaime del Barrio, Roche Spain.

The organisations where students on the course carried out their work placements were: Ferrovial-Agroman, Acciona, Aertec, Ineco-Tifsa, FCC, Cyopsa Sisocia S.A and Madrid City Council.

Also, on 27 October 2008, the 20 students on the course visited the Ferrovial Group head office, where they were given a tour of the facilities and briefed on the different functions of the corporate departments.

The Prize of honour awarded to the best End of Master Project went to Fernando Pizarro Quintanar for his project entitled “Emocionalidad, Liderazgo, Modelo de negocio y Propuestas de futuro en la Delegación de Ferrocarriles II de Ferrovial-Agroman” [Emotionality, Leadership, Business Model and Proposals for the Future at the Railways II Office of Ferrovial-Agroman].

The closing ceremony of the course took place on 18 December 2008. It was attended by the Vice Chancellor of Castile-La Mancha University, Ernesto Martínez Ataz; the Director of the Rafael del Pino Foundation, Amadeo Petitbò; the Director of the College of Civil Engineers, José María Menéndez; and the Director of the Master’s Course, Javier Conde.