News story issued by Dandara:
Students from University College Isle of Man’s (UCM) Construction, Architecture and Surveying course were given a valuable insight into one of the Island’s significant residential developments during a recent site visit to Dandara’s Quay West project.
The trip gave students the opportunity to see first-hand how the principles they learn in the classroom are applied on a live construction site. Guided by members of the Dandara team, they toured the development and learned about the planning, design, engineering and project management processes involved in delivering a major apartment scheme.
The Waterside at Quay West, located in Douglas, will comprise 109 high-quality apartments, creating a modern and sustainable new community. During the visit, they were shown the different stages of construction in progress and gained an understanding of the wide range of careers involved in bringing a development of this scale to life.
Dandara representatives discussed the importance of collaboration between architects, surveyors, engineers, project managers and construction professionals, highlighting the diverse career opportunities available within the built environment sector. Students also had the opportunity to ask questions about industry trends, emerging technologies and the skills employers are looking for in future construction professionals.
Adrian Jackson, Project Manager at Dandara, said: ‘Supporting the next generation of construction professionals is incredibly important to us. We were delighted to welcome UCM students to Quay West and provide them with an opportunity to see a major development up close. Site visits like this help bridge the gap between education and industry, giving them a greater understanding of the practical application of their studies and the exciting career opportunities available within the sector.’
Sam Warren, Head of Environment & Sustainability Faculty at UCM, added: ‘Work-based encounters such as this visit to Quay West are incredibly important to enriching the learning of our students; seeing the learning in the classroom come to life on the construction site.’
The visit forms part of Dandara’s ongoing commitment to supporting education, skills development and industry engagement across the Isle of Man. By working closely with local educational providers such as UCM, Dandara aims to help equip young people with the knowledge and experience needed to succeed in the construction industry.
Students left the visit with a deeper understanding of the complexities of large-scale development projects and valuable insight into the career pathways available to them within the built environment sector.
