JOHN CORCORAN - TUNNELLING EDUCATION | GUEST EDITORIAL
Above left: Field trip to Wren’s Nest Above right: Benoit Jones, with happy students, BTS committee members, and course lecturers Sandeep Nirmal, CEng, MICE, and Principal Tunnel
Engineer, Jacobs UK, says MSc was pivotal to his career. “Building on my experience in India, it helped me to establish my career in the UK, prepared me to work on major tunnelling projects, paved the path to obtain ICE Chartership.” He started a young members group in India and was Young Tunneller of the Year 2019. Asil Zaidi, MSc, PMP, GMICE, and who was ICE
President’s Future Leader 2021-2022, and currently BTSYM Chair, attended the MSc full time, in 2019-20. Amongst all the specialised MSc courses in tunnelling recognised by ITA, only this course accepted undergrads – “which set it apart for someone like me who had been working as a Tunnel Engineer (in India) for 4.5 years before joining the course.” Vasile Gornea, CEng, MICE says the course had
“perfect balance” between academic and industry- led teaching, and “provided a great insight into the tunnelling industry.” With many new connections made, most colleagues had employment secured by the end of the course - which “says it all.” Mehdi Hosseini, CEng, FICE, and Director of Tunnel
Engineering Ltd, joined the MSc in 2014, having more than 14 years of industry experience. “I stepped away from work to complete the course full-time, and it was one of the best decisions I have made in my career.” Robert Harding, CEng, MICE says the MSc had “a great
mix of design, construction, safety and geotechnical modules, and the industry-led nature of the course set it apart.” He has met alumni and lecturers from the course on each tunnelling job since. Gerard Quigg, Engineering Manager – Tunnel, with CPB Contractors (in Melbourne, Australia),
attended part time over 2013-2015 while working with Donaldson Associates/ Cowi. “The learning directly informed my contribution to tunnelling projects.” He strongly recommends the course to engineers looking to “accelerate their development and broaden their capability across both design and construction.” Peter Coppenhall, CEng, MICE. Associate Director
at OTB Engineering, attended the course early, over 2011-2012, and says it gave him “a definitive edge” and “helped create valuable connections within the industry that truly kickstarted my career.” Divik Bandopadhyaya, BTS Committee Member,
BTSYM Chair 2020-2021; former Member of ITAym Steering Board, says the MSc “not only underpinned my knowledge of tunnelling and my further career within the industry, but it also led to lasting friends with fellow students, alumni, and lecturers alike.”
Above: Course lecturer Benoit Jones with students at Warwick May 2026 | 11
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