5 minutes with Dr. Assem Al Hajj

Dr Assem Al Hajj, Head of Built Environment, HWU

Who are you?
My role is the Academic Head of the School of the Built Environment at Heriot-Watt University. I am responsible for leading the MSc in Facilities Management, Construction Project Management, Real Estate Management and Quantity Surveying.

How did you arrive in FM?
My first degree is in civil engineering. This was followed by an MSc in Construction Management at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, UK and then a PhD in Construction Management at Dundee University UK. My PhD topic in Lifecycle Costing and Building Economics encompasses all aspects of Facilities Management.

I then started teaching FM in another university in the UK. I got involved in FM conferences and research. FM as a discipline is relatively new to this area.

Regionally, there was no degree in FM when Heriot-Watt established its campus in 2005. We felt there was an immediate need for this course and introduced it as one of our first MSc programmes, along with Construction Project Management.

What

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is new on the course this year?
This year, we restructured the course to include an important discipline; Financial Management. It will involve an understanding of a project’s cash flow, profit and loss balance sheet, financial factors that impact a company’s evaluation. It is crucial for an FM to study this and be aware of it as you cannot separate cost from operation. It’s important to understand how finance is both developed and managed.

How has the industry changed since you joined it?
When I finished my PhD, FM was still developing in the UK and Europe. Now it is a very strong profession, a well-known discipline, supported by institutions, such as RICS and FIFM, IFMA. In the Middle East, it has gained ground faster than in Europe because of the fast growth in the construction sector and support through government bodies and University specialised courses, such as those at Heriot-Watt.

Where do you see FM in five years time?
The UAE has the fastest growing FM sector in the region. The Dubai government has supported the industry, leasing to the establishment of MEFMA; the first FM professional body in the region.

At HW, this year alone we have had an overwhelming interest from potential applicants. This shows the FM industry appreciates the importance of formal education to support the profession which will continue into the future. In five years FM will be recognised for the strategic value it brings to any project – from design to operations. I believe the FM industry will continue to play a major role in the overall construction industry.

What advice would you give someone starting out in FM?
I definitely advise young people to get into the FM profession. Our students are drawn from different stages in their career. We receive, those people who are already professionals in the industry, those who are interested in FM and those who are in early stages of their career - graduates. Our students tell us that our course has helped them get promoted, get better jobs and get respect in their workplace. I would encourage people interested in FM to join one of our courses – you won’t appreciate it until you do it.

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