Alumni in profile
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George Taylor
Master of Professional Education and Training 2005 and
Graduate Certificate of Professional Education and Training 2003
After having worked for 25 years with just one company, George Taylor decided to complete his Master of Professional Education and Training by distance education whilst still working full-time. He is now about to graduate with a distinction average, despite having "no formal qualifications of any note".
"This is the best thing I've ever done," said George, who now holds the position of Manufacturing Services Manager with his original employer, chemical manufacturer Rohm Haas. "It's all about job security at my age. Now, if an opportunity came my way, I'd be in a position to take it."
George Taylor began his career with the international company 25 years ago as a laboratory technician, having dropped out of an applied science degree after two years, because, he said, "I was so lousy at it".
He was also the company's Training Officer and later, Safety Manager, over a 20-year period. He'd also represented the company on various vocational training and education boards and had taught occupational health and safety to students at Gordon TAFE.
Despite his years of experience, George worried about his lack of qualifications. "I had a bit of a mid-life crisis around 2000 when I turned fortyish," he recalled. "Without qualifications of any note, if I ever left Rohm Haas, I felt I wouldn't be able to get another job."
Deakin's Dr Peter Smith and Associate Professor John Henry, advised George to complete his Masters in Professional Education and Training. However, to be eligible for entry without a degree, George would have to complete a Graduate Certificate of Professional Education and Training at distinction level or higher. "So I did the graduate certificate part-time by distance education, one unit per semester over two years."
For nine months during this period, George worked up to 80 to 90 hours a week and traveled throughout Asia. "But I graduated with four distinctions," he said.
George has only one unit left to complete his masters, which has been delivered entirely online and took him just over one year to complete. "The course is tailored towards distance learning. I really enjoyed all the online discussions and interactivity. The lecturers have for the most part been very, very approachable," said George.
The new qualification means that George now works at the international level as the primary resource for all the organisation's training.
"Rohm Haas has 50 facilities worldwide, and I advise on training right through from management to the shop floor. For example, I've just been to Beijing to teach them how to prepare a logistics training plan, or I might be asked to train the staff to use a new piece of equipment."
"The masters is a great course; it prepares you for the 'how to', and advises you in a generic sense, highlighting how you can improve yourself, particularly for people like me who are largely self-taught. "
