The EEF Supporting Fletcher Building Employee Ryan Craig

Course of Study: Master of Business Study

Provider: University of South Australia

Duration of Study: 2010—2013

My name is Ryan Craig, and I am the Logistics Manager at Tasman Sinkware in Adelaide, Australia. One of the key benefits of working for a Fletcher company as highlighted during my recruitment process is the Employee Education Fund. Having completed a Bachelor or Management (Operations and International) degree through the University of South Australia some time ago now (graduating in 2002) I had always wanted to undertake a Master of Business Administration, and in 2010, with the support and encouragement of my boss, Steve Warnett and our Business Unit General Manager, Joe Bayer, I applied for and was accepted into the MBA (online) programme at UniSA.

I applied for funding for the coursework for this programme through the EEF, and this application was granted for the first 4 subjects in late 2010/early 2011, and again this year for the next 4 subjects. The course is three years of part-time study, occupying roughly 44 weeks out of the year. Thus far, I have successfully completed the first 4 subjects with excellent grades, and have absolutely loved the return to academic study, and have quite seamlessly incorporated it into my week.

I believe that after a decade or so of professional experience I have a much greater level of knowledge than I had when I undertook my undergraduate degree, and as such I am getting more out of this course than I did my Bachelor’s degree. I have particularly enjoyed the online mode of study, which is timeflexible and suits me perfectly as I was never someone who enjoyed sitting in a classroom.

In complete honesty, I really don’t think I would have undertaken this study without the funding support of the EEF, as the costs are quite substantial. I believe that studying this programme has made me a more capable leader and manager, and has given me a greater capacity to think about my work, and how I relate to, motivate, and lead others.

I believe education, whether formal or informal, should be a life long undertaking, and I am grateful that the EEF has facilitated my being able to take this next academic and professional step. I also believe that inside of a company as large and diverse as Fletcher Building we have the opportunity to see in practice many of the theoretical concepts that are taught in today’s universities, and this is extremely beneficial.

I would whole-heartedly encourage any Fletcher Building employee who is considering further study and/or training to go for it, as you will have the support of a company which really does value employee development. I would be more than happy to be personally contacted by anyone considering further study to discuss this in more detail.

“I believe that studying this programme has made me a more capable leader and manager, and has given me a greater capacity to think about my work, and how I relate to, motivate, and lead others.”