By
Nigel Dique
 |
|
LCDR
Grant Anson who gained a Masters from UNSW using distance
learning
|
Poring
over textbooks or writing university assignments after flying
long days or nights on patrol in The Gulf is not for everyone.
Nor is using leave time in Hong Kong to study for exams.
But it was routine for LCDR Grant Anson, studying part time by
distance for a Master of Business and Technology (MBT) degree
at the University of New South Wales. Grant, of 817 Squadron based
in Nowra, is a high flyer in more ways than one.
At age 33, he is already a veteran of many assignments, including
peacekeeping operations in the Solomons, joint naval exercises
in Hawaii and patrol duties in The Gulf.
However, he regards the MBT as one of his most interesting and
challenging projects.
“It has been a long haul, but well worth the effort,” he said.
He will graduate in October after completing three and a half
years of distance study.
Grant left his home town of Hervey Bay, Queensland, to join the
Royal Australian Navy in 1992 as a Midshipman, rising through
the ranks to become an Officer of the Watch in guided missile
destroyers before transferring to helicopters as an Airborne Tactician.
The pilot is the ‘hands’ of the aircraft and the Airborne Tactician
is the ‘eyes’, he explained. “Serving in the Navy is a unique
adventure and I love it. “However, I wanted to do postgraduate
study to advance my management skills.
“I first looked at an MBA program but a friend who had completed
an MBA advised that the MBT would be more appropriate because
of its technology orientation.
“As it turned out, the MBT was ideal because it could be studied
by distance, with class interaction over the Internet. “Attending
lectures was out of the question for me, given the unpredictable
nature of Navy work and the length of time spent at sea.”
Grant says the degree has given him a lot of confidence and he
has been able to apply what he has learned - particularly in the
fields of project management, risk management and accounting -
directly to his work
environment.
One of his Risk Management assignments was on the new Sea Sprite
aircraft.
For further information: www.mbt.unsw.edu.au,
or contact Natalie Kidd, Executive Director, MBT Program, UNSW
(02) 9385 6660; or the author Nigel Dique, (02) 9879 6655. LCDR
Grant Anson who gained a Masters from UNSW using distance learning.
