What made you choose DEC?  
I was struggling to pick a final course to study in Monoux and a helper suggested DEC as I had an interest in drawing and maths which came under the role of architecture, which was one of the many job roles that was explored while learning DEC for 2 years.  

How did DEC influence your choice of further or higher education? 
If it wasn’t for DEC I would never have been introduced to my career interest! DEC helped with that as there were multiple trips and lessons that educated me on different career options. Before DEC, I didn’t know anything substantial about the construction industry. Now that I have that knowledge, I have gone on to choose quantity surveying in university.  

How has studying DEC at Monoux helped you on your degree? 
The coursework that I had to complete for DEC at Monoux helped with my present coursework, as we are learning terminology, processes, and software that I have come across during DEC. It also provided me with some experience that has been helpful in achieving good grades and acquiring a placement.  

What did you like about DEC?  
I liked how it explored multiple roles in the construction industry, allowing you to explore what each of them does and providing you with the chance to research the ones that you like. I like how DEC was coursework based instead of exams as I feel I gained more from actively creating my design based on things I’ve learnt.

What advice would you give for prospective future students? 
Picking courses like DEC could possibly open an interest that you never knew you had. Always put the work in and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you need help because it will benefit you in the long run. 

What made you choose DEC?   
My decision to study DEC wasn’t planned. When I enrolled at Sir George Monoux College I originally decided to study 3 A levels (History, Sociology and Psychology), however, very early on I realised that Psychology was not a course that I wanted to continue studying. I spoke to one of my pathway leaders and I was presented with the DEC course as a possible option. After looking into the course, meeting the teacher, and joining in on a lesson I quickly decided that the DEC course was the course for me!
 
I have always had an interest in buildings; living in East London I was able to witness different places undergo complete transformations, like Stratford when it was redeveloped for the Olympics. However, I never thought it would be an interest that I would take seriously as I was never given the opportunity to further develop this interest in school. I was drawn to the idea of studying a course that was ‘different’ from what I was usually drawn to, and the DEC course appealed to my interest.   

How did DEC influence your choice of further or higher education?  
I originally didn’t want to go to university as I didn’t have a deep enough interest in any subject and therefore had no desire to study anything specific in higher education. 

Studying DEC completely altered my perspective on this and opened my eyes to the wide variety of possible subjects, courses and careers that were available within the construction sector. Compared to other courses, DEC gave me the clarity that I needed, and a goal to work towards.

Through my two years on the course, I was able to gain an insight into the different professions within the construction sector and decide on a degree based on the knowledge I had. So overall, the DEC course 100% gave me the courage I needed to go to university as I originally didn’t want to go, and I am now able to study a course that I really enjoy.  

How has studying DEC at Monoux helped you on your degree?  
Studying DEC helped me while studying my degree, as it laid the foundations and provided me with a good level of understanding of the sector, about the industry that I am going into. DEC helped me to put into perspective that the construction industry is not just about buildings, but also about the importance of the environment, sustainability, procurement, stakeholders, and the local community within projects. Studying as a Quantity Surveyor looks into all of these factors and having previous knowledge of this has enabled me to progress really well within my various modules at university.   

Alongside this, within the two years that I spent studying the course, I was able to gain work experience relevant to the construction sector. I learnt (both from the course and from my work experience placements) how to use software like Revit. Thanks to the DEC course I was able to excel in one of my first-year modules in university that involved creating floor plans in Revit. While most of my fellow course mates were unfamiliar with the software I was able to demonstrate excellent digital skills, which enabled me to get a first for that module. Alongside this, as I am studying a 4-year sandwich course, when looking for an industrial placement for my degree, work experience has been a very sought-after factor that companies look for in students. So having two different work experience placements with well-respected companies in the construction industry has enabled me to stand out in my industrial placement applications.   

What did you like about DEC?   
My favourite parts of the DEC course include the different visits to companies, the coursework, and the work experience opportunities. While studying the course, my class was able to go on many different trips to companies such as Allies and Morrison, Balfour Beatty and Bouygues. All the visits to these companies were very insightful and I was able to learn a lot that I may not have been able to in the classroom. I gained knowledge about the different specialists in the construction industry and how each specialists role contributed to the overall success of construction projects. 

In addition to this I think the coursework was very enjoyable, it never seemed too hard or irrelevant which made it enjoyable to do. I genuinely looked forward to my DEC lessons as the coursework was very relevant to what we were learning, very well structured, and the objectives made clear, this contributed significantly to my interest and enthusiasm towards the course. 

As the DEC course was very well connected with various construction companies it was very easy to find work experience opportunities. The companies that I completed my work experience with were very welcoming and ensured that while I was working for them, I was treated as an equal and I am still in contact with one of my mentors from Allies and Morrison. Work experience was a great way to get a real taste of life within the construction industry and the DEC course provided me with the opportunity to gain an insight into the lives of different specialist within the construction industry.  

What advice would you give for prospective future students?  
I would advise prospective future students to utilize all the opportunities that the DEC course offers, weather that is work experience, site visits, knowledge on how to use different software etc. Everything that I learnt on the course has benefited me in some way while studying at university, even the small things that I didn’t think I would use in university. I would also encourage prospective future students to approach the DEC course with enthusiasm. As someone who took on the course as a last-minute decision, I believed I gained a lot from the course by engaging in the lessons, site visit and being enthusiastic when learning about the course. 

What made you choose DEC?  
DEC was recommended to me by my teacher on admissions day as he thought it was the perfect course for me because I wanted to be an architect.  

How did DEC influence your choice of further or higher education? 
DEC provided a plethora of choices for further and higher education which weren’t given by other courses. It offered alternative ways to find yourself in the specific field you’re interested in. This allowed my decision to do an undergraduate a confident one.  

How has studying DEC at Monoux helped you on your degree? 
My degree revolves around the human world more than the physical environment, which is what DEC was about as well. DEC provided a foundation of knowledge that made learning about topics covered in my degree feel familiar. I feel that I have an advantage compared to other students because I have taken part in a course that felt more like an experience, rather than a sixth-form subject.  

What did you like about DEC? 
Among many things, I was impressed by the fact that we were being trained on the same software that civil engineers and architects use today. This not only made my work experience go smoother but gave me an advantage over other participants who weren’t offered the same level of industry-involved learning that I received through DEC. I also stood out because no one was expecting me to be able to use Revit which would definitely set DEC students apart when applying for either university or employment.  Other subjects felt bland in comparison with DEC. DEC is a new and modern way of learning and getting young people into construction and other courses should be more like DEC.  

What advice would you give for prospective future students? 
Go with DEC if you’re even a little interested in construction, engineering, or design. Go into DEC with a clear mind and trust that it will provide you with a career option suited for you. I went into DEC wanting to be an Architect, but after exploring my options (which were provided by DEC) I realised that it might not be the best career path for me. I ended up realising that I love property renovations and transforming spaces into something modern, functional, and suited for the needs of people today.