Rob chose to study Forestry Science because he 'liked the idea of doing a science-based degree that had a practical aspect to it and an almost guaranteed job at the end. The diverse range of topics you study in the Forestry Science degree was also attractive'.

Having completed his honours degree, Rob was well prepared to progress to his master's degree in Engineering Management. 'Over and above all the technical knowledge that I gained from my degree in Forestry Science, the best preparation for the master's was the intensive nature of the BForSc fourth year, where good group dynamics and clear, concise writing were valued.'

Rob found Engineering Management to be an interesting and varied subject to study. 'We had workshops on topics ranging from leadership to the philosophy of technology. The classwork was also interesting – we carried out block courses in management and financial accounting as well as economics,' he says, adding that, 'being designed as block courses, the workload suited my learning style well, and the class environment was really great. We had regular social events that everyone got into.'

Rob's long term career goal is to make full use of both of his degrees by working his way up to a decision making role in a forestry company. 'After initially working in the forestry industry to gain practical experience, I plan to work towards a leadership position with increasing responsibilities within the company. My main goal is to be promoted into a role where the decisions I make have the potential to positively affect the company or the forestry sector as a whole.'

Rob is well on the way to achieving this goal, having secured a job at Rayonier as Log Production Coordinator.

'I look after log production and cartage, as well as harvest planning, road construction and maintenance for harvesting crews in western Bay of Plenty. A big part of my job is health and safety where I monitor work practices and contractor training to ensure that all work is being undertaken safely.

'The best part about my job is the indoor outdoor flow where I spend on average three days out on site in the forests and two in the office. Apart from the work being interesting, the scenery is breathtaking and I am really enjoying getting to know this part of the country better.'

Already, Rob has found that both degrees have helped him in his role.

'My degree in Forestry Science is obviously crucial, but I have already benefited from the MEM where I have begun working in unison with my boss to put together a project proposal, something that would have been unachievable if I did not learn the skills needed last year.'

Now Rob is making the most of working life, planning to 'save up and travel overseas for the Christmas/New Years break. This is something that I have wanted to do for a very long time but couldn't afford to do while at uni,' he explains.

Rob's advice to anyone considering their undergraduate degree options is straightforward: 'If you are interested in doing a well-rounded degree and enjoy a healthy mixture of the outdoors and inside work then give Forestry Science a go – I did, and I would never go back!'