An investigation into experiential learning experience of South Africa construction management students at universities of technology

Abstract

Thesis (MTech (Construction Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005.

Cooperative education is practiced in many fields of industry. The South
 African construction industry has shown a preference for cooperative construction
 management education. Cooperative construction management education is practiced
 worldwide, but the majority of these programmes do not have compulsory credit
 bearing experiential learning as part of its programmes. This study examined the
 experiential leaning experience as well as the relevance and adequacy of preparation
 of subject areas taught in UT construction management programmes from the
 perspective of all the stakeholders. The study had four main objectives namely (I) To
 measure the extent of the perceived relevance by industry stakeholders, students and
 academics of the topics and content of construction management programmes at UT;
 (2) To establish the level of inadequacy, as perceived by industry stakeholders and
 academic staff of the preparation of UT construction management graduates to
 perform construction management functions: (3) To determine the level of
 dissatisfaction, if it existed with the experiential learning of construction management
 students; and (4) To establish the preparedness of construction industry stakeholders
 to mentor construction management experiential learning students; and to use the
 findings of the study to inform development of construction management
 programmes.
 Literature was reviewed relative to experiential learning and its general and
 specific application to construction management education. Self- administered
 questionnaires were completed by I" year as well as senior students registered for the
 National Diploma: Building as well as the B. Tech. degrees in Construction
 Management and Quantity Surveying.
 The study suggests that although the experiential learning experience IS
 relevant and generally well accepted by all role-players, there is a mismatch between
 the needs of industry and what is being produced by the UT. The topics that form the
 programme are relevant, but a level of dissatisfaction exists with the preparation of
 construction management graduates to perform construction management functions
 do exist.