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

Abstract

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.