QUALITY OF UNDERGRADUATE QUANTITY SURVEYING EDUCATION

Abstract

This study focuses on the competencies of new graduate quantity surveyors (QSs) working in Singapore’s construction industry. Competencies in the context of quantity surveying include contract administration and construction technology. These are broad subjects which encompass many components termed “elements”. This study assesses the quality of undergraduate quantity surveying education with regard to the performance of new graduate QSs working in Singapore’s construction industry. The research objectives are to: investigate new graduate QSs’ proficiencies in the various elements that make up different QS competencies; identify the change in the set of elements important for current and future fresh graduate QSs; examine the performance of new graduate QSs in Singapore by comparing their proficiencies with the current and future (i.e. 5 years later) anticipated market needs; and highlight potential areas to improve undergraduate quantity surveying education. An online structured questionnaire survey was conducted with practicing QSs. To assess the quality of current undergraduate quantity surveying education, the survey was restricted to those who graduated on or after 2015 (Group I) and those who have supervised or worked with graduates who graduated from 2015 onwards (Group II). The respondents were requested to rate the current and future importance of each element for fresh graduates and proficiency of a new graduate QS in each element. Subsequently, SPSS software was used to perform statistical tests on the 41 questionnaire responses received and the statistical results were presented in Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) matrices to highlight areas for improvement. It was found that currently, 5 elements (e.g. demonstrate soft skills and take measurement using software) are in quadrant A of the IPA matrix. This quadrant contains elements of high importance but new graduate QSs demonstrate low performance. More attention should therefore be given to elements in quadrant A. Additionally, it was found that five years in the future, 33 more elements (e.g. conduct audits and dispute resolution advice) are anticipated to be added to quadrant A if future graduate QSs possess the same proficiency levels as current new graduate QSs because importance of most elements are predicted to increase. The results indicate that the market expectations on graduate QSs are increasing. Not only do future graduates need to perform traditional QS roles well, they also need to possess diverse knowledge and perform non-traditional QS roles. It is recommended that universities refer to elements in quadrant A of the IPA matrices to improve their curriculums. Quantity surveying students and graduate QSs can also improve their proficiencies in those elements.