Construction management experiential learning: Views of employers and university of technology academics

Academic curriculum change in the main is driven by policy, industry or faculty. In South Africa, several policy initiatives are directed at influencing changes to the curriculum. The White Paper on Transformation of Higher Education (Republic of South Africa. Department of Education, 1997) stresses the challenge to redress past inequalities and to “transform the higher education system” to serve a new social order, to meet pressing needs, and to respond to new realities and oppor-tunities. Institutions serving the higher education sector have a major role to play in providing the technological and business capability to underpin modern indus-trial and services development (Frain, 1992). Construction management educa-tion at South African Universities is delivered via either a co-operative learning programme or a full academic programme. This article presents findings of research into the views of employers and academics of value that experiential learning adds to the construction management programmes

Dominant factors hampering full participation of female contractors in the South African construction industry

Abstract: This paper analyses the experiences of female contractors in the South African construction industry in order to identify dominant factors hampering their meaningful participation in the industry

An assessment of the needs of women-owned construction enterprises in South Africa for construction empowerment, development and sustainability (CODES)

Purpose of this paper: This paper reports on the findings of a needs assessment study of South African (SA) Women-Owned Enterprises in construction. The study was done in preparation for the rolling out of an empowerment initiative in South Africa. The study builds on the lessons learnt and recommendations from the ʻWomen-helping-Womenʼ study. Design/methodology/approach: Relevant literature was reviewed. A survey instrument was developed and professionally facilitated workshops, supervised by stakeholders, informed the needs assessment. Findings: Fair procurement, women friendly construction sites, a construction bank and relevant career-aligned training with mentoring will enable the respondents to transform their enterprises to be sustainable multi-skilled independent entities that are able to construct the infrastructure needed. Research limitations: Findings are based on views from respondents in SA registered with the Construction Industry development Board (CIDB) and also with legitimate e-mail addresses. Practical implications: Given the professionally facilitated workshops and stakeholder involvement in the instrument developed from start to finish the findings of the study proved to be reliable and valid and could be used for similar interventions. Value of paper: Knowledge sharing for auctioning by government, the building industry, development finance institutions and women associations on the critical skills shortage, gender equity and empowerment added value

Project management planning tools and techniques in small and medium construction enterprises in South Africa

Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstrac