Search

The relationship between professional bodies and higher education (HE) institutes was studied, with particular attention to the roles of each in producing future generations of fully qualified, competent practitioners. The authors examined new and evolving challenges facing consulting quantity surveyors (CQSs) and discuss the complex interactions between these challenges. The analysis is largely based on a synthesis of the literature augmented by the authors' experiences and continuing involvement in the field. The findings reveal a number of challenges relating to the contemporary knowledge and skills demands of CQS and the mechanisms by which these assets are transferred to them. Accordingly, the authors signpost future industry-HE integration in a CQS context. The study is relevant to academics and practitioners alike in its aim to engender wider and constructive debate in the field. Further research is suggested, to include a broader examination of the effectiveness of industry and HE relationships beyond the single profession investigated here.

Grounded theory is used to examine the role and application of both educator-led and student-led forums within a virtual learning environment (VLE) of a higher education institution (HEI). The study reports experiences and perceptions of academics in two faculties (business and technology) in the HEI who use both asynchronous VLE forums and social network sites (SNSs) such as Facebook. Interview data were transcribed, coded and analysed to identify emergent themes and patterns of commonality. Differences between faculties are identified, including those relating to the type, frequency and breadth of forum usage. The results suggest that students' voluntary use of SNSs as a complement to formal learning is culturally embedded in the HEI and constitutes a widely accepted "integral" part of the learning experience. Such rapidly evolving usage could present future challenges for educators, not least because SNS-hosted learning materials and patterns of SNS use may be obscured from them. There are also challenges relating to educators' duty of care, surreptitious exchange of information (for example, assessment information) and unhelpful criticism of HEIs. (Contains 3 tables and 1 note.)

This paper presents a comparative study of construction productivity variables among seven regions in Indonesia, namely Jakarta, Yogyakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Western Indonesia, and Eastern Indonesia. Variables compared include production output, artisan's skill, motivation, remuneration, severity of labor-productivity problems, level of supervision, foreman motivation, and remuneration. Using Yogyakarta as a benchmark, 20 site-management personnel with experience of working with construction labor in Yogyakarta and, in at least one other region, were surveyed using structured questionnaires and supporting interviews. Their broad work experiences resulted in 78 sets of comparable data. Results indicate significant regional differences in production output, skill, motivation of artisan and operative's productivity. The severity of identified productivity problems significantly correlate with observed production output, artisan's working time, skill, and motivation, as well as foreman's supervision and motivation.