Are They Work Ready? A Closer Look At What The Construction Project Managers Of Tomorrow Are Being Taught In Today's Classrooms

Work readiness has been identified as an area of escalating interest to employers worldwide. It is understood that work ready graduates will possess the values, behaviours and skills to enable them to successfully contribute to the development of the industry in which they work. The built environment industry is in a constant state of change as a result of a number of variables including economics, market forces, emerging technologies and government regulations. As such, it is imperative that built environment programs reflect the dynamic nature of the industry to ensure that students emerge work ready and well-prepared for the workplace. This research explores the values, behaviours and skills embedded within construction project management programs at four Australian universities to develop an understanding of the work readiness attributes being taught to the built environment professionals of the future. Analysis of program related documents brought two very significant points to attention: i) universities offering undergraduate construction project management courses are consistent in placing significant emphasis on the development of their students' behaviours and values not merely their skills and ii) the values, behaviours and skills being taught within undergraduate construction management courses are consistent with the work readiness attributes appraised by industry