The comparison of construction management curricula in universities between the UK and Japan

The development of CM education in universities is of significant interest both for academia and practitioners. The comparison of CM education between countries may provide insights into development in different places. The purpose of this research is to consider the contextual differences in construction management (CM) taught education between UK and Japan. Curricula in the two countries were compared. Interviews were carried out in UK universities to learn more about UK CM education. UK curricula were found to be heavily influenced by partnerships with British professional institutions. In contrast, the curricula of Japanese higher education institutions are restricted by the Ministry's requirement in relation to professional licenses. This raises interesting questions about how each institutional context influenced the development of different kinds of skill. The self-regulation of the professions in the UK seems to make British higher education for the professions more responsive to contemporary industry needs. In contrast, Japanese government’s control over the curricula is aimed at developing wider architectural and engineering skills. The intention of this paper is to promote dialogue between British and Japanese institutions for the wider development of CM education