Upscaling construction education to meet the needs of the Nigerian construction industry

Abstract: The construction industry of the 21st century is characterised by an array of factors influencing it. These factors, ranging from the impact of technology, increased project-based works to construction projects’ sophistication, have increased the need for higher education to revisit and improve their curricula to adequately equip graduates with the right skills to meet the needs of the 21st century construction industry. In understanding the operations, challenges and expectations of the Nigerian construction industry, there is the need for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to improve on their existing educational curriculum and construction pedagogy to prepare construction graduates adequately for the world of work. This study seeks to identify the prerequisite skills to enable graduates to succeed in the Nigerian construction industry, assess the satisfaction level of the Nigerian construction industry in terms of graduate skills, examine the role of construction site experiential learning as it reinforces construction education and the possible roles of the collaborations between HEIs and the Nigerian construction industry in improving construction education among construction students. The data used in this research was derived from both primary and secondary sources. The secondary data was collected through a detailed review of extant literature. The primary data was collected through a questionnaire which was distributed to construction professionals who are active in the Nigerian construction industry in both design and supervisory capacities. One hundred and twenty-six (126) questionnaires were received from one hundred and fifty (150) sent out, representing an 84 percent response rate. In ensuring the reliability of the research questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha coefficient reliability was conducted on the scaled research questions. Findings from the research were analysed using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). From the descriptive analysis, communication skills, critical thinking skills, technical skills, teamwork skills, interpersonal skills, and leadership skills are revealed by the respondents as the highest ranked skills which are requisite for graduates to succeed in the Nigerian construction industry. Findings also revealed that the construction industry professionals are satisfied with the academic performance of graduates, their willingness to learn, their completing tasks timeously with positive results, their sense of responsibility to society and their knowledge of various computer operations. The study further revealed that developing practical knowledge about the construction industry, familiarising students with their responsibilities in their profession, applying theories learnt in the classroom, and improving students critical thinking...M.Tech. (Construction Management