The CIOB is working to revise the requirements construction courses have to meet to receive its backing. The Institute will expect to see more non-technical “transferrable” skills in accredited university and college courses so that graduates are better equipped for the workplace and are not discouraged from applying for courses.
CIOB accreditation officer, Rosalind Thorpe, said students would be learning fewer of the technical skills, such as setting-out, which have made courses very vocationally-focused in the past.
“We are moving away from technical elements towards other skills,” said Thorpe. “Topics will include the environmental, economical and social impacts of the construction process in a global context, management of the construction process and management of carbon and other outputs.”
A CIOB online survey of 560 construction professionals earlier this year (CM June p8) showed that the wider industry was aware of the mismatch: 65.9% of respondents said that graduates did not have the necessary skills to work in the industry when they left education.
Thorpe added that the vocational nature of courses had contributed to a sharp decline in the number of graduates finding jobs. Figures from the Higher Education Careers Service Unit show that 9.7% of 2009 construction graduates are currently unemployed compared to 8.9% across the total graduate body. Five years ago the rates were 4% and 2.8% respectively.
“Because it’s hard for graduates with technical skills to find jobs in other industries, it’s not all that attractive
for a student to take up such courses,” she added.
The CIOB aims to complete its review of the undergraduate requirements of the Educational Framework by 2011.
Croudace eight gain MCIOB
Eight employees from Croudace Homes, based in Caterham, Surrey, gained full membership of the CIOB last month.
The bumper crop of graduates followed the company’s establishment of a formal Training Partnership with the CIOB in July 2009, facilitated by Westacott Management.
Three graduates received membership via the Experienced Practitioner Assessed (EPA) programme; one via the non-cognate route, and four via an accredited degree.
