Research in to Industry and Academic perception of quality of graduates

Two School of the Built and Natural Environment academics, Professor Srinath Perera and John Pearson, Principal Lecturer, have conducted a piece of research for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) looking at the changing developmental needs of graduate Quantity Surveyors within a post recession industrial environment. Two other researchers of the school (Lyn Dodds and Damilola Ekundayo) were also involved in this research.

The RICS professionally recognise (accredit) relevant undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the School and at other academic institutions.
   
The entry of graduates and others as fully qualified Chartered Surveyors comes after successfully passing the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) by demonstrating attainment of certain competencies determined by RICS. For graduates, these competencies are acquired as a result both of their formal university education and the workplace training which they have received, whether as part-time students in employment or during a work placement undertaken.

The results of the research clearly showed differing standards across QS programmes around  the country and a gap between academia and industry in their perception of the competencies.  

Professor Perera said, “The absence of a graduate benchmark to analyse the level of achievement of competencies by quantity surveying graduates have resulted in differing standards of graduates produced by RICS accredited programmes across the country. This coupled with the polarisation of views on the debate on Training versus Education by the industry and academia have resulted in a perceived gap in the level of quality of graduates”.

Professor Perera and Mr Pearson have recommended that a framework for alignment of competencies to curricular of RICS accredited programmes be created and will be working with the RICS to implement this.

The report is available from the RICS website here.