Ginigaddara, B; Gajendran, T and Beard, C (2025) A critical review of quantity surveying education in an offsite construction perspective: strategies for up-skilling. Construction Innovation, 25(4), pp. 1058-1084. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose: Offsite construction (OSC) is a modern method of construction (MMC) that involves manufacturing and assembly of buildings. Industry 4.0-driven technological advancements have accelerated OSC uptake causing many skilled construction workers requiring re-skilling or up-skilling. Quantity surveyors currently play an important role throughout a construction project life cycle, and hence, their knowledge on OSC projects is vital for the continuity of quantity surveying (QS) profession. The purpose of this paper is to critically review QS education in an OSC perspective and to propose strategies for up-skilling. Design/methodology/approach: This research includes a detailed literature review of QS and OSC to evaluate how OSC affects the QS profession. Publicly available information on the university websites on accredited QS and construction management degrees was reviewed to identify OSC and MMC references, specifically the content listing and learning outcomes. Findings: Out of the 315 degrees offered by 157 universities, only 69 degrees in 32 universities refer to OSC or MMC. OSC concept is explicitly referred in subjects related to construction technology, production management, lean construction, digital construction and MMC. As such, the research suggests including lean production principles, OSC techniques and design philosophies such as design for manufacture and assembly be added to the QS curricula. Research limitations/implications: This research is a comprehensive desktop study that does not involve empirical data-based evaluation. Research findings inform strategies to improve QS education and professional competencies. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind that evaluates accredited QS degrees and learning requirements in an OSC perspective.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction management; learning and development; offsite construction; quantity surveying; up-skilling |
| Index terms: | life cycle, digital construction, industry 4.0, quantity surveying, design for manufacture and assembly, learning outcome, construction technology, construction worker, profession, philosophy, lean production, strategy, literature review, surveying, production management, lean construction, methodology, construction project |
| Subjects: | building construction, manufacturing engineering, research methods, production management, digital engineering, practitioner, institututions, philosophical studies, information systems, student development, management, data analysis and analytics, technology adoption, health monitoring assessment and metrics, project delivery, profession, value management |
| Topics: | Project Management, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety, Education, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Site Management, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here