Key Competencies for U.S. Construction Graduates: Industry Perspective
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 138, Issue 2
Abstract
This study examined U.S. construction industry perceptions regarding key competencies for construction graduates using a survey of recruiters for over 100 construction companies located in the eastern United States. The survey asked recruiters to rate 14 key competencies for construction graduates that were identified as important in the literature: ethical issues, problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, leadership, adaptability, collaborative skills, safety issues, interdisciplinary application, practical awareness, technical skills, computer skills, estimating/scheduling skills, communication, and environmental awareness. A descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis revealed that ethical issues, problem-solving skills, and interpersonal skills were considered by recruiters to be key significant competencies for construction graduates, whereas communication and environmental awareness were ranked lowest. Clustering the 14 key competencies using factor analysis identified four classes of competencies for construction graduates: (1) general competency, (2) affective competency, (3) cognitive competency, and (4) technical competency. These key competencies were compared with accreditation content areas for two major accrediting bodies of construction degrees, and gaps were identified for further investigation.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 138 • Issue 2 • April 2012
Pages: 123 - 130
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 27, 2010
Accepted: Jun 21, 2011
Published online: Mar 15, 2012
Published in print: Apr 1, 2012
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