Advanced Diploma in Quantity Surveying

Purpose

The Advanced Diploma in Quantity Surveying will provide learners with more advanced knowledge in the Quantity Surveying discipline and the ability to apply that knowledge, skills and values to make a meaningful contribution to the economy and national development by ensuring optimal utilisation of resources.

Qualifying learners will be able to continue their professional development through the inculcation of a deep and systematic understanding of current thinking, practice, theory and methodology in the quantity surveying area of specialisation by independently integrate quantity surveying related principles, apply them in appropriate ways and analyse and solve more broadly defined open ended tactical problems. As a building surveyor employed by a contracting firm diplomats will be looking after the financial interest of the contractor.

Rationale

This qualification will provide access to learners who have completed a first Diploma to further their studies in a NQF Level 7 Quantity Surveying discipline. At this level, qualifying learners can be employed as assistant quantity surveyors.

Consultation were made with various stakeholders who welcomed the proposed changes and gave approval with the new proposed routes of, Advanced Diploma in Quantity Surveying, and Advanced Diploma in Construction Management.

This qualification will provide access to learners who have completed a Diploma to further their studies in a NQF level 7 Quantity Surveying discipline and the ability to apply that knowledge, skills and values to make a meaningful contribution to the economy and national development by ensuring optimal utilisation of resources. Qualifying learners can be employed as assistant quantity surveyors.

This qualification will replace the old BTech degree that will be phased out as it no longer will be offered as part of the new HEQSF structure. This results in a level gap (NQF level 7) towards postgraduate studies (NQF level 8), thus the need for the Advanced Diploma.

A letter from SACQSP dated 3 October 2016 supported the development of the Advanced Diploma.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL for access

Learners who do not meet the admission requirements are required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that they have suitable experiential- or work-based learning, which has taken the learner to a level of the entry level of the qualification specified. Such learners may be considered for admission through RPL after assessment via a portfolio of evidence of the prior learning been done.

Assessment of the learner's application will involve the following steps

• The learner must submit a portfolio containing evidence of all of the above.
• The internal assessor, will assess the learner's portfolio and the outcome of the RPL process, including written reports by the assessor and a recommendation will be submitted to the HOD.

RPL for credits

For learners who have already qualified with a cognate qualification and have done modules in their qualification that are similar to modules within this Advanced Diploma may apply for the module/s to be credited. The learner will complete a Request for Module Credits form and must supply the curriculum/a of the module/s within their completed qualification. This will then be considered by the Head of Department. The outcome will be communicated to the learner.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Diploma in Building, NQF level 6, 360 Credits.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

• Quantity Surveying, 20 Credits.
• Property Economics, 20 Credits.
• Professional Practice, 10 Credits.
• Computer Application in Quantity Surveyor (QS), 10 Credits.
• Construction Entrepreneurship, 20 Credits.
• Contract Law and Procedures, 20 Credits.
• Market Valuations, 20 Credits.

1. Manually measure and use relevant computer software applications to quantify the material and labour content from drawings, schedules and specifications prepared by architects and engineers.
2. Implement various forms of building and civil engineering contracts, related business management principles, the aspect of professional ethics and conduct in developing and interpreting quantity surveying project documents.
3. Interpret contract and architectural documentation and drawings to work out costing estimates and final accounts.
4. Apply the factors regulating the property industry in formalising property developments and implementation thereof in exercising quantity surveying tasks.
5. Carry out feasibility and financial analysis of new and existing buildings on vacant land relative to domestic, industrial and commercial buildings with the emphasis on quantity surveying as a basis using equity and borrowed capital.
6. Apply entrepreneurial skills that are relative to the quantity surveying profession.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Manual measurements in accordance to the guidelines of the current 'standard system of measuring building work' were done to validate information provided in drawings, schedules and specifications provided by architects and engineers
• Computer software application knowledge and skills were demonstrated in loading of data and the quantifying of material and labour content provided in drawings, schedules and specifications via computer software applications.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Knowledge and skills about a variety building and civil engineering contracts were used to develop and interpret quantity surveying documents.
• Sound business management and professional ethics and conduct principles were adhered to.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Contract and architectural documentation and drawings were interpreted correctly taking the principles of construction law and dispute resolution into consideration.
• Calculation skills were applied in the preparation of payment certificates, escalations, variations and final accounts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Concepts of immovable property and supply and demand of property as factors that regulate the property industry were critically applied in the implementation and formalising property development.
• Knowledge of agreements of purchase and sale, expropriation and servitudes were incorporated in formalising the property development.
• Methods of valuation were used in the preparing of valuation reports.
• Skills relative to the implications of time value of money were implemented.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• The principles of property economics, the real estate development process and feasibility concepts were considered to determine the feasibility of life cycle costing of the simulated project by means of computer related applications.
• The following components were considered in compiling an implementable feasibility and financial analysis by means of computer related applications: factors regulating the property industry, concepts of immovable property, agreements of purchase and sale, expropriation, servitudes, methods of valuation and reports.
• Property development skills for redevelopment of existing and new buildings on vacant land were applied and integrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• A feasible business idea was identified
• Business management, entrepreneurial and financial principles were applied in developing a business plan.
• Computer applications were integrated in the development of the business plan.
• A viable business plan was presented.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated Assessment at the level of the qualification provides an opportunity for the learners to show that they are able to integrate concepts, ideas and actions across the qualification to achieve competence that is grounded and coherent with the purpose of the learning qualification. Integrated assessment will show how already demonstrated competence in individual areas can be linked and applied for the achievement of a holistic outcome as described in the Exit Level Outcomes.

Integrated Assessment will judge the quality of the observable performance, and also the quality of the reasoning that lies behind it. Assessments tools will encourage learners to give an account of the thinking and decision-making that underpin their demonstrated performance.

Formative and Summative Assessments will include the following

Formative

• Construction Management simulations and tests as a basis on which to provide formative feedback on knowledge gaps, skills application and possible ways of improvement.
• Research assignments to provide formative feedback on different aspects of the learner's learning.

Summative

• Individual projects and assignments.
• Group projects and assignments.
• Case study analyses and presentations.
• Examinations.
• Closed book.

The above summative opportunities will be used to determine and grade a learner's ability to demonstrate the learning outcomes.