Bachelor of Construction in Quantity Surveying

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to provide learners with knowledge of Quantity Surveying in construction. On completion of this qualification, learners will have acquired knowledge and skills to implement an understanding of the control of cost management in the Construction industry and will have an understanding of and knowledge of construction estimating and accounting in the wider social context. They will be graduates who possess mastery in Quantity Surveying techniques and services.

The purpose of this qualification is to develop learners who are able to

1. Solve well-defined construction and production problems by applying construction principles.
2. Analytically assess systems, products and processes to ensure they meet job requirements and applicable standards, codes of practice and legislation.
3. Understand relevant codes, technical catalogues, standards, measurements and production methods and use them in operations together with appropriate techniques, resources and modern construction tools including information technology with an awareness of the limitations, restrictions and constraints each possesses.
4. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing within a Construction context.
5. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of construction activity on society, the economy and the physical environment and address negative impact issues using defined procedures.
6. Apply construction principles as a member and/or leader of a technical team to manage projects effectively.
7. Apply professional ethics and norms to construction practice.

Rationale

The Bachelor of Construction in Quantity Surveying is designed to provide learners with integrated knowledge and understanding of Quantity Surveying. The aim of this qualification is to equip learners with skills that will prepare them to operate and practice in the construction industry as a practice-oriented Quantity Surveyor. It introduces a broad knowledge base of the technological, production, management, financial, economic, environmental and legal frameworks associated with a construction project environment. This qualification provides learners with the competence to work at the level of a Candidate Quantity Surveyor and with continued studies the learner will be able to register as a Professional Quantity Surveyor with the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Professions.

Qualified learners will acquire in depth knowledge of the technical, design and administrative construction production principles, which would allow them to fulfil supervisory and management roles in their functional areas in the built environment such as, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and, manufacturers.

This qualification is aligned the new requirements of the professional bodies in the sector.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be used to demonstrate competence for admission to this qualification. This qualification may be achieved in part through Recognition of Prior Learning processes. RPL must comply with the institutional policy on RPL. Within the department, Recognition of Prior Learning is based on the following process:

• The applicant must indicate the reason for applying for Recognition of Prior Learning (this could be entrance to a qualification, or exemption from certain modules in the qualification).
• The RPL committee will determine the criteria for the Recognition of Prior Learning based on the request (could be admission requirements of the programme, assessment of Exit Level Outcomes of modules for which exemption is requested).
• The applicant must submit a portfolio of evidence of learning that has taken place (what the applicant knows).
• The RPL committee will assess the evidence of previous learning supplied by the applicant against the criteria.
• The Quality committee will make a recommendation to the Faculty Board to ratify the decision.

The main objective of the Institution's RPL Policy is to recognise prior learning, in order to provide access into programmes, grant advanced placement in qualifications and credits for modules on the principles and processes that serve as a basis for faculty-specific RPL practices.

Entry Requirements

Learners are required to have the following in place in order to be considered for admission

• A Senior Certificate with endorsement.

Or

• National Senior Certificate granting admission to Bachelor studies; or equivalent.

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 374 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 5, 120 Credits

• English and Communication Studies, 6 Credits.
• Digital Literacy, 6 Credits.
• Construction Mathematics, 12 Credits.
• Quantity Surveying 1, 16 Credits.
• Construction Management 1, 16 Credits.
• Residential Construction Methods, 16 Credits.
• Urban Development and Sustainability, 16 Credits.
• Construction Materials, 16 Credits.
• Design and Construction, 16 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 6, 128 Credits

• Building Services, 16 Credits.
• Construction and Development Law, 16 Credits.
• Urban Development Economics, 16 Credits.
• Commercial Construction Methods, 16 Credits.
• Quantity Surveying 2, 16 Credits.
• Project Planning and Administration, 16 Credits.
• Procurement and Tendering, 16 Credits.
• Contract Administration, 16 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 7, 126 Credits

• Construction Accounting, 16 Credits.
• Quantity Surveying 3, 16 Credits.
• Modern Methods of Construction, 16 Credits.
• Construction Surveying, 16 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL), 30 Credits.
• Quantity Surveying Practice Project, 16 Credits.
• Price Analysis and Estimating, 16 Credits.

1. Apply construction principles to systematically diagnose and solve well-defined construction and production problems.
2. Apply the knowledge of Mathematics, and Natural Sciences to construction procedures, processes, systems and methodologies to solve well-defined construction problems.
3. Analytically assess design of components, elements, systems, works, products or processes to meet desired requirements and needs within applicable standards, codes of practice and legislation.
4. Conduct investigations of well-defined construction problems through locating and reviewing relevant codes, technical catalogues, standards, experiments, measurements and production methods.
5. Use appropriate techniques, resources, and modern construction tools including Information Technology for seeking solutions to well-defined construction challenges and problems, with an awareness of the limitations, restrictions, premises, assumptions and constraints.
6. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing within a Construction context.
7. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of construction activity on the society, the economy and the industrial and physical environment and address issues by defined procedures.
8. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of construction principles and apply these as a member and/or leader in a technical team to manage projects effectively.
9. Engage in independent and life-long learning through application of well-developed learning skills.
10. Understand and commit to professional ethics, responsibilities and norms of construction practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Analyse construction design elements and components.
• Design construction administrative and production methods and systems for problem solving.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Analyse construction elements, components, procedures and methods.
• Design procedures, methods and systems for quantifying and costing construction work.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Analyse construction elements and components.
• Design construction methods, procedures and systems for preparing construction project production schedules.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Analyse construction elements and components.
• Design methods, procedures and systems for obtaining and maintaining technical, cost and economic data pertaining to construction.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Analyse the design and constructability of construction elements through the use of analytical and computer software tools and models.
• Solve contract documentation, contract procurement, production planning and control procedures with appropriate methodologies, practice tools, procedures and application compute software.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Compile design, cost and financial reports for projects under consideration.
• Compile cost budget, cost control and production planning, progress and quality standards reports for projects under construction.
• Communicate, present and defend reports amongst inter-disciplinary company units, consultants and clients.
• Prepare consulting and professional financial and technical reports throughout all project stages.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Prepare project feasibility reports.
• Present and demonstrate innovative project design and production solutions.
• Apply knowledge for seeking innovative, cost-effective design solutions to socio-economic development issues involving physical development.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Work within a team as a team member.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the requirements for effective team management.
• Communicate effectively on technical project aspects with all project team members.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Write technical reports on innovative and appropriate construction solutions.
• Demonstrate the application of current and advanced construction tools and techniques.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

• Adopt ethics, responsibilities and norms associated with professionalism.
• Develop a chart for the inculcation of professional ethics.
• Apply norms and standards to adhere to professional ethics and responsibilities.
• Demonstrate an understanding of workplace practices to solve construction problems.
• Develop effective administrative systems.
• Develop comprehensive project reporting systems.
• Demonstrate work place efficiency, procedures, safety rules and practices.

Integrated Assessment

There are a number of assessments that a learner will need to complete such as tests/assignments/projects/case studies.

• Assessments take place in accordance with the Institution's Assessment Policy and the Faculty specific assessment policy. Continuous Assessment (CA) is used as a means of evaluation.
• Programme specific assessment criteria, rules and regulations, must be communicated to learners in all learning guides.
• The expansion and implementation of assessment methods is based on Institution and Faculty principles.
• Assessment activities are accompanied by a memorandum/assessment marking guide.
• The number and range of assessment methods used in each subject are included in learning guides.
• Every assessment opportunity carries a predetermined weight that takes the integration of the outcomes into account.
• Each semester subject will have at least 3 formative assessment opportunities that will be used to establish a semester mark and give feedback to the learner on their progress.
• Subject lecturers must provide detailed, written and constructive feedback to learner work within fifteen working days after an assessment opportunity.
• In continuous assessment subjects, semester mark will be used as a final mark for the subject or to provide access to a further assessment opportunity, where the semester mark carries a 60% weighting.
• In non-continuous assessment subjects, the semester mark will usually count 40% and the final summative assessment 60% towards the final mark for the module.
• Applications for supplementary final assessments shall be made to the relevant Institution structure.
• Pass performance is usually set at 50%.

Formative and Summative Assessment

The learners' progress will be checked by means of Continuous Assessment (CA) and their performance will be assessed at various formative points in the learning programme. In CA, rules are in place regarding eligibility for supplementary assessments should learners not pass one of the summative assessments. For summative assessments, especially where more than one assessor is involved, internal moderation checks are undertaken to ensure the reliability of the assessment procedures.

Formative assessment refers to assessment that takes place during the process of learning and teaching. Formative assessment:

• Supports the teaching and learning process.
• Provides progress feedback to learners.
• Diagnoses learner's strengths and weaknesses.
• Assists in the planning of future learning.

Summative assessments are conducted for the purpose of making a judgment about the level of competence of learners in relation to the outcomes of a unit, module and qualification. The results of such formal assessment (e.g. tests, assignments, projects, presentations, creative production or traditional examinations) are expressed as a mark reflecting a pass or a fail. The minimum number of summative opportunities required is specified in the Academic Regulations.

The department uses various integrated assessment strategies, depending on the focus of the subject. Apart from class tests and the traditional examination where appropriate, learners are continuously assessed through assignments, research projects, practical work, work-based projects, case studies etc.