Postgraduate Diploma in Construction in Quantity Surveying

Purpose

The Postgraduate Diploma is specifically focussed on providing learners with the required vocational knowledge, skills and competencies required by the South African Council for Quantity Surveying Professions (SACQSP) for purposes of registration, appropriate to the vocation of quantity surveying in the construction and property industries. The study content is fully aligned with the learning outcomes prescribed by the SACQSP.

The qualification is also aimed at a graduate who shows mastery in advanced Quantity Surveying techniques and services and as foundation for learners who may opt to study further in related Built Environment fields. The qualification also aims to enhance the career of the graduate by providing economic opportunities and a choice of career paths, any one of which can result in professional status.

Graduates will have acquired a thorough knowledge and skills base to adequately manage all legal and financial aspects of construction projects from inception to completion and will have a thorough understanding and knowledge of quantity surveying in the wider social context, to the benefit of the built environment and wider community. The qualification specifically introduces an advanced knowledge base of the technological, financial, economic, environmental and legal frameworks within which quantity surveyors operate and contribute extensively towards the organised, sensitive and appropriate development of projects in the construction industry and built environment.

Rationale

The process of professional development towards qualifying as a Professional Quantity Surveyor starts with the attainment of an advanced qualification that focuses on the practise of quantity surveying. The Postgraduate Diploma in Construction, which focuses on Quantity Surveying, offers such a qualification. After graduation, a programme of training, further study and knowledge development with relevant work experience can be followed to attain the competencies for registration as a full Professional Quantity Surveyor, if desired. Professional registration is not mandatory, though for industry participation, the graduate can advance to the highest levels in industry in practising quantity surveying after gaining the necessary work experience. Career opportunities for graduates of the programme exist in the built environment. These include building construction, building maintenance, building restoration and asset management. Graduates may become part of a design or development team, be self-employed or act as consultants in the construction industry. Graduates may choose careers across a range of sectors, including:

• Quantity surveying consultancies.
• Construction and specialist trade companies.
• Design and build companies.
• Buildings renovation and restoration companies.
• Property developers and consortia.
• Local authorities and regulatory bodies.
• National departments and implementing agencies.
• State Owned Enterprises.

Quantity surveying is acknowledged as an independent profession within the context of the built environment, and members of this profession enjoy due recognition in terms of their specialised skills and competence. This Postgraduate Diploma provides learners with the competencies to meet the prerequisites for statutory registration with the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession as a Candidate Quantity Surveyor (Candidate QS) and Professional Quantity Surveyor (PrQS) or) in terms of Sections 18 (1)(a) and (b) of the Quantity Surveying Profession Act 2000 (No 49 of 2000).

The qualification is also aimed at producing graduates who can contribute to the economy of South Africa as employable Candidate Quantity Surveyors or Quantity Surveying practitioners, well-equipped with the required knowledge base demanded from the Professional Quantity Surveyor.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Construction in Quantity Surveying qualification provides

• Postgraduate studies for mainly careers in Quantity Surveying, and various related fields within the built environment that potentially benefit from a combination of building, construction, quantity surveying, project management, property development, and management skills, thus contributing to the economic and national development of the country in a substantial way.
• Direct entry to further advance programmes, such as an industry related Masters in Quantity Surveying.
• The educational foundation required for further study and eventual registration as a Professional Quantity Surveyor with the South African Council for Quantity Surveying Professions (SACQSP).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be used to demonstrate competence for admission to this programme. 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:

• Applicant indicates the reason for applying for recognition of previous learning (this could be entrance to a programme, or exemption from certain modules in the programme).
• The RPL committee determines 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 or approved guidelines required by the professional body/industry).
• The applicant must submit a portfolio of evidence of learning in place (what the applicant knows).
• The RPL committee assesses the evidence of previous learning supplied by the applicant against the criteria and makes a recommendation to the Faculty's quality committee in a full report describing the process followed.
• The Quality committee will make a recommendation to 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 programmes, and credits for modules on the principles and processes that serve as a basis for faculty-specific RPL practices.

Entry Requirements

• An appropriate Bachelor's Degree, Level 7 with sufficient exposure to quantity surveying as principle study discipline.

Or

• An appropriate Advanced Diploma, Level 7 with sufficient exposure to quantity surveying as principle study discipline.

This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Level 8 totalling 178 Credits.

Compulsory Modules: 162 Credits

• Construction Treatise, 30 Credits.
• Descriptive Quantification, 24 Credits.
• Construction Project Management, 24 Credits.
• Construction Economics, 16 Credits.
• Professional Business Management, 16 Credits.
• Property Valuation Practice, 24 Credits.
• Statutory Construction Law, 12 Credits.
• Professional Practice, 16 Credits.

Elective Modules: 16 Credits (Choose one)

• Lean Construction, 16 Credits.
• Facility Management, 16 Credits.

1. Apply construction principles to systematically diagnose and solve well-defined construction and production problems.
2. Apply principles of mathematics and natural sciences with the use of relevant mapping and measurement systems and methods to construction procedures, processes, systems and methodologies to solve well-defined construction problems involving numerical data and values.
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 in order to make appropriate decisions about the construction assembly process.
4. Conduct investigations of well-defined construction problems through locating and reviewing relevant economical, market and social statistical data, cost information, 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 orally, in writing and with information technology aids within the construction business and project environment.
7. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of construction activity on the society, economy, industrial and physical environment, and address issues by defined procedures.
8. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of construction project management principles and apply these as a member or leader within a technical team as to manage projects effectively in a multi-disciplinary environment across architectural and engineering boundaries through cross-disciplinary literacy and shared fundamental knowledge.
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 within the construction environment.
11. Demonstrate an understanding of workplace practices to solve construction related problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Analyse construction design elements and components from a technical and financial perspective.
• 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.
• Design procedures, methods and systems for analysing the financial feasibility and value of construction project proposals.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Analyse construction elements and components from a technical and financial perspective.
• Design appropriate methods, procedures and systems for preparing construction project cost budgets, financial, cost, technical and contract documents and reports.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Analyse property and construction markets.
• Analyse facility financial performance requirements, utility, spatial and cost distribution requirements, design norms and standards of construction elements and components against statistical project information.
• Design methods, procedures and systems for obtaining and maintaining technical, financial, cost and economic data pertaining to construction projects.

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, cost planning and control procedures with appropriate methodologies, practice tools, procedures and application computer software.
• Apply and critically assess standard quantity surveying practice documents and procedures.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Compile design, cost and financial feasibility reports for projects under planning.
• 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 design 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 appropriate 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, cost financial and contractual project aspects with all project team members.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the required project cost, technical, financial and contractual information at the different construction project stages.

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.
• Demonstrate an understanding for the need to improvise and develop existing techniques, systems and methods through systematic diagnostic analysis of changing external influencing conditions in construction.

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.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 11

• Develop effective administrative systems.
• Develop comprehensive project reporting systems.
• Demonstrate work place efficiency, procedures, safety rules and practices.
• Demonstrate a strategic vision of the quantity surveying profession and future role in construction and development.

Integrated Assessment

Learner progress shall be checked by means of Continuous Assessment (CA) and their performance 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 feedbacks to students.
• Diagnoses student'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/or programme. 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.