The status quo of green-building education in South Africa

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Date
2015
Authors
Jacobs, Esti
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: There is countrywide a lack of relevant and necessary professional and tertiary institutions offering education and training in green building in South Africa. This causes a lack of awareness, knowledge and skill in green-building principles, which directly results in a lack in the introduction and implementation thereof on projects in the property-development industry. The purpose of this study was to determine whether tertiary institutions have started to incorporate green-building programmes and/or modules in current curricula. A literature review on green-building education, not only at academic institutions, but also at property industry educators was done to develop a questionnaire for reflecting the status quo of green-building education programmes at built-environment departments of six South African universities. These departments included quantity surveying and construction management; architecture; quantity surveying, construction management, and urban planning. The intention of this article was not to investigate curriculum renewal/innovation, but merely to examine the status quo of green-building education currently offered by tertiary and professional institutions in South Africa. Based on the findings, green-building education at built-environment departments of academic institutions in South Africa is lagging behind, and progress seems to be slow. There are, however, signs indicating that positive changes are being made to introduce and implement green-building education.
Afrikaans: Daar is landwyd ‘n tekort aan relevante en nodige professionele en tersiêre onderrig en opleiding in groenbou in Suid-Afrika. Dit veroorsaak ‘n gebrek aan bewustheid, kennis en vaardigheid in groenbou-beginsels, wat lei tot ‘n gebrek aan die voorstelling en implementering daarvan op projekte in die eiendomsonwikkelingsindustrie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of tersiêre instellings al begin het om groenbou-programme en/of modules aan te bied as deel van hul huidige kurikulum. ‘n Literatuuroorsig oor groenbou-onderrig, nie net ten opsigte van akademiese instellings nie, maar ook onderrig in die eiendomsbedryf, is gedoen om ‘n vraelys te ontwikkel wat die status quo van groenbou-onderrigprogramme in bou-omgewing departemente van ses Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite te weerspieël. Hierdie departmente sluit bourekenkunde en konstruksiebestuur; argitektuur; bourekenkunde, konstruksiebestuur en stedelike beplanning in. Die bedoeling van hierdie artikel was nie om kurrikulum hernuwing/innovasie na te vors nie, maar om die status quo ten opsigte van groenbou-onderrig wat tans deur tersiêre en professionele instellings in Suid-Afrika aangebied word, te ondersoek. Die resultate toon dat groenbou-onderwys aan bou-omgewing departemente van akademiese instellings in Suid-Afrika agter is en vordering blyk stadig te wees. Daar is egter tekens wat aandui dat positiewe veranderinge gemaak word om groenbou- en volhoubaarheidonderrig te implementeer.
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Keywords
Green building, Construction, Education, South Africa
Citation
Jacobs, E. (2015). The status quo of green-building education in South Africa. Acta Structilia, 22(2), 110-133.