Continuing Professional Development in the quantity surveying profession: quantity surveyors’ perceptions

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Date
2015
Authors
Olwagen, Juan
Cumberlege, Roy
Moss, Ian
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: This research study was conducted in order to investigate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in the South African quantity surveying profession. The study further aimed to establish the reasons why some quantity surveyors do not acquire the required CPD hours and face losing their professional registration with the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP). Practising quantity surveyors’ perceptions in terms of CPD was investigated in order to establish whether there are factors restricting their participation in CPD as well as to determine whether quantity surveyors regard CPD as beneficial and value adding to them as individual as well as the profession. Data to conduct the study was gathered via a national web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire was structured to investigate the respondents’ perceptions regarding the importance of CPD as well as relating evidence to various aspects of CPD, as drawn from the literature. One hundred and thirty-eight registered quantity surveyors participated in the survey. The research established that quantity surveyors regarded handing in their CPD records on time as the most important factor when participating in CPD. It was found that quantity surveyors lack a structured approach to CPD, suggesting that they merely engage in CPD when they have adequate time. With regard to CPD Category 1, respondents regard seminars as the most important; however, the majority of the respondents participate in Acta Structilia by completing a short questionnaire relating to published articles. With regard to CPD Category 2, respondents regard mentoring of professional candidates as the most important, and most often engage in this activity. Respondents indicated that the most significant barrier to participation in CPD is time related, with work commitments restricting participation. Respondents were neutral to the statement that quantity surveyors not complying with CPD requirements should be de-registered. Respondents regarded CPD as beneficial as well as a value adding activity, although it takes up much of their valuable time. The study identified changes made to the CPD system and explains how the processes differ from those of previous years. The study will be beneficial to the SACQSP in improving the CPD system and highlighting its shortcomings, benefitting the quantity surveying profession as a whole.
Afrikaans: Hierdie navorsingstudie is uitgevoer om Voortgesette Professionele Ontwikkeling (VPO) in die Suid-Afrikaanse Bourekenaarsprofessie te ondersoek. Die studie het verder probeer om vas te stel waarom sommige bourekenaars nie voldoende VPO-ure verkry nie en gevolglik die risiko loop om professionele registrasie te verloor. Die persepsies van bourekenaars in terme van VPO is ondersoek om vas te stel of daar faktore is wat deelname in VPO beperk, sowel as om te bepaal of bourekenaars VPO as ‘n waardetoevoeging en as voordelig vir hulself asook die professie beskou. Data om die studie uit te voer, is ingesamel deur middel van ‘n nasionale web-gebaseerde vraelys. Die vraelys is gestruktureer om die respondente se persepsies ten opsigte van die belangrikheid van VPO te ondersoek, sowel as om bewyse te ondersoek na die verskillende aspekte van VPO, soos uiteengesit in die relevante literatuur. Een honderd agt en dertig geregistreerde bourekenaars het aan die opname deelgeneem. Die navorsing het getoon dat bourekenaars die inhandiging op tyd van hul VPO rekords as die belangrikste faktor beskou. Daar is ook gevind dat bourekenaars in gebreke bly tot ‘n gestruktureerde benadering tot VPO wat daarop dui dat hulle bloot betrokke raak in VPO wanneer hulle genoeg tyd tot hul beskikking het. Met betrekking tot VPO Kategorie 1, beskou respondente seminare as die belangrikste; respondente neem meestal deel in Acta Structilia in die voltooiing van ‘n vraelys rakende gepubliseerde artikels. Met betrekking tot VPO Kategorie 2, beskou respondente mentorskap van professionele kandidate as die belangrikste en hulle raak meer dikwels betrokke in hierdie aktiwiteit. Respondente het tydverwante werksomstandighede wat deelname beperk, aangedui as die grootste struikelblok tot deelname aan VPO. Respondente was neutraal tot die stelling dat bourekenaars wat nie aan VPO-vereistes voldoen nie, hul registrasie moet verloor. Oor die algemeen beskou respondente VPO as voordelig, sowel as ‘n aktiwiteit wat waarde toevoeg tot die professie, al is dit tydrowend. Hierdie studie sal die veranderinge tot die VPO-stelsel identifiseer en verduidelik hoe die prosesse verskil van dié van vorige jare. Advies sal tot hulp wees vir die SARBP om die VPO-stelsel te verbeter asook om die tekortkominge in die VPOstelsel tot algehele bevordering van VPO in die professie uit te lig.
Description
Keywords
Continuing professional development, Quantity surveying, Perception
Citation
Olwagen, J., Cumberlege, R., & Moss, I. (2015). Continuing Professional Development in the quantity surveying profession: Quantity surveyors’ perceptions. Acta Structilia, 22(2), 1-21.