Enhancing the Employability of Quantity Surveying Graduates: A Mixed Methods Approach

An understanding of the employability skills and competencies, required by quantity surveying (QS) graduates in a dynamic industry experiencing a rapid technological advancement like the construction industry, has become critical. Available evidence suggests that employers are dissatisfied with the technical skills and competencies acquired from tertiary education institutions, particularly by QS graduates. This chapter reports on an explanatory sequential mixed methods study which focused on the articulation of employability skills and competencies acquired by QS graduates. Findings from the study highlight the disparity between the competencies required by employers and the ones that are acquired by QS graduates. Accordingly, the study proposes the realignment of the existing curriculum by higher tertiary institutions in bridging the competencies and skills differences observed between employers and QS graduates.