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Session 1421

Ensuring Quality Articulation for Enhancement of Construction Workforce Education

Erdogan Sener, Laura Lucas Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

Abstract

It is common knowledge that the construction industry is experiencing a serious workforce shortage at all levels of the workforce that will only get worse in the future unless something is done about it and done soon.1,2

The issue is receiving broad discussion at diverse levels and different solutions are being suggested. In most cases, however, the measures being foreseen to overcome the workforce shortage concentrate on the shortage of the "trades" in construction industry rather than the total workforce. This is to be expected considering the specific mission of the construction labor force organizations deeply involved in the issue of workforce shortage.3

The authors believe that the issue should be looked at all levels of the workforce and this paper, in particular, will deal with the issue of training of the construction workforce for technical and managerial positions. One of the promising approaches under implementation is that of articulations between the academic institutions and the vocational institution so that qualified students from the vocational programs can continue their education in academic institutions for filling technical and management positions in the construction industry. One problem with these articulation arrangements has been that of ensuring relevant laboratory knowledge on the part of the vocational education students in certain specific areas. Even though vocational programs are inherently hands-on, the labs in such institutions have limited capabilities in terms of soils testing, materials testing, asphalt testing, to name a few areas.

This paper focuses on an approach for addressing this shortcoming of vocational education students not having access to some of the labs that academic institutions do by means of employing a construction lab-cam and broadcasting a lab session in asynchronous or synchronous modes to other institutions so that they have live or delayed access to relevant lab sessions. As a result students coming to academic institutions to further their knowledge will have the adequate background in lab work that relates to their fields.

The paper elaborates on the technology employed in this undertaking and what are the advantages and the possible extensions of use of this technology and what this means for ensuring a high quality workforce in construction and related industries. This approach brings a solution to the lack of appropriate labs in some good vocational programs of possible articulation quality.

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Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright  2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Lucas, L., & Sener, E. (2001, June), Ensuring Quality Articulation For Enhancement Of Construction Workforce Education Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9223