The course which includes online and classroom learning is ideal for busy construction professionals who wish to upskill and gain a qualification
The BSc in Construction Site Management at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Third Level Course category of the prestigious Irish Construction Excellence Awards.
The Irish Construction Excellence Awards (ICE Awards) are the original and premier recognition of performance excellence for the contracting sector in Ireland. Entry to the ICE Awards is open to: Building Contractors, Civil Engineering Contractors, Specialist M&E Contractors, and Specialist Contractors in the ROI. Construction Product Suppliers whose products are available in Ireland and ROI Third Level Colleges offering certain construction related courses. The ICE Awards, on 28 March 2020, provide an opportunity for the industry to showcase and reward best practice across the full range of construction disciplines and project categories.
Industry need
Launched in September 2018, the course was developed in response to the construction industry’s critical need for suitably qualified and experienced site managers. Participants typically include those who have progressed to a supervisory/management role from a trades background and/or with substantial site experience.
Progamme Leader Brian Graham commented on the news, saying “we are delighted that this new and innovative course has been recognised by our industry peers at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards. In a relatively short space of time, the course has already proven to be extremely relevant for busy construction professionals who wish to upskill and gain a qualification in Construction Management. Due to strong support from local and national construction companies, we have also been successful in securing funding from Springboard in the past two years, which has significantly reduced the financial burden on participants returning to education. I would also like to recognise the hard work and commitment of my colleagues on the course team in developing and delivering this course and bringing their enthusiasm and expertise to the classroom.”
Online and classroom
A full Level 7 qualification, the BSc in Construction Site Management is delivered over 12 months via an innovative blended delivery approach combining classroom and online learning. This has proven to be attractive to both learners and their employers, facilitating student flexibility and ensuring that companies retain and upskill staff while remaining in the workplace.
According to Graham, the intended participants of this course have historically suffered from a lack of appropriate educational opportunities and many have had to overcome significant personal challenges in returning to formal education. With these issues in mind, the course places a strong emphasis upon recognising and incorporating the learner’s experiences into the learning process moving away from teaching to learning that embraces reflection, discussion and guided development. The curriculum focuses upon the development of both construction-specific competencies and broader personal and professional skills. Through this educational process, graduates of the course have grown in confidence and are now assured in their role as construction management professionals.
Springboard+ is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF programme or Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.
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SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford City, 
