Course Catalogue

The overall aim of the programme is to develop advanced knowledge, understanding and intellectual and practical skills appropriate to a wide range of Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management roles in the built environment sector. This will be achieved through a stimulating and challenging study of theory, concepts and practical application in the field; ensuring the development of self-reliant, versatile, enterprising and competent Quantity Surveying and Commercial Managers. The programme will address both the demand and supply side perspectives of construction projects and is well suited to people in other sectors of the economy who are involved in the procurement of built assets on behalf of their organisation, e.g. project sponsors in the public sector. The specific aims of the programme are: 1.To develop an advanced understanding and knowledge of the theory and practice of procurement, construction contracts, cost management, information technology and project management in the wider business and built environment sectors. 2.To provide opportunities for the critical appreciation and understanding of the significant factors constraining the effective management and development of the built environment, e.g. physical, legal, economic and technological factors 3.To develop and/or extend students' exposure to the current and emerging theories and practice of Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management. 4.To provide opportunities for collaborative and individual student-centred study in order to develop analytical, critical and problem solving skills appropriate to leading, championing and developing the use of new organisational processes that improve the Quantity Surveying and Commercial Managers practices. 5. To encourage students to become autonomous learners.

Core knowledge and understanding will be acquired through conventional approaches to module delivery and these will be employed throughout the programme. This will include formal keynote lectures, coursework tasks and guided independent study. Additionally, a variety of learning strategies and interventions will be employed which will require students to take an active role in their learning. This will include critical analysis of research literature and dissemination of ideas through seminars, debates and student presentations. Knowledge and understanding of the research process will be developed in a specific taught Research Methods module in which students will be inculcated with the fundamentals of a variety of research methodologies and strategies. The module culminates in a research proposal referenced to journal publications and the development of a data collection instrument. Knowledge and understanding is assessed using a range of techniques which include traditional essay and report based coursework assignments and workshop presentations. Assessment methods for each module are specified in the module specifications and may include a variety of methods including formal unseen and open book examinations, individual and group courseworks, classroom tests, presentations and interviews by industry expert. Practical case studies will be used in order to develop relevant skills and the confidence to use them. These will be carried out in small groups or individually in a workshop/seminar environment. The dissertation is a self-managed project with the support of academic staff acting as supervisors. The only formal teaching sessions will be introduction to the module, structure and format of a research thesis and support classes on data analysis. Assessment of a student's intellectual skills will be undertaken by a variety of means. This will include informal assessment of the ability to critically analyse relevant research literature and debate issues within confined peer groups together with the formal assessment of the dissertation submitted at the end of the programme. The acquisition of practical skills will be encouraged and developed within individual modules via workshops using relevant case studies from industry as the teaching vehicle. There will be a major project simulation which will challenge students' practical skills and extend their ability to apply relevant quantity surveying and commercial and project management tools and techniques in a quasi-live work environment. This practical skill will be taught and developed within the Research Methods module and applied within the Dissertation where students will work under the 'hands-off, eyes-on' guidance of a selected member of the academic staff of the School. Students' practical skills will be assessed within discrete modules via formal coursework assignments linked to a variety of case study material. Key skills are developed throughout the programme which aims to provide students with an appropriate environment in which to acquire and develop the necessary attributes of a quantity surveyor and commercial manager and the confidence to apply them in a challenging but protective environment. One module in particular concerns a major simulation based on a current live project which progresses through various project stages relevant to the programme of study. Students will work in small groups to specific deadlines and they will be challenged at each stage via peer reviews, presentations and interviews with project staff. The collaborative project allows the skills to be tested around a real life industry project and will involve various forms of presentations, written, verbal and to work collectively and individually to deadlines. Students will be interviewed and questioned on their submission and their ability to 'think on their feet' will be tested in conjunction with the quantity surveying and commercial management skills acquired during the programme of st

Wherever possible, the assessment for each module will involve work related learning.