Advanced Diploma in Quantity Surveying
Physical Planning and Construction - Physical Planning Design and Management
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose:
The main purpose of the Advanced Diploma in Quantity Surveying is to educate and train students to the highest standards set by the South African Council for Quantity Surveying Professionals (SACQSP), developing knowledge of the economic, legal, technical, and management aspects of quantity surveying. The following specific objectives will be met:
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Providing an opportunity for specialisation in Quantity Surveying and improving technical proficiency to address the shortage of critical and scarce skills in the country.
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Offering the educational base in Quantity Surveying for registration with the SACQSP.
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Producing competent Professional Quantity Surveying Technologists who are academically and technically equipped to meet the challenges in Consultancy and Construction.
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Preparing graduates for Postgraduate study for entry to Postgraduate Diploma in construction and proceeding to a Master's Degree in Construction.
The purpose of this qualification aims to build the necessary knowledge, understanding, abilities, and skills required for further learning towards becoming a competent practicing professional technologist. Specifically, the qualification provides:
- Preparation for a career in Quantity Surveying and achieving technological proficiency to contribute meaningfully to the economy and national development.
- The education that serves as a base for registration as a professional Quantity Surveyor with the SACQSP.
- Ability for graduates with an appropriate level of achievement to enter Level 8 qualifications and then proceed to Master's Degrees.
- A qualification designed for individuals mainly employed in the construction industry to achieve advanced proficiency in Quantity Surveying.
Rationale:
According to the Government Gazette of 23 May 2015, Quantity Surveyors have been identified as the fourth on the National Scarce Skills List of 100 scarce jobs in South Africa. Consequently, quantity surveyors are in high demand and graduates from this course are highly sought after by employers. Quantity surveyors have versatile roles and responsibilities including cost estimation, contracting, and project management. They are vital in ensuring that construction projects are completed efficiently and within budget.
Key responsibilities of quantity surveyors include but are not limited to:
- Preparation of contracts and material quantity details.
- Cost analysis of maintenance and repair work.
- Feasibility studies of client requests.
- Budget management and payment arrangement.
- Site visit assessments and projections for future work.
The role of a quantity surveyor extends to various areas of the construction industry, such as property taxation, costing advice, and contract law. Skills needed for success in this field include effective communication, strong numeracy skills, problem-solving abilities, and negotiation skills. Quantity surveyors play a crucial role in financial management, procurement, and ensuring projects are completed within budget.
The stakeholders consulted during the proposal of the Advanced Diploma in Quantity Surveying include:
- The Construction Industry Advisory Board for the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying.
- Construction Site-based Quantity Surveyors working for contractors.
- Registered Professional Quantity Surveyors.
These stakeholders noted a shortage of suitably qualified quantity surveyors with practical and current construction industry knowledge. The advanced diploma aims to address this gap by equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the industry.
Outcomes
- Supervise the construction processes (methods and procedures), that are used in construction projects with appropriate techniques, resources, and modern construction tools. These processes include information technology for the solution of well-defined construction problems, with an awareness of the limitations, restrictions, premises, assumptions and constraints within construction.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of construction activities on society, the economy and physical environment, and address these issues through defined procedures.
- Critically interpret the design of structures, systems, works, products or processes to meet the desired needs within applicable standards, codes of practice and legislation.
- Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, within a construction context utilising computer literacy skills to enhance communication.
- Engage in independent and life-long learning through well-developed learning skills and training programmes.
- Understand and commit to professional ethics, responsibilities and norms of construction practice.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Plan and manage project and construction processes while focusing on important issues of price, cost, time, value and quality.
- Recognise and deal with constraints with an awareness of the limitations, restrictions, premises, assumptions, and constraints within construction.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Demonstrate competence in identification of problems and understanding of the impact of construction activities on society, economy, and physical environment, and address these issues through defined procedures.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Critically interpret the design of structures, systems, works, products, or processes to meet the desired needs within applicable standards, codes of practice, and legislation.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Demonstrate competence in communication-effectively, both orally and in writing-with individuals and audiences allied to the construction industry and the community at large, using appropriate media.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Demonstrate competence in techniques of engaging in independent and life-long learning through well-developed learning skills and training programs.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Demonstrate competence in establishment of reasons for/evidence of the bases of claims or statements and ability to understand and commit to professional ethics, responsibilities, and norms of construction practice.
Integrated Assessment:
- All modules for this qualification will be evaluated in accordance with the assessment policy of the institution as approved by the senate of the institution.
- A student's competence will be evaluated using formative and summative assessments and could be hand written or computer-based.
- The types of assessment to prove competency are linked to the exit level outcomes of the department and will include the following:
- Tests
- Laboratory/Practical Work
- Projects/Assignments
- Presentations
- Tutorials
- Industrial visits
- Final Integrated Summative Assessments (FISA)
Qualification Details
- Type
- Advanced Diploma
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
Education Cost Calculator
This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.