From theory to practice: Students' perceptions of co-operative construction education experiences

Abstract

This article reports on the findings of a study that examined the attitudes of students at higher education institutions regarding their experiences of transferring theory to the workplace. Employers in the construction industry contend that present construction-related academic programs inadequately prepare students for their future careers in the industry. It is argued that higher education institutions have given students too little that will be of real value beyond a credential that will help them get their first jobs. The opinions of first year students were surveyed before, and third and final year students after, their practical periods of employment in construction. The study concludes that all the co-operative part­ners in co-operative education can do much more to improve this approach to construction education in job-training.