Assessing the Relevance of an Indian Undergraduate Civil Engineering Programme: A Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process Approach
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| Title: | Assessing the Relevance of an Indian Undergraduate Civil Engineering Programme: A Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process Approach |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Swapnil Sharma (ORCID |
| Source: | Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning. 2025 15(1):158-175. |
| Availability: | Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 18 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Civil Engineering, Relevance (Education), Undergraduate Study, Indians, Construction Programs, Construction Industry, Curriculum Evaluation, Expertise, Private Sector, Education Work Relationship, Courses, Course Content, Structural Elements (Construction), Municipalities, Construction Materials, Community Planning |
| Geographic Terms: | India |
| DOI: | 10.1108/HESWBL-09-2023-0241 |
| ISSN: | 2042-3896 |
| Abstract: | Purpose: An undergraduate civil engineering programme is assessed for its relevance to the building construction sector. Its contrast from the existing curriculum structure is also highlighted. Design/methodology/approach: The curriculum is clustered into 15 groups based on disciplines. A pairwise comparison of groups is conducted by experts from the building construction sector. Expert judgements are analysed using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) to determine the groups' order based on their importance in preparing students for a career in the building construction sector. Findings: Concrete Technology, Structural Design and Analysis, and Building Technology and Town Planning emerged as the three most essential course groups, followed by Construction and Project Management, Surveying, and Geotechnical and Allied. Foundational Science and Math, Hydrology/Water Resource Engineering, and Computing and Programming came last in the order. Research limitations/implications: Relying on a curriculum from a specific region, generalizability to other geographical areas is limited. The perspective of building construction sector professionals excludes the views of other stakeholder groups within the sector. Practical implications: The study allows universities in general to enhance students' job prospects in construction by calibrating course group priorities and aligning skills with industry needs, thereby potentially improving employability, and boosting the industry-academia relationship. Originality/value: Fuzzy AHP has been utilized by building construction industry experts to assess the relevance of an undergraduate civil engineering curriculum. Findings serve as a valuable reference for implementing positive curriculum changes to potentially enhance student employability. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1462763 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Purpose: An undergraduate civil engineering programme is assessed for its relevance to the building construction sector. Its contrast from the existing curriculum structure is also highlighted. Design/methodology/approach: The curriculum is clustered into 15 groups based on disciplines. A pairwise comparison of groups is conducted by experts from the building construction sector. Expert judgements are analysed using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) to determine the groups' order based on their importance in preparing students for a career in the building construction sector. Findings: Concrete Technology, Structural Design and Analysis, and Building Technology and Town Planning emerged as the three most essential course groups, followed by Construction and Project Management, Surveying, and Geotechnical and Allied. Foundational Science and Math, Hydrology/Water Resource Engineering, and Computing and Programming came last in the order. Research limitations/implications: Relying on a curriculum from a specific region, generalizability to other geographical areas is limited. The perspective of building construction sector professionals excludes the views of other stakeholder groups within the sector. Practical implications: The study allows universities in general to enhance students' job prospects in construction by calibrating course group priorities and aligning skills with industry needs, thereby potentially improving employability, and boosting the industry-academia relationship. Originality/value: Fuzzy AHP has been utilized by building construction industry experts to assess the relevance of an undergraduate civil engineering curriculum. Findings serve as a valuable reference for implementing positive curriculum changes to potentially enhance student employability. |
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| ISSN: | 2042-3896 |
| DOI: | 10.1108/HESWBL-09-2023-0241 |
