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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
Language: English
Authors: Swapnil Sharma (ORCID 0009-0008-9335-6650), Seema Ravindra Singh (ORCID 0000-0003-0816-909X), Sunita Jatav (ORCID 0000-0002-7946-4638)
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
FullText Text:
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  Data: Assessing the Relevance of an Indian Undergraduate Civil Engineering Programme: A Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process Approach
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Swapnil+Sharma%22">Swapnil Sharma</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9335-6650">0009-0008-9335-6650</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Seema+Ravindra+Singh%22">Seema Ravindra Singh</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0816-909X">0000-0003-0816-909X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sunita+Jatav%22">Sunita Jatav</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7946-4638">0000-0002-7946-4638</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Higher+Education%2C+Skills+and+Work-based+Learning%22"><i>Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning</i></searchLink>. 2025 15(1):158-175.
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  Data: 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
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  Data: 18
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Civil+Engineering%22">Civil Engineering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Relevance+%28Education%29%22">Relevance (Education)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Study%22">Undergraduate Study</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indians%22">Indians</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Construction+Programs%22">Construction Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Construction+Industry%22">Construction Industry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curriculum+Evaluation%22">Curriculum Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expertise%22">Expertise</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Private+Sector%22">Private Sector</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Education+Work+Relationship%22">Education Work Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Courses%22">Courses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Course+Content%22">Course Content</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structural+Elements+%28Construction%29%22">Structural Elements (Construction)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Municipalities%22">Municipalities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Construction+Materials%22">Construction Materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+Planning%22">Community Planning</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22India%22">India</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1108/HESWBL-09-2023-0241
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  Data: 2042-3896
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: 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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        Value: 10.1108/HESWBL-09-2023-0241
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 18
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Civil Engineering
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      – SubjectFull: Relevance (Education)
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      – TitleFull: Assessing the Relevance of an Indian Undergraduate Civil Engineering Programme: A Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process Approach
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