The Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) recently hosted the 7th CIDB Doctoral Research Workshop, with the aim of giving research direction to Doctoral students.
The workshop was held at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel and Conference Centre in Durban and attended by various academics in the discipline of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying from an array of South African tertiary institutions.
Guided by a panel of distinguished professors, the workshop covered topics such as Optimisation Model for Retrofitting Existing Educational Buildings in South Africa, and the Evaluation of the Project Portfolio and Construction Management Practices Impacting Stakeholder Interest, Selection, and Implementation of Urban Infrastructure Projects in South Africa, to name a few.
The Local Organising Committee from DUT consisted of Professor OA Aiyetan, Prof MS Ramabodu, Dr MC Mewomo, Dr IC Anugwo, and Mrs A Pirthiraj.
Workshop Convener, Prof Aiyetan,, and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) for the opportunity given to DUT’s Construction Management and Quantity Surveying to host the 7th CIDB Doctoral Workshop and the support they had received from the Faculty and University.
In addition, he thanked Dr Ntebo Ngozwana, Ms Zama Thusi Thabiso, and the Local Organising Committee for putting everything together and making the event a success.
According to Prof Aiyetan, the biennial workshop was aimed to direct students to the appropriate: theoretical and conceptual framework, literature review, and research methodology bordering on the research philosophy, paradigm, methods, and instrument, in assisting the student to succeed in their research work.
He indicated that the proceedings of the workshop contained proposals from Doctoral students around the nation. Prof Aiyetan conveyed that these are researches that are being undertaken are in relation to digitalisation and decarbonisation of the construction industry, construction 4.0, retrofitting buildings for energy sustainability, digitalisation and decarbonisation of the construction industry, lean construction, environmental sustainability, indoor energy sustainability, infrastructure development and sustainability, stakeholder management framework, and public-private partnerships.
“The 7th edition of the CIDB Doctoral Workshop continues the strong culture that reflects the principle of the CIDB, which is to develop the industry particularly the academic stream of the industry, with respect to fostering the exchange of knowledge and promoting research within the industry,” he said.
He further commented that based on the foregoing, the workshop aims to direct students to the appropriate: theoretical and conceptual framework, literature review, and research methodology bordering on the research philosophy, paradigm, methods, and instrument, in assisting the student to succeed in their research work.
Prof Aiyetan said that the workshop had various presentations from Doctoral students on different topics. He said that there were individual critics given to each student as each student had their work assessed, given feedback on their work and guidance on the way forward with their study.
During the workshop, a total number of 13 Doctoral proposals were presented, exploring and examining different topics within the field of Construction Management.
Pictured: DUT’s Steve Biko Campus.
Waheeda Peters
