The impact of international work placements on construction undergraduates

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paperpeer-review

Abstract

![CDATA[As many researchers have reported, there is an increasing trend towards globalisation in the construction industry. Even in Australia, where distance and logistics have long proven to be barriers to international competition, there are now signs that the marketplace for building professionals is often much wider than the national boundaries. In this environment, it is helpful for students to incorporate some inter-cultural immersion as part of their work experience. The Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan provides funding for work and study experience for Australian students travelling to the Indo-Pacific region to further their education. This paper reports on the experiences of twenty five construction management students who were able to travel to Hong Kong and Singapore for five or six weeks of mostly unpaid work with large construction companies. The work placements broadened the knowledge of students with regard to the similarities and differences of working in an overseas country. They made useful contacts and were able to include the placement on their resumes when applying for construction management positions on their return to Australia. Their experiences were facilitated by the Australian Institute of Building, Singapore Institute of Building and Hong Kong Institute of Project Managers through their professional networks. It is intended that such exchanges be extended and become a two-way process that will assist with better communication and understanding across the global construction industry.]]
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConference Proceedings: The 40th Australasian Universities Building Education Association (AUBEA) 2016 Conference, 6-8 July 2016, Cairns, Queensland
PublisherCentral Queensland University
Pages99-108
Number of pages10
ISBN (Print)9781921047138
Publication statusPublished - 2016
EventAustralasian Universities Building Education Association. Conference -
Duration: 6 Jul 2016 → …

Conference

ConferenceAustralasian Universities Building Education Association. Conference
Period6/07/16 → …

Keywords

  • construction industry
  • university students
  • vocational education
  • educational exchanges
  • globalization

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