BSc CPM presentation

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Developing a Unique Baccalaureate Degree Program
Benefits and Challenges
Dr. Faisal Arain (Dr. Phillip Hoffmann
Presenter) Southern Alberta Institute of
Technology (SAIT) Calgary, Canada
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Session highlights

• The benefits and challenges of developing a
  unique baccalaureate degree program, based on
  case-study approach
• Participants in this session will learn
• Definition of a unique degree program,
• Significance of a unique program,
• Development process and
• The benefits and challenges in developing a
  unique baccalaureate degree.
• Contribution to Knowledge

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a Unique Baccalaureate Degree

• Unique being without a like or equal
• A new degree program with no similar programs in
  the region
• The rapid trend of globalization and
  technological changes have made difficult for
  educational institutions to shine in the
  competitive academic galaxy
• The importance of developing specialized
  competencies in educational institutes has been
  increased manyfold
• An excellent opportunity for the educational
  institutions to prosper in the academic galaxy

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Significance of a Unique Program

• Market niche identified for the program
• Lead in a competitive market
• Room for experimentation
• Catalyst for innovation in academia
• Rigorous and extensive research process required
• Careful allocation of resources to develop the
  extensive knowledge base required to pursue
  quality
• New opportunities for existing and prospective
  faculty
• Contribution to existing programs strength and
  research venues

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BSc in Construction Project Management

• Project Management is the overall planning,
  coordination and control of a project aimed at
  meeting clients requirements
• The complexity of construction projects and
  technological changes have increased the
  significance of project management manyfold
• The construction industry has a growing need for
  management professionals who can play an integral
  role on project teams
• BSc in Construction Project Management A
  construction degree with management-based course
  of study

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BSc in Construction Project Management

• 4 years program, divided over 8 semesters of
  study
• Credential Nomenclature Bachelor of Science
• Specialty Construction Project Management
• Program developed from virtually a blank slate
• One of the four pioneer baccalaureate degree
  programs at SAIT
• Extensive research was carried out to establish
  the program map for the BSc in Construction
  Project Management
• Proposed program consists of a combination of
  core courses, specialty courses, and general
  education courses

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BSc in Construction Project Management

• DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
• Formation of a dedicated team, proper resources
  and careful planning and scheduling
• An Academic Chair (Subject Matter Expert, PhD
  in the relevant field)
• Degree Initiative Team (Dedicated group of
  professionals including an associate dean,
  instructional designer, technical writer,
  multimedia specialist, and admin support)
• The degree proposal development process was
  carefully planned and scheduled considering all
  internal and external processes
• SAITs internal processes for degree development
  and approval ensure rigor and due diligence
  required to produce quality program

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BSc in Construction Project Management
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BSc in Construction Project Management

• DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
• Extensive research for establishing a knowledge
  base for development of the program concept
• Literature review for basic understanding
• Review of market demand
• Feedback from stakeholders
• Analysis of apparent challenges
• Analysis of comparable local and global programs
• Review of similar programs in other universities
  and institutes
• Lesson learned from other universities and
  institutes
• Consultations with other universities and
  institutes

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BSc in Construction Project Management

• DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
• Identification of program outcomes
• Program outcomes indentified by an Industry Focus
  Group, consisting of construction industry
  professionals, and professional association
  representatives
• The focus group members were asked to envision
  the attributes of the ideal graduate of this
  program and from this, the outcomes crystallized
• Top down approach to program design informs
  outcomes at all levels of the curriculum
• A comparison of program outcomes with
  employability skills

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BSc in Construction Project Management
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BSc in Construction Project Management

• DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
• Curriculum development
• Curriculum will be designed using a
  learner-centered model that provides choice,
  project based learning, opportunities for student
  interaction and active learning
• Curriculum Excellence Foundations workshops
• Subject Matter Experts from Academia and Industry
  
• Internal and external review processes
• Conducted research, meetings and consultations
  with internal and external stakeholders, to
  validate the degree proposal
• Convened an Internal Review Panel, whose members
  included faculty, School Deans and managers from
  various SAIT departments
• Convened an External Review Panel, utilizing the
  skills of experts from industry and the
  post-secondary system

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Developing a Unique Degree Program

• Benefits and Challenges
• Most common benefits
• Pioneering
• Sense of creation
• Larger academic market
• Industry opportunities
• Flexibility
• Innovation, and customization

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Developing a Unique Degree Program

• Benefits and Challenges
• Most Significant Challenges
• Lack of knowledge base
• Resistance from academia
• More rigorous
• Extensively time consuming
• Extensive research
• Accreditation issues
• Start from scratch
• General acceptability
• End-user perception

• Global recognition
• Scarcity of specialized faculty
• Program outcomes development
• Availability of specialized reference books
• Lack of subject matter experts
• Curriculum development

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BSc in Construction Project Management

• Knowledge Contribution
• Development of the knowledge base an excellent
  resource for future reference and improvement
• Lessons learned from consultations with other
  institutions and industry
• Controls implemented to resolve scheduling and
  planning issues
• Lessons learned from Degree Initiative Group
  approach and Curriculum development approach
• The research into development of the program can
  be used by future researchers to carry out
  studies on the development of pertinent degrees

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BSc in Construction Project Management

• Participants Contribution
• Based on your understanding, identify key
  benefits and significant challenges of developing
  a unique degree program

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BSc in Construction Project Management
THANK YOU