Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
FdSc Construction
Validation and Specification Document
Validated: 2011
Re-validation: 2016
V16-17
Contents
Programme: Foundation Degree Construction (FdSc)
1 Rationale
2 Programme Specification: Bangor University/Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
2.1 Main Educational Aims of the Programme
2.2 Intended Programme Learning Outcomes
2.3 Table: Programme Learning Outcomes by Module and Level of Study
2.4 Programme Structure
FdSc Construction: Module Matrix
3 Criteria for Admission
4 Teaching and Learning Methods
5 Resources
6 Regulations of Assessment
7 Student Employability and Career Opportunities
8 Staff Development
9 Assessment Profile
9.1 Methods of Assessment
9.2 Assessment Matrix
10 Mapping of Employability Skills
Level 4
Level 5
11 Level 4 Modules
Computer Aided Design using BIM software
Construction Site Operations (Core)
Employability-based Learning: Applying Theory in Practice
Environmental Science and Materials (Core)
Legal, Contractual and Procurement Procedures
Mathematics for the Built Environment (Core)
Research Methods and Study Skills
Site Surveying
12 Level 5 Modules
Building Regulations
Building Services
Construction Technology (Core)
Design & the Built Environment
Inter-Professional Project (Core)
Management Procedures (Core)
Measurement, Tendering and Estimating Techniques
13 Assessment
14 Programme Structure
Programme: Foundation Degree Construction (FdSc)
1 Rationale
In formulating this proposal, The Built Environment Programme Area at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai seeks to build upon the examples of good practice in its present portfolio of courses and provide the training needs of the property sector in the North Wales Region. As part of the higher education strategic plan the programme aims to promote Built Environment HE in the region and upskill the existing workforce. This will develop both knowledge and skills in general and vocational practice, as well as specialist expertise and ability in Construction.
The continuation of this programme is also influenced by the five-year strategic plan of the Sector Skills Council for Construction and Civil Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Construction Skills, which also aims to promote, encourage vocational foundation degrees on offer within FE/HE institutes within the UK and the requirements of the local and regional Property and Civil Engineering industries that has been participating in the college focus group.
“The construction industry is facing rapid change and this is having a significant impact on its skills and training needs…..”
Building Partnerships CITB Strategic Plan 2015-2017
This qualification will also enable continuous professional development for individuals’ already in employment in the sector and add professionalism to the industry through the acquisition of appropriate skills and knowledge at levels four and five. Learners at level three and above will also have available locally a vocational pathway into higher education.
“Spotlight on Construction” CareersWales.com, Oct 2015
The award of a Foundation Degree (FdSc) is more indicative of the North Wales industry it seeks to represent as most students in this sector are part time and this program is a smooth progression route between A level and Honours Degree. Students who successfully complete this programme of study have the opportunity to progress onto sector professional accredited course and onto the proposed BSc (Hons) Commercial Construction Management (3rd year) degree, which is currently being re-validated.
Locally, the college attracts students onto Further Education (FE) and HE programmes because of strong links to local, regional and national organisations and its history in FE education within the area. These links enable FE and HE programmes to have employability embedded within them. Whilst also recognising the shortage of appropriately qualified employees and the need for developing higher cognitive and skilled workforce at levels four and five within the Construction industry. This proposed course will seek to address these shortages which has also been highlighted by the Welsh Assembly Government in their document “Skills that Work for Wales – A Skills and Employment Strategy (2008) and also by the Construction Skills publication Construction Qualifications Strategy (QCS), Action Plan for Wales 2007. It is hoped that the FdSc Construction addresses themes initially highlighted within The Leitch Review (2006), notably the skills and knowledge gap that exists within the UK. The review contends that “the UK must urgently improve skills and knowledge at all levels, in order to have prosperity in the global economy.” This new programme in fulfils these requirements.
“Construction is one of the largest industries in Wales and a pre-requisite for all other economic activity, including delivery of the Welsh Assembly Government’s investment plans.”
Rhodri Morgan, ex-First Minister, WalesBusiness.org, 2014
MBEC has a long established close working relationship with local, regional, national and international Construction organisations. There is an active Employer Engagement Focus Group consisting of a number of local and regional organisations, who meet regularly to engage in dialogue with college staff to discuss issues such as curricular and other educational and training matters. The staff are also involved with the local professional bodies and employer working groups and committees. Examples currently are: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors North Wales Matrix; Royal Society of Architects in Wales and the North Wales Working Well Together Group.
The objective of the coursefor its participating students is to improve job opportunities for a diverse demographic mostly attracting students already in the workplace who want to progress along with younger students who are new to the industry. Tutors work hard on making sure the group dynamics work for all students by improving team working and communication skills which is essential in the construction industry.
This qualification will also enable continuous professional development for individuals’ already in employment in the sector and seek to add professionalism to the industry through the acquisition of appropriate skills and knowledge at levels four, five and six. The programme also offers a vocational progressional pathway in higher education within a field of study learners wish to focus upon. This is seen as a priority by both the HEFCW corporate strategy to promote economic buoyancy and social justice as well as being a priority for higher education and part of the Higher Education Regional Strategy for North and Mid Wales - Collaborating and Developing across Regional Networks (CADARN).
The development of this provision allows for higher level vocational knowledge and skills to be delivered flexibly, to those in part time employment by studying specific modules or one day a week. There has also been communication with industry to choose the best days for students to study at industry’s quieter times hence the decision to run the course on these particular days.
The department has always had a very strong part time provision and focus with more than 15 students per year being sent by local employers to do HE courses. This qualification hopes to build on that part time base with its positive standing and continue to develop the full time suite to go along side and compliment what is long established. Recruitment numbers historically are between 6 and 12 per year and it is hoped that longevity and quality means the course will grow in recruitment numbers in the future.Target numbers for the validated course will be 10.
2 Programme Specification:Bangor University/Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
Awarding Institution / Bangor UniversityTeaching Institution / Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
Teaching site / Coleg Llandrillo
External Accrediting Body / NA
Award Title/s / FdSc Construction
Certificate of Higher Education Construction
JACs / K200
UCAS Code / K220
Relevant QAA Benchmarking Statement/s / Construction, Property and Surveying
2008
Other Reference Points / FD Characteristics (2015)
NUS - CBI: Working towards your Future - Making the most of your time in higher education (2011)
CIOB Educational Framework 2013
CIC HE Graduate Learning Outcomes
CIC Foundation Degree Framework Specification for Construction Management Operations 2010
CITB CSkillsStrategic Plan 2015
Mode/s of Study / Full time, Part time and individual modules
Language of Study / English and bilingually through the medium of Welsh where expertise and resources permit
Date written/amended / October 2015
2.1 Main Educational Aims of the Programme
The Programme aims to:
- prepare students for a range of technical, professional and management careers in construction focussing on key concepts, analysis of contemporary and theoretical principles;
- provide specialised studies for students that are progressing from QCF Level 3 to enhance their opportunities for employment in a diverse range of organisations within the built environment sector;
- enable students to apply appropriate analytical, evaluative and vocational skills in order to resolve problems and to develop an innovative and reflective approach that can be of benefit to a range of organisations; and as a route to TechnicalMembership;
- develop a range of the skills and techniques, personal qualities and attitudes essential for successful performance in a working life; and
- develop an appreciation of the need for continuing professional development in recognition of the need for lifelong learning.
The distinctive features of the Programme aim to:
- provide academic progression for learners in North Wales who wish to pursue a career within Construction:
- enable students to make an immediate contribution to the needs of both local and regional employers by integrating academic and practical skills;
- enable locally based students, who otherwise might not have seen higher education as a realistic option, to undertake a higher level qualification in a supportive environment; and
- provide continuous professional development through the provision of individual modules within the scheme, offering learning and potential benefits to organisations as well as to individuals.
2.2 Intended Programme Learning Outcomes
To gain anFdSc Construction, the student will have demonstrated A) subject knowledge and understanding, B) cognitive skills, C) subject-specific skills and D) employability skills evidenced through achievement of the learning outcomes articulated within each of the programme modules.A) Subject knowledge and understanding of
A1:The key concepts, theories and principles used in construction, property and
surveying relevant to their specialism.
A2:Appropriate stakeholders involved in construction, property and surveying,
and their relevant power and interest
A3:The context in which construction management and real estate processes operate
A4:The linkages and interdisciplinary relationships between the functions of construction, and the relationships between construction and related disciplines operating in the built and natural environments
A5: Other specialist knowledge, related to construction, human-building interaction; land surveying; managing and allocating resources.
A6:The appropriate generic and bespoke software that supports
construction functions
A7:The regulatory systems within which construction, property and surveying
Operate.
A8:Contemporary issues facing the profession and driving change within it. / B) Cognitive skills
B1:Analyse arguments and evidence , and apply them to building, construction and real estate contexts
B2:Locate, extract and analyse data from multiple sources
B3:Devise solutions to routine and unfamiliar problems
B4:The ability to present quantitative and qualitative information, together with analysis, argument and commentary, in a form appropriate to the intended audience,
B5:Manage their own learning in ways that enable them to analyse their own personal strengths and weaknesses and formulate strategies for improvement / C) Subject-specific skills
C1:Use effectively appropriate quantitative and other equipment,
and use generic and bespoke ICT software
C2:The ability to produce professional reports in accordance with published
conventions and/or client expectations
C3: Gather and summarise legal and other documents, citing evidence and make judgements
C4: Work effectively within the context of a multidisciplinary team
C5:Skills that promote safe working environments and safe buildings for habitation
and use
C6: Demonstrate awareness of the significance of professional ethics
and accountability. / D) Employability skills
D1: Self-management: readiness to accept responsibility, flexibility, resilience, self-starting, appropriate assertiveness, time management, readiness to improve own performance based on feedback/reflective learning.
D2: Team working: respecting others, co-operating, negotiating, persuading, contributing to discussions and awareness of interdependence with others.
D3: Business and customer awareness: basic understanding of the key drivers for business success including innovation, risk taking, customer satisfaction and loyalty.
D4: Problem solving: analysing facts and solutions and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions.
D5: Communication and literacy: application of literacy, ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy including listening and questioning.
D6: Application of numeracy: manipulation of numbers, mathematical awareness and its application in practical contexts.
D7: Application of information technology: basic IT skills including familiarity with word processing, spread sheets, file management and use of internet search engines.
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2.3 Table: Programme Learning Outcomes by Module and Level of Study
Title of Level 4 Module / Programme Learning OutcomesSubject Knowledge and Understanding / Cognitive Skills / Subject Specific Skills
A1 / A2 / A3 / A4 / A5 / A6 / A7 / A8 / B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / C1 / C2 / C3 / C4 / C5 / C6
Computer Aided Design Using BIM Software(15) / / / /
Construction Site Operations (20) Core / / / / / / / / / / / / /
EmployabilityBased Learning (10) / / / / / / / / / /
Environmental Science and Materials (20) Core / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Legal, Contractual and Procurement Procedures (15) / / / / / / / / / /
Mathematics for the Built Environment (15) Core / / /
Research Methods and Study Skills (10) / / / / / / / / / /
Site Surveying (15) / / / / / / / /
Title of Level 5 Module / Programme Learning Outcomes
Subject Knowledge and Understanding / Cognitive Skills / Subject Specific Skills
A1 / A2 / A3 / A4 / A5 / A6 / A7 / A8 / B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / C1 / C2 / C3 / C4 / C5 / C6
Building Regulations (15) / / / / / / / / / / / /
Building Services (15) / / / / / / / / / / / /
Construction Technology (20) Core / / / / / / / / / / / /
Design and the Built Environment (15) / / / / / / / /
Inter-Professional Project (20) Core / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Management Procedures (20) Core / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Measurement, Tendering and Estimating Techniques (15) / / / / / / / / /
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2.4 Programme Structure
A diagram for the Programme is provided below.
Certificate of Higher Education: Module Matrix
Level 4 Modules: 120 Credits
Compulsory ModulesComputer Aided Design Using BIM Software (15) ** / Legal, Contractual and Procurement Procedures (15)
Construction Site Operations (20) Core / Mathematics for the Built Environment (15) Core
Employability Based Learning (10) ** / Research Methods and Study Skills (10)
Environmental Science and Materials (20) Core / Site Surveying (15)
FdSc Construction: Module Matrix
Level 5 Modules: 120 Credits= 240 credits
Compulsory ModulesBuilding Regulations (15) / Inter-Professional Project (20) Core **
Building Services (15) / Management Procedures (20) Core
Construction Technology (20) Core / Measurement, Tendering and Estimating Techniques (15)
Design and the Built Environment (15)
** Denotes Employment Based Module
3 Criteria for Admission
Academic requirements:
FdSc Construction
UCAS Tariff minimum of 140 points which will include options from below:
- A minimum of two A levels, gaining a pass in at least one relevant A2 subjectat grade C or higher. Minimum grades accepted D. Examples of A Levels appropriate for the course entry are the following: Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Design Technology, Economics, Business.
- Or a BTEC Extended Diploma or equivalent with grade MPP or higher.
- Or a BTEC Diploma or above, or equivalent with grade MM or higher.
- Or a BTEC Subsidiary Diploma or above, or equivalent with grade M or higher.
- Approved prior and experiential learning for some modules may be available dependent upon GLLM policy.
FdSc Construction Entry into Year 2
- Direct entry onto the FdScmay be given to those who hold a relevant HNC at 120 Credits or more or a relevant HND.
Welsh and English language requirements:
- Welsh or English as mother tongue with equivalent GCSE grade C, or
- Any degrees, diplomas or certificates eligible above should have been taught and assessed in Welsh/English, or
- For entry onto level 4: English fluency to TOEFL 550 or higher (with no element less than 525), or an IELTS score of 5.5 or higher (with no element less than 5.0)
4 Teaching and Learning Methods
Delivery is through a blend of the following:
Lecturesare a very effective way of delivering core material and establishing a framework for a module against which other material can be set. Students will be made aware of the content of each module and issued with a list of the topics to be covered as well as sources of additional material (required and recommended reading) via the studenthomepage. All members of staff within the College, most of whom have professional teaching qualifications, make an effort to present lecture material in an effective and stimulating manner. To facilitate this, most staff use projectors with interactive whiteboards, Internet media and industry software. Visiting speakers from industry are invited to participate in teaching and make a contribution to assessment through feedback channelled via the module leader.
The student home page via the College MOODLE facility allows students to access their modules, with their learning resources and assessments. This allows the students to preview what will be covered and also revisit items post lectures.
Workshops and practical work are utilised to complement lectures enabling learners to participate in activities that reinforce theory and develop understanding and skills. The RESCW centre and the facility at the rear of MBEC will act as laboratory and workshop.
The surveying module is done as a one-week practical in the last week in October. Using the campus as topography to be surveyed, students do typical industry exercises and tasks with hired electronic equipment.
The Inter-Professional Project will be assessed through a Feasibility Pack, Reflective Report and a presentation of the completed scheme. It will allow students form several academic streams within the built environment industry to experience working together on the development of projectand is assessed on realism, fiscal accuracy, technical competence and creativity. Industry experts join the tutor panel to judge the groups and their proposals.
During the year two weeks are set aside for trips and excursions to see and do things that cannot be easily simulated in the class. In October and February days are put aside for visits to local companies and localities to see industry in action and get up to date knowledge and expert discussion from the facilitators.