Addressing the early dropout of Quantity Surveying Courses among university students in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This research develops into the critical issue of early dropout rates among university students pursuing Quantity Surveying courses in Sri Lanka. Despite the significance of Quantity Surveyors in the construction industry, a substantial number of students fail to complete their programs. To understand and mitigate this problem, a comprehensive study was conducted by considering tertiary and vocational sectors, private institutes that offer quantity surveying courses as well as students, lecturers, and professionals who are engaging with the Quantity surveying profession. Moreover, in this study, it was selected the stratified sampling method and Quantitative research approach for data collection. Thus, the structured questionnaires were sent to the respondents of this study. With that, the following challenges were identified as contributing to early attrition such as financial constraints, exacerbated by economic challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, there are internal challenges in the institution and industry that encourage dropouts as the mismatch between the curriculum and industry demands, lack of training, language, gender barriers, education costs, and career prospects. To find solutions to these challenges, it was created the Likert scale questions and the following solutions were proposed. It includes curriculum updates aligned with industry needs, financial aid, awareness programs about career opportunities, language proficiency enhancement, and increasing practical exposure. Collaborations between academia and industry, as well as government support, are integral to the success of these interventions. With the above findings, this research highlights the urgency of addressing early dropout rates in Quantity Surveying courses. Implementing the proposed solutions can foster a conducive learning environment and empower students. This study creates future paths on fostering female professionals while contributing to the growth of Sri Lankan construction industry.