Minister of Higher Education Launches Property Development Degree Programme at UKZN

BY: .

The Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande, officially launched the Bachelor of Science in Property Development Degree, a three-year programme that will help meet a growing demand for more graduates in the Built Environment disciplines.  

The programme was made possible through a partnership between the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) and UKZN.

The degree programme was restored at the University last year with the support of CETA funding. Of the first intake of 73 students, 66 received bursaries from CETA. There are currently 113 students registered for the course.

Delivering the keynote address, Nzimande highlighted the important contribution the partnership had made in developing scarce skills. ‘This programme was phased out earlier because of lack of funding, yet it represents a critical need in our country. I am pleased that the CETA has committed to support this programme over the next five years.’

Chairperson of the Board of CETA, Mr Raymond Cele, announced the provision of new bursary funding. ‘The CETA has approved new bursary funding of R3-million for UKZN to implement the new degree followed by either an Honours in Quantity Surveying or an Honours in Construction Management.’

UKZN Vice-Chancellor Dr Albert van Jaarsveld praised the success of the partnership, ‘This will further cement the collaborative synergy between UKZN and CETA to enhance the quality of the programme and to support the sustainable growth of the construction and property industries.’

Programme Co-ordinator, Professor Theo Haupt, said  the course was unique in its teaching method, preparing students for the forms of value creation essential in 21^st century construction.

Haupt said while other universities offered similar qualifications, the instructional approach adopted in the programme at UKZN was unique and unmatched.

The programme is designed to prepare entry-level 21st Century Professionals for the disciplines of construction management, construction project management, construction health and safety, quantity surveying, and property development.

UKZN is now planning to introduce a suite of specialist BSc (Honours) degree programmes that will create more opportunities for graduates in the built environment disciplines.

Programmes to be introduced are:

-     BSc. (Honors): Property Development

-     BSc. (Honors): Professional Quantity Surveying

-     BSc. (Honors): Construction Quantity Surveying

-     BSc. (Honors): Construction Management

-     BSc. (Honors): Construction Project Management

-     BSc. (Honors): Construction Health and Safety Management.

 Sejal Desai