UKZN Hosts 2015 ASOCSA Conference

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The 9th Built Environment Conference of the Association of Schools of Construction of Southern Africa (ASOCSA) held recently at the UNITE Building on UKZN’s Howard College campus lived up to its reputation as one of the leading international conferences of its kind in Africa. 

The decision by ASOCSA to hold the Conference at UKZN for the second year running was justified by the positive feedback received about the excellent conference facilities.  

The Conference attracted researchers, academics and project managers from the full range of built environment disciplines, including engineering, architecture, quantity surveying, and construction in South Africa and internationally.

The number of delegates was the largest ever at an ASOCSA Conference. 

There were keynote addresses delivered by a range of experts, some of whom were controversial and provocative setting the tone for healthy debate throughout the event.

Of the more than 50 papers presented, 15 were authored and co-authored by PropDev researchers and postgraduate students. This notable achievement was recognised with UKZN receiving the ASOCSA award for the most papers presented and another award for having the most delegates from an academic institution. 

The Emerald Best Paper Award went to Mr Denamo Addissie - a UKZN PhD candidate from Ethiopia - and his supervisor, Professor Theo Haupt. 

The ASOCSA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mr Pieter Rautenbach who during his 50 years of service to the construction industry in KwaZulu-Natal also lectured part-time for a period at the former University of Natal.

The Conference was followed by a very successful Infrastructure Design and Delivery Workshop attended by more than 30 industry stakeholders.

Without the support of the School of Engineering at UKZN, Master Builders Association KZN, CIB, SACPCMP, SACQSP, and ASAQS, together with all the conference delegates, this conference - and the further development and growth of the Association of Schools of Construction of Southern Africa (ASOCSA) with respect to its mission in the region - would not have been possible. 

Further, this support demonstrates the commitment to the further development of the body of knowledge relative to the science and practice of construction. This commitment is deeply valued and acknowledged. 

The Conference set the platform for many initiatives and partnerships that will further elevate the profile and standing of the PropDev programme, the School of Engineering and UKZN in both regional and international communities.

Theodore Haupt