An Investigation into the Factors that Contribute to the Lack of Skills and Development within the Construction Industry

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

For this piece of work, I acknowledge and want to thank my teaching staff, family and friends for the support and assistance they provided me throughout the completion phase. Their belief and guidance made me able to complete this study by countering various hurdles. This journey has only been possible because of God and his promise to make the impossible possible. There have been many times throughout this journey that I often thought of giving up. My faith in God not only helped me during those doubtful moments but has taught me that through God nothing is beyond reach. God, your will is manifested through me. I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Dr. XYZ, chairperson, for this doctoral study. Words are inadequate to express how much I appreciate your patience, guidance, and effort to get me where I am today on the road to achieving my dream. Your determination to guide me through this doctoral study is my inspiration that keeps me trying to complete the study. I want to thank Dr. XYZ, committee member, for his outstanding and ongoing support during the development of this doctoral study. One of my goals during this doctoral journey is to produce a quality research or product. My dream to contribute to my community and the world through research is within reach through the efforts of several educators, friends, and my family, who are supporting me. I do appreciate each and every person that is involved in this journey of mine.

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DECLARATION

I declare that all the information and data, presented in this research, is my personal research effort and no external assistance has been taken for it. I further declare that this work is not submitted to any academic institution and at any educational or professional level. All the information in this research presents my personal views and observations and they are not associated with the academic institution.

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ABSTRACT

The definition of skills in construction is clear depending on the role of an individual. Skills are defined as an ability and capacity acquired through deliberate, systematic, and sustained effort to smoothly and adaptively carryout complex activities. Ultimately applying this in practice is achievable; however the measured level of input seems to vary, hence creating uncertainty as to the skill levels in construction. The Rethinking construction report justifies this by stating, there is a crisis in training. The research will investigate the effects of the rise in tuition fees and how it affects the development of the construction industry. Skills will also be affected by the rise in tuition fees, and investigating how this is will be analyzed also. Students being the focus point of this objective, there is already a clear linkage in skills and knowledge obtained at higher education in to the lack of skills present. The use of statistics and data around the issue of higher education in construction ...