environment map the way forward for the industry
18 June 2007
The two day 2nd Built Environment Conference has started off on a high note
with industry professionals and experts raising thought provoking issues that
are a thorn to the effective growth of the industry.
The conference, a joint initiative between the Council for the Built
Environment (CBE) and the Association of Schools of Construction of Southern
Africa (ASOCSA), is currently underway at the Boardwalk Conference Centre in
Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape ending on 19 June.
The conference is expected to debate on issues of skills shortage; tender
pricing; higher costs of skills importation and a wide range of challenges
starting from the FIFA 2010 stadia to government infrastructure expenditure of
R372 billion. All these issues have been raised against the backdrop of skills
shortage, the industry not matching up to the economic boom and shortage of
construction material.
The conference has provided an international platform for researchers and
practitioners in the built environment from developed, developing and
underdeveloped nations to address fundamental problems and constraints that
affect them in their profession.
In the midst are organisations such as the provincial Master Builders
Association (MBA); South African Master Builders Association (SAMBA); ASOCSA;
institutions of higher learning; the Construction Industry Development Board
(CIDB); Eskom; and Group 5 Construction.
Within the next day the conference will finalise the following issues:
* the escalation of price costs
* achieving client satisfaction
* critical assessment of postgraduate Real Estate Education in South Africa
regarding the importance and research approach
* challenges facing the small and medium contractors
* skills transfer to emerging contractors in the construction industry
* recruitment strategy to curb the declining pool of ageing professionals
* to provide a forum for multi-disciplinary interaction between academics and
practitioners to be on par with changing trends in the profession.
Enquiries:
Council for the Built Environment
Contact:
Bridget Bhengu
Cell: 082 210 2297
E-mail: bridget@cbe.org.za
Department of Public Works
Contact: Trodger Thebe
Cell: 082 908 1850
E-mail: trodger.thebe@dpw.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Public Works
18 June 2007
