A systematic review of construction skills acquisition in higher education institutions

Higher education institutions (HEIs) construction students' skill acquisition is critical to addressing skill shortages in the AEC industry caused by issues such as an ageing workforce accompanied by rising retirement rates and the industry's difficulty in attracting and retaining fresh talents due to their negative perceptions of the industry. Hence, this paper conducts a systematic literature review on construction skills accessed and acquired through the HEIs, especially at the commencement of the 4th industrial revolution of 2014. Seven hundred and forty-eight articles were analysed, of which 46 were selected through the PRISMA protocols. Meanwhile, the research limitations can be attributed to using specific crucial keywords in viable but constrained databases. Results from the analysis demonstrated the authors' prominent use of mixed research methods. Findings and recommendations focused on construction students, graduates, HEIs, professionals, clients, and the digitisation of construction pedagogy. Significant findings and recommendations highlight the need to revise the construction curriculum and teaching methods, emphasising the importance of using digital tools and applications. A well-structured and implemented construction course curriculum tailored towards acquiring soft and hard construction skills will go a long way towards sustaining, improving, and increasing a viable construction workforce.