Upscaling Construction Education: The Role of Construction Site Experiential Learning

In upscaling construction education for the future, the role of construction site experiential learning cannot be over-emphasised among students of higher education institutions (HEIs). For most students, it serves as the foremost introduction to the intricacies of the industry. Through a structured questionnaire survey, this paper identified the possible benefits of construction site experiential learning in fostering construction education. The sample for this study consisted of one hundred and twenty-six (126) respondents drawn from professionals in the Nigerian construction industry. The study revealed that developing practical knowledge about the industry, familiarizing students with their responsibilities in their profession and improving students' knowledge of industry expectations are among the benefits of site experiential learning. This study found that there is an increased need for students to be reinforced with relevant work activities, to enable them function effectively in the industry. This study recommends that HEIs are to continuously re-evaluate their existing curricula to incorporate relevant work experiences to better prepare students for the rigors of the construction industry.