The Roger Williams University is working on two research studies designed to gather information about the current cognizance of vocational education among professionals and students and the other is designed to gather information about the current perceptions of project managers and superintendents based on industry professionals.
Research 1
In the United States, the perception of the construction industry is generally unfavorable by the public. This problem is compounded by a general lack of knowledge and information about the industry and the career opportunities it offers. Although this view has been prevalent in the industry for many years, it is now becoming more common for the younger generation to pursue construction as a profession by using non-traditional ways to raise awareness about the construction industry. There are many career routes that one may take in construction. Specifically, construction management roles are typically divided into either project manager or superintendent (field supervision) routes. Based upon the role chosen, there are different views and perceptions of the type of people, professionalism, and status. The aim of this survey is to further investigate the views on superintendents and project managers, and how they may differ depending on the region of the country, industry sector, and company’s size and type of work. https://rwu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9XLhNP4BUkSmPVc
Research 2
In the United States, Vocational Education has historically been an avenue for students graduating High School and moving directly into a trade. The perception of Vocational Schools and the students that graduate from them are more likely to enter into blue-collar careers. It is believed that if you attend a Vocational School you receive a hands-on education and do not have the same opportunities to attend college as students that attended traditional High School. This research aims to determine the perceptions of construction industry professionals to gauge the perceptions of employers. Along the way further lessons learned will be identified. The study would determine the true perceptions of students who chose to take a Vocational High School route and if they are truly as limited as previously perceived or if those perceptions have changed over time. https://rwu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b9R7j98kaEnBz4a