The Acquisition of Soft Skills in Real Estate Program via Industrial Training

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the soft skill gap of graduate employees, as well as the factors influencing the skill gaps of real estate graduates in the employment of real estate firms in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were employed for the study. Close-ended questionnaire served on real estate employers in the two major property markets of Nigeria: Lagos and Abuja. From a total of 343 questionnaires administered, 172 (59.7%) questionnaires were retrieved. While data from the graduate employees were obtained via a web-based survey sent out to a total of 558 graduates, 119 (21.33%) responses were received. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were employed in the data analysis.FindingsThe findings showed that employers had high expectations for soft skillsets relating to responsibility, administrative, listening and communication skills. These have respective mean scores of 6.38, 6.33, 6.31 and 6.31 on a seven point scale. However, the results revealed significant skill gaps with skills such as logical thinking, business negotiation, responsibility and marketing. Further, the analysis revealed that factors influencing the skill gap, in decreasing order of influence, are training/professional mentors/remuneration, personal preferences/industry characteristics and curriculum/faculties.Practical implicationsReal estate graduate soft skills are investigated to uncover areas of emphasis and skill gaps. These outcomes could serve as important feedbacks for stakeholders towards improving real estate teaching and curriculum. The findings could also assist real estate graduates to know employers areas of emphasis in relation to graduate employability skills.Originality/valueExtant studies have reiterated and evaluated the soft skills gaps based on the perceptions of employers, faculties and institutions of higher learning. However, there is the need to investigate the perception of graduate employees, being the recipient and major stakeholders in the training process.

Download Full-text

Assessing Students’ Knowledge and Soft Skills Competency in the Industrial Training Programme: The Employers’ Perspective

Review of European Studies ◽

10.5539/res.v8n1p123 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 123 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lim Khong Chiu ◽

Nor Idayu Mahat ◽

Basri Rashid ◽

Norhanim A. Razak ◽

Hamimi Omar

Keyword(s):

Communication Skills ◽

Soft Skills ◽

Training Programme ◽

Basic Knowledge ◽

Educational Institutions ◽

Industrial Training ◽

Soft Skill ◽

Skill Levels ◽

Five Dimensions ◽

Service Sectors

<p>The importance of developing soft skills competency among students should be the priority of all the Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in order to ensure their graduates are marketable. Therefore, it is essential for HEIs to distinguish the knowledge and soft skill levels of their students so that strategies and intervention could be implemented to rectify their capabilities. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and soft skills competency from the employer’s viewpoints on the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) students participating in the industrial training programme. A total of 438 employers from different industrial backgrounds had participated in this study. A questionnaire consisting of five dimensions of soft skills which are basic knowledge, communication skills, practical skills, leadership, and attitude was utilized to collect data. The results of this study indicate that the employers were satisfied with the knowledge and soft skills competency portrayed by UUM students in preparing themselves for the real work environment. The employers from the service sectors were satisfied with students’ performance in all dimensions of soft skills measured. However, employers from the factory and commerce sector perceived as moderate satisfaction for all dimensions of soft skills. Additionally, the employers of the factory and commerce sector assessed by giving the lowest satisfaction score for “hands-on” skills, but generally they satisfied with the students’ communication skills. The information gathered can provide important insights from the perspective of organizations which is valuable in improving the overall hard and soft skills competency for future professionals and managers.</p>

Download Full-text

Adequacy of core knowledge and soft skills in the performance of professional employees of real estate firms in Nigeria

Property Management ◽

10.1108/pm-02-2016-0008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 132-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sunday Olarinre Oladokun ◽

Job Taiwo Gbadegesin

Keyword(s):

Real Estate ◽

Business Performance ◽

Soft Skills ◽

Core Knowledge ◽

Content Type ◽

Adequate Knowledge ◽

Inadequate Knowledge ◽

Professional Employees ◽

Real Estate Education ◽

Estate Agency

Purpose Real estate professionals are a vital resource to the property firms and the industry at large. Employees’ skills, knowledge and competence contribute in great measure to organization’s business performance. The purpose of this paper is to examine the adequacy of core knowledge and soft skills possessed by professional employees within the Nigerian real estate practicing firms. It also assesses the performance of the employees and establishes the correlation among the soft skills possessed by employees. Design/methodology/approach Data for this study were elicited through the administration of questionnaires on principal partners/branch managers (the employers) of the practicing estate surveying and valuation firms in Lagos metropolis. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-test and correlation analysis. Findings The result indicates that employees of estate firms in Nigeria demonstrate adequate knowledge in ten out of 21 core areas of real estate practice, while real estate agency has the highest mean, and inadequate knowledge in six others with least mean score in environmental impact assessment. The study also revealed that employees possess good listening and communication skills but are deficient in courteousness and writing skill, among others. It was also found that real estate employees were performing the best in inspection functions but below average in report writing and handling of transaction. The study also established a significant relationship among all the soft skills except communication skill and courteousness. Research limitations/implications Further study that looks at the performance of real estate graduates working in other sectors/organizations other than estate companies is required to establish their competence level in global employment market. Further study is also needed to cover the views of the employees in Nigerian market as this study focuses on the views of the employers. Originality/value This study provides an important feedback for the policy makers in the design/review of curriculum for real estate education towards enhancing employability of the graduates. This study also serves as the research blueprint in giving attention to assessment of soft skills among real estate employees in Nigerian real estate industry.

Download Full-text

Importance of Soft Skills for Graduates in the Real Estate Programmes in Malaysia

Journal of Surveying Construction & Property ◽

10.22452/jscp.vol3no2.4 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Yasmin Mohd Adnan ◽

Md Nasir Daud ◽

Anuar Alias ◽

Muhammad Najib Razali

Keyword(s):

Real Estate ◽

Soft Skills ◽

The Real ◽

The Real Estate

Download Full-text

Relative Importance Index (RII) In Ranking the Factors of Employer Satisfaction Towards Industrial Training Students

International Journal of Asian Education ◽

10.46966/ijae.v2i4.187 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 493-503

Author(s):

Duratul Ain Tholibon ◽

Masyitah Md Nujid ◽

Hamizah Mokhtar ◽

Jamilah Abd Rahim ◽

Nurul Faiizin Abdul Aziz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Civil Engineering ◽

Soft Skills ◽

Working Hours ◽

Industrial Training ◽

Program Outcomes ◽

Generic Skills ◽

Employer Satisfaction ◽

Relative Index ◽

Importance Index ◽

Diploma Program

This study aims to examine the level of employer satisfaction towards industrial training students of the UiTM Pahang Civil Engineering Diploma Program and identify employer satisfaction factors for industrial training students from aspects of knowledge, personality, generic skills, and soft skills. This study is focused on semester four students undergoing industrial training. This study was conducted on 158 respondents from various organizations. Using the important relative index (RII), the level of important factors was ranked through the value of the index. Findings show the highest employer satisfaction is towards the student mastering their knowledge, adhering to the working hours, improving their skills and knowledge, and communicating well with co-workers. Besides, it also shows a good correlation between knowledge and personality among industrial training students. This study found that industrial training students of the Civil Engineering Diploma Program had a good level of control over all four domains. Overall findings showed that employers are satisfied with the industrial training students of the UiTM Pahang Civil Engineering Diploma Program. This study is important to measure the effectiveness of the industrial training syllabus in terms of achieving the program outcomes addressed in the syllabus

Download Full-text

Enhancing Soft Skills of Accounting Undergraduates through Industrial Training

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.09.312 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 59 ◽

pp. 541-549 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ruhanita Maelah ◽

Aini Aman ◽

Zakiah Muhammadun Mohamed ◽

Rosiati Ramli

Keyword(s):

Soft Skills ◽

Industrial Training

Download Full-text

Employability skills of real estate graduates in Nigeria: a skill gap analysis

Journal of Facilities Management ◽

10.1108/jfm-04-2020-0027 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 297-323

Author(s):

Timothy Oluwafemi Ayodele ◽

Timothy Tunde Oladokun ◽

Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu

Keyword(s):

Real Estate ◽

Gap Analysis ◽

Soft Skills ◽

Soft Skill ◽

Content Type ◽

Business Negotiation ◽

The Real ◽

The Real Estate ◽

Skill Gaps ◽

Real Estate Sector

Purpose The global shift in the traditional skills required of real estate graduates has led to an increased demand for employees who have the required skills and competencies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate employment considerations of real estate firms and analyse employers’ skill expectations and the observed skills possessed by the graduate employees. This study also analysed the self-assessed soft skill levels of the graduate employees, thereby establishing the skill gap. Design/methodology/approach Data were sought from real estate employers in the two dominant real estate markets of Nigeria: Lagos and Abuja, and real estate graduate employees who have had a minimum of six months working experience in real estate firms. Data collected were analysed using statistical techniques such as frequency, percentages, mean, correlation, multivariate analysis of variance, paired-samples t-test and independent samples t-test. Findings The findings of this study revealed that employers’ soft skills expectations were high with skills such as responsibility, administrative, listening, communication, business negotiation and work ethics. Based on employers' observed skills, there were significant skill gaps with respect to soft skills such as responsibility, business negotiation, logical thinking, marketing and dispute resolution. An analysis of the core skills reveals employers' preference for technical competencies in valuation, agency, property management, marketing, report writing and landlord and tenant laws. However, graduate employees possessed significant skill gaps with regards to technical skills such as valuation, property investment analysis, feasibility and viability appraisal, market research methods and facility management. Practical implications An understanding of the skill gaps will provide useful feedback to professional bodies, regulatory boards, institutions of higher learning, faculty members and other stakeholders regarding deficient skill areas, especially for curriculum review, development and training in the real estate sector. Originality/value There is a paucity of information about employers' skill preferences and the skill gaps in the real estate sector.

Download Full-text

Perceptions of Academics on Real Estate Topics in Africa

Real Estate Management and Valuation ◽

10.2478/remav-2021-0004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 30-40

Author(s):

Samuel H.P. Chikafalimani ◽

Nathan Kibwami ◽

Sibusiso Moyo

Keyword(s):

Real Estate ◽

Interdisciplinary Approach ◽

International Perspective ◽

Real Estate Finance ◽

Industrial Training ◽

Education Practice ◽

Real Estate Valuation ◽

Real Estate Education ◽

Real Estate Management ◽

Real Estate Economics

Abstract This paper presents the perceptions of academics on real estate topics offered in Bachelors Real Estate (BRE) curricula in Africa. In order to understand the perceptions of academics on real estate topics, a survey of seven selected BRE curricula offered in different regions of Africa was conducted to determine important real estate topics academics included in the curricula. After analyzing the curricula, sorting and re-grouping the topics: Real estate management, Real estate valuation, Real estate economics, Real estate finance and investment, Real estate development, Real estate law, Real estate planning, Real estate research, Real estate industrial training and Real estate electives emerged to be important topics the academics considered to include in the curricula. The topics are in line with those expected in a real estate curriculum. In addition, results revealed that BRE curricula follow the interdisciplinary approach to real estate education. Findings will encourage universities in Africa and elsewhere to develop comprehensive real estate curricula or improve existing ones to accommodate the interdisciplinary approach and the international perspective of real estate education because of their benefits. The study will also support the harmonization of real estate education, practice, investment and business in Africa, hence contributing towards the economic development of the continent.

Download Full-text

Kemahiran Insaniah Pelajar Prasiswazah: Analisis Perbezaan Jantina

Jurnal Teknologi ◽

10.11113/jt.v61.1677 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hazilah Mohd Amin ◽

Johari Jaafar ◽

Zaihosnita Hood ◽

Saidah Saad ◽

Hamizah Mohd Amin

Keyword(s):

Undergraduate Students ◽

Time Management ◽

Soft Skills ◽

Training Data ◽

Management Skills ◽

Industrial Training ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Problem Solving Skills ◽

Ict Skills ◽

High Level

Soft skills are important in virtually every profession in the workplace. Therefore, when evaluating employees, organizations will look for graduates with soft skills in addition to technical skills. However, in-depth studies on the extent these skills have been acquired by students in local higher education institutions have not been fully explored. Thus, this paper discusses this issue based on a study on 165 students’ soft skills assessment forms completed by industry supervisors during 2011 industrial training. Data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially using t-test. Findings of this study found that generally, teamwork skills, professionalism, social responsibility, and ICT skills were generally at high level. However, communication and problem solving skills were found to be at a moderate level. The study also found that skills in using ICT hardware, accept criticism, respect for others' views, and time management skills were effective differentiators in explaining genders differences. The research has brought meaningful implications for undergraduate students, employers and policy makers.

Download Full-text

Required skills for employability in Portugal from graduates and students of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB)

10.4995/head21.2021.13123 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vera Ferro-Lebres ◽

Jéssica Marim Lopes ◽

João Paulo Pereira ◽

Helena Paulo ◽

Jorge Humberto Sampaio

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Real Estate ◽

Online Survey ◽

Soft Skills ◽

Manual Dexterity ◽

Polytechnic Institute ◽

Human Knowledge ◽

Food Sector ◽

Hard Skills ◽

General Culture

The Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB) developed an online survey, called the Observatory of Students and Graduates, aimed at entities in Portugal as a means of gathering information about the stakeholders view of IPB graduates and students, regarding skills for employability. Of the total (424) entities contacted, 118 responded, representing 28% of the total. It was noted that 79 of the responses have included IPB students and graduates in their staff, being 27% entities of the Agroforestry-food sector, 16% from the Consulting, Real Estate and Finance sector, and 14% from the Transport and Commerce sector. IPB graduates and students’s skills were discussed from the perspective of employers. 12 skills were listed, with an average of 95% of responses between "Very Important" and "Important".´The skills that stood out the most were: “Learning” and “Motivation/Involvement”. The lowest priority skills were: “Physical: Robustness and manual dexterity”, followed by “General Culture”. These data point to the clear fact that the soft skills have greater relevance than hard skills. One of the justifications is that the advent of artificial intelligence, and other technologies that have been performing functions that overlap with technical - human knowledge.

Download Full-text