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Researchers and policymakers have given attention to generic skills development in higher institutions. One of the intentions is to broaden graduate employability with generic skills. In South Africa, there is a paucity of research concerning future built environment practitioners’ (FBEP) generic skills development from the students’ perspective. Thus, this paper aims to investigate South Africa’s FBEP generic skills and suggest feasible solutions to improve FBEP generic skills from the students’ perception.

The researchers collated the views of FBEP via a phenomenology type of qualitative research design. It covered selected South African public universities and investigated the discourses that underpin “perceived hindrance” in developing generic skills for FBEP. Selected 30 FBEP were engaged in the virtual interviews across three public universities. Data saturation was achieved. Three themes emerged and were analysed through a thematic analysis.

Findings show that FBEP generic skills development will enhance integrated productivity and higher value for money in construction project delivery. But developing these skills demands a holistic approach. Findings have raised concern with the perceived hindrances facing FBEP in developing generic skills. Findings suggest the need to revisit and revamp the curricula to develop these skills and strengthen policies that will “nip” possible hindrances.

This study was limited to South Africa’s FBEP generic skills from students’ perception. In line with the limited resources, three public universities were covered from the selected provinces in South Africa. Future research with a more diverse sample is needed to ensure a better representative and generalisation of findings.

Findings show that apart from academic knowledge system thinking skills, civic responsibility skills and critical thinking skills are germane for intending construction industry professionals. Others are integrated teamwork skills, good attitude and communication skills, entrepreneurship skills and resources management skills. Findings from this paper may stir up the education sector’s stakeholders to revamp the curricula in enhancing these skills among students from the basic to higher institutions. The outcome will improve productivity in the construction industry.

Although few scholars have discussed generic skills in the built environment, there are limited studies from the students’ context in developing countries, a South Africa case study, a gap this research aims to fill. Also, it proffers ways to mitigate perceived hindrances facing FBEP in developing generic skills.

The study aims to develop a model that supports the application of data science techniques for real estate professionals in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era. The present 4IR era gave birth to big data sets and is beyond real estate professionals' analysis techniques. This has led to a situation where most real estate professionals rely on their intuition while neglecting a rigorous analysis for real estate investment appraisals. The heavy reliance on their intuition has been responsible for the under-performance of real estate investment, especially in Africa.

This study utilised a survey questionnaire to randomly source data from real estate professionals. The questionnaire was analysed using a combination of Statistical package for social science (SPSS) V24 and Analysis of a Moment Structures (AMOS) graphics V27 software. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to break down the variables (drivers) into meaningful dimensions helpful in developing the conceptual framework. The framework was validated using covariance-based structural equation modelling. The model was validated using fit indices like discriminant validity, standardised root mean square (SRMR), comparative fit index (CFI), Normed Fit Index (NFI), etc.

The model revealed that an inclusive educational system, decentralised real estate market and data management system are the major drivers for applying data science techniques to real estate professionals. Also, real estate professionals' application of the drivers will guarantee an effective data analysis of real estate investments.

Numerous studies have clamoured for adopting data science techniques for real estate professionals. There is a lack of studies on the drivers that will guarantee the successful adoption of data science techniques. A modern form of data analysis for real estate professionals was also proposed in the study.

Research reveals that the built environment graduates are not matching the needs of the 21st century construction industry. Evidence shows that the built environment academics (BEA) struggle to reskill and upskill to meet the industry's demand. Studies about Nigeria's BEA's perceived barriers in meeting the 21st-century industry demands are scarce. Thus, the paper investigated the perceived barriers and measures to improve BEA in Nigeria's 21st-century world of teaching. The outcome intends to enhance teaching practices and increase employability in the built environment disciplines.

Data were sourced from elite virtual interviews across Nigeria. The participants were well informed about Nigeria's built environment education and the possible barriers hindering 21st-century teaching from improving employable graduates in the built environment professionals (BEP). The researchers adopted a thematic analysis for the collected data and supplemented the data with secondary sources.

The study shows that BEA needs to improve BEA's teaching mechanism. Improving BEA will enable the built environment graduates to meet the minimum standards expected by the 21st-century industry. Findings categorised the perceived 22 barriers facing BEA into internal stakeholders-related barriers, external stakeholders-related barriers, and common barriers. Also, findings proffered practicable measures to improve BEA in the workplace via improved industry collaboration and technological advancement.

The research is restricted to the perceived barriers and measures to improve BEA in 21st-century teaching in Nigeria via a qualitative research design. Future research should validate the results and test the paper's proposed framework.

The paper confirms that the BEA requires stakeholder collaboration and technological advancement measures to improve teaching in the 21st century, leading to enhanced employability graduates. The paper would stir major stakeholders, especially BEA, and advance the quality of employable graduates in the Nigerian built environment professions.

The thematic network and proposed framework could be employed to stimulate Nigeria's BEA for better service delivery. This intends to create an enabling environment that will enhance stakeholders' collaboration and technological advancement for the BEA to produce better employable graduates in the 21st century.

This study presents the results of an assessment of the barriers that can hinder the deployment of robotics and automation systems in developing countries through the lens of the Nigerian construction industry.

A scoping literature review was conducted through which barriers to the adoption of robotics and automation systems were identified, which helped in the formulation of a questionnaire survey. Data were obtained from construction professionals including architects, builders, engineers and quantity surveyors. Retrieved data were analyzed using percentages, frequencies, mean item scores and exploratory factor analysis.

Based on the mean scores, the top five barriers were the fragmented nature of the construction process, resistance by workers and unions, hesitation to adopt innovation, lack of capacity and expertise and lack of support from top-level managers. Through factor analysis, the barriers identified were categorized into four principal clusters namely, industry, human, economic and technical-related barriers.

This study provided a good theoretical and empirical foundation that can be useful to construction industry stakeholders, decision-makers, policymakers and the government in mapping out strategies to promote the incorporation and deployment of automation and robotics into the construction industry to attain the safety benefits they offer.

By identifying and evaluating the challenges that hinder the implementation of robotics and automation systems in the Nigerian construction industry, this study makes a significant contribution to knowledge in an area where limited studies exist.

The purpose of this article was to identify and evaluate the benefits of adopting digital technologies (DTs) in the Nigerian construction industry, to ensure that construction projects are efficiently and effectively executed.

A scoping literature review was conducted through which benefits of implementing DTs were identified, which helped in the formulation of a questionnaire survey. Data were obtained from construction professionals including architects, builders, engineers and quantity surveyors. Retrieved data were analyzed using several statistical tools such as percentages, frequencies, mean item scores and exploratory factor analyses.

Based on the mean item score ranking results, the top five significant benefits of adopting DTs were increased operational efficiency, increased productivity, increased speed of executing tasks, seamless working methodology and accurate documentation of data. Findings from the factor analysis revealed six clusters of benefits namely an improved framework for operations, improved innovativeness, improved safety practices, increased competitive edge, greater accuracy and increased productivity.

This study expands on the existing discussions surrounding the digital transformation of the construction sector in developing countries, particularly in Nigeria, a region where the awareness and implementation of smart and innovative technologies are still at an infant stage.

Although several studies on the benefits of adopting DTs in the construction industry of developing countries exist, very few have been conducted in the Nigerian context. Thus, this is a significant knowledge gap that must be filled. Thus, the findings of this study can serve as a basis for construction organizations in Nigeria and similar countries seeking the digital transformation of their activities.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of university and construction industry collaborations (UIC) activities in developing the employability of built environment graduates.

This study adopted a quantitative approach wherein data was obtained from professionals across academia, construction industry and government establishment within the South African built environment. A total of 204 questionnaires were administered to these professionals to provide information regarding the subject matter under question. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was adopted to examine possible relationships among identified factors that were obtained from a review of extant literature. SEM was performed using analysis of moment structures (AMOS Graphics, version 26) in testing the model and a best-fit was achieved after various model selections and validation tests were conducted.

The final model revealed that graduate employability can be improved through UIC as effective university-industry linkages provide students with mentoring opportunities and exposure to relevant training which improves their job market prospects and ultimately increases their professional relevance in the long run.

To continuously enhance the employability of students before graduation, universities are required to foster collaborations with the industry as such linkages are critical to the development of the future custodians of the construction industry.

There have been several generalized statements as to which of the UIC activities contribute to graduate employability. Therefore, through the use of SEM using AMOS, it was possible to state precisely the UIC constructs that are statistically significant and contribute to graduate employability.

Universities have become training centres or “academic hubs” where skilled labour for societal and global consumptions are continuously produced. More so, the quality of teaching (pedagogy) provided by universities is essential in enhancing the skills, expertise and competencies of students who are required to meet the needs of the construction industry after graduation. Hence, the purpose of this study is to assess employers’ level of satisfaction with the employability skills of built-environment graduates in Nigeria.

A quantitative approach was adopted for this study with close-ended questionnaires administered to respondents drawn from professionals in the Nigerian construction industry. Out of 150 questionnaires disseminated, 131 were completed and 126 were usable, signifying an 87% response rate. Data from this research were analysed using descriptive and exploratory factor analysis.

Employers are seemingly satisfied with the sound academic record of built-environment graduates. They also affirmed their contentment with graduates’ willingness to learn and the way they achieve tasks with positive results. However, they expressed their dissatisfaction with the graduates’ prior work experience, communication skills and technical competencies in handling industry tasks effectively.

Data was collected from construction professions across two cities – Abuja and Lagos. Because of the limited budget allocated for this study, other regions were not considered. Because of time and financial implications, it was extremely impossible to visit all 36 states. It is, therefore, impossible to generalise the results of this research to the larger population. In generalising the results on a larger scale, the study would have to factor in a more diverse sample to ensure it is more representative. A more diverse sample may mitigate any possible bias that may arise from a self-administered questionnaire.

From the survey results obtained from the respondents, it was observed that general knowledge about local and global trends, management skills, teamwork skills, work experience, communication skills, critical thinking skills, numeracy skills and civic responsibility are among the major non-academic skills lacking among built-environment graduates. This places significant pressures on universities in Nigeria to revisit and revamp its curricula in developing these skills among students who require them to thrive in the construction industry.

Although the subject of employability has been adequately discussed across various fields (accountancy, psychology, management, business, marketing, etc.), there exist limited research studies in the built-environment context, a gap, which this study aims to fill. This study also provides several approaches through which employability skills can be developed.

With a view to ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of construction projects, this study evaluates the critical success factors (CSFs) for the adoption of gamification principles by construction professionals in developing countries, with an emphasis on Nigeria.

This study adopted a post-positivism philosophical approach, using a questionnaire survey to obtain quantitative data from 126 construction professionals in Lagos State. The data obtained were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, mean item scores (MIS), Kruskal–Wallis H-test and principal component analysis (PCA) as part of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA).

The findings indicated that the most significant factors for the adoption of gamification principles in the construction industry were “clear game mechanics and rules,” “incentives and rewards for users,” “secure and reliable technology infrastructure,” “real-time progress tracking and feedback” and “clear and measurable objectives.” Employing factor analysis, these CSFs were subsequently grouped into three primary clusters, namely “relevance and user experience,” “technology and support” and “integration and process.”

These findings not only enrich the existing theoretical framework but also provide a solid foundation upon which researchers can build for further theoretical development. This study also offers valuable insights that can inform and improve practical applications of gamification within the construction industry.

While prior research has explored gamification in various contexts, the unique contribution of this study is the thorough investigation of CSFs for gamification adoption specifically within the construction industry. In essence, this study fills a critical gap in the literature by offering fresh perspectives and tailored solutions for the construction industry's specific gamification needs.

Global construction sector studies have significantly explored the impact of automation techniques, revealing their transformative potential. However, research on their application within specific local contexts, especially in developing countries like Nigeria, is sparse. Nigeria presents a unique context marked by challenges such as skilled labor shortage, safety concerns and cost efficiency. Therefore, investigating the implementation of automation techniques in the Nigerian construction industry is crucial to address these challenges, bring transformative advancements and contribute to a more balanced global discourse on automation adoption. This study aims to fill this significant research gap.

A mixed research method was deployed which combined both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Two focus group discussions conducted with 23 experts from both industry and academic institutions (qualitative) yielded 17 drivers which were used to formulate a well-structured questionnaire (quantitative), which was disseminated to construction professionals. Collected data underwent analysis through various statistical techniques, including percentages, frequencies, mean item scores and exploratory factor analysis.

Principal component analysis (PCA) yielded four driver clusters namely: (1) performance-related drivers, (2) visualization and efficiency-related drivers, (3) technological and human-related drivers and (4) economic-related drivers.

The study provides empirical insights that can aid stakeholders, decision-makers, policymakers and the government in formulating strategies to promote automation techniques in the Nigerian construction industry and beyond.

This study's originality lies in its exploration of the untapped potential of automation techniques in the Nigerian construction industry, offering novel perspectives on how these technologies can address specific challenges such as skilled labor shortage, safety concerns and cost efficiency, thereby paving the way for transformative advancements in the sector.

This paper aims to assess the behavioural intention of construction organisations to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the delivery of construction projects. Using the unified theory of technology adoption and use of technology (UTAUT) model, the study strives to improve project delivery by adopting beneficial digital technologies.

The study adopted a postpositivism philosophical stance through a quantitative research approach using a structured questionnaire administered to construction organisations in South Africa. Primary data gathered was analysed using frequency, percentage, mean item score, Mann–Whitney U-test and confirmatory factor analysis, where the latter sought to deductively confirm the variables within the UTAUT model.

Construction organisations were found to rarely use UAVs in the country and furthermore, most of the participating organisations are unsure about using UAVs for their project delivery. Factors impacting on an organisation’s intention to use UAVs were identified as social influence, performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions. However, factors surrounding resistance to using and perceived risk cannot be overlooked as they also proved to be significant (at p = 0.05) to the behavioural intention of organisations to use UAVs.

Practical guidance for industry practitioners is offered in terms of insight into the key factors that must be considered for the effective utilisation of UAVs and the realisation of concomitant benefits.

This study bridges the knowledge gap in extant literature by exploring the practitioner’s behavioural intention to use UAVs. As an aside, an emergent theoretical backdrop for future works on UAVs is provided (particularly in developing countries where such a study has not been previously explored).