The implications of a change in the mode of study for a postgraduate real estate programme in South Africa

The MSc degree in Building offered by the School of Construction Economics (CEM) at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) is currently offered on a part-time basis only. Many postgraduate academic programmes globally and indeed in South Africa are now offered on a block release basis. Block release programmes provide flexibility and advantages for the student which a part time programme is not able to, but it introduces new challenges. Most of the postgraduate students studying in CEM at Wits are employed on a full time basis and therefore a change in the mode of study may have a significant impact on these students as well as the future intake of new students. First and second year postgraduate students were surveyed to assess their views regarding their preferred mode of study as well as the advantages and disadvantages of continuing with the current mode of study versus changing to block release. A comparison was also made with other universities in South Africa regarding the mode of study employed on their postgraduate real estate programme. The purpose of this paper is to: Consider the relevant literature and highlight the international experience in delivering postgraduate programmes; ï Share the results of research conducted with the postgraduate MSc (Building) students in CEM at WITS; ï Suggest the impact that a change in the mode of study could have for the student as well as CEM; ï Suggest how a change in the mode of study will improve the accessibility of the CEM postgraduate programme to students across the African continent; ï Suggest what implications a change in the mode of study will have on the delivery of the programme as well as the learning experience for the student; and Suggest how a change in the mode of study will more closely align the programme offered by CEM at Wits with other real estate programmes in South Africa and around the world.