Challenges in Open Distance Learning (ODL): An Exploratory Study on Pandemic Era Quantity Surveying Graduates

Authors

  • Afiq Imran Yusni Studies of Quantity Surveying, School of Construction & Quantity Surveying, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Mohd Azrai Azman Studies of Quantity Surveying, School of Construction & Quantity Surveying, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Ahmad Faiz Abd. Rashid College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • Noorsaidi Mahat College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • Nasyairi Mat Nasir Studies of Quantity Surveying, School of Construction & Quantity Surveying, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Abdul Rahimi Abdul Rahman Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26300 Kuantan, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v22i2.3851

Keywords:

Open Distance Learning (ODL), Quantity Surveying (QS), Employers’ Perceptions, Graduate Employability, COVID-19

Abstract

The need to maintain educational continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of Open Distance Learning (ODL). However, whether ODL can adequately prepare graduates from technical disciplines, such as Quantity Surveying (QS), for industry demands has not been verified in detail. In response, this study investigates employer perceptions of QS graduates trained through ad hoc Open Distance Learning (ODL), a mode of education widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives are to assess employers' views on the performance of these ODL graduates, evaluate the effectiveness of ODL in preparing QS graduates for employability, and identify strategies to improve the alignment of ODL implementations with employer expectations. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire survey from 71 employers in the Malaysian construction industry in Selangor and analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha to assess reliability, and the Kruskal-Wallis’s test to identify differences in employer perceptions. The findings reveal mixed perceptions. While some employers appreciated the knowledge and general understanding of ODL graduates, concerns were raised regarding their technical skills, ability to meet industry demands, and proficiency in using industry-specific tools. Employers also highlighted gaps in teamwork, communication, and the overall readiness of graduates to handle real-world challenges. Scepticism remains regarding the alignment of ODL programs with practical industry needs. To address these issues, employers recommended involving industry professionals in ODL curriculum development, improving access to industry resources, and establishing stronger collaborations between academia and industry. These recommendations aim to ensure that future ODL graduates are better equipped to meet the expectations of the construction industry. This study emphasises the need for future ODL implementations to align more closely with industry demands, providing actionable insights for educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to enhance the employability and acceptance of ODL QS graduates within the construction industry.

Author Biographies

Afiq Imran Yusni, Studies of Quantity Surveying, School of Construction & Quantity Surveying, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Afiq Imran Yusni holds a Bachelor of Quantity Surveying from the School of Construction and Quantity Surveying, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia. He is an Assistant Site Quantity Surveyor on the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) project in Bandar Enstek, Nilai. You can contact him via email at afiqyusni@gmail.com

Mohd Azrai Azman, Studies of Quantity Surveying, School of Construction & Quantity Surveying, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Mohd Azrai Azman received his PhD in Built Environment from Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, specialising in construction economics. His research interests are primarily construction economics, financial management, construction productivity and efficiency and construction management. He is a Professional Quantity Surveyor, Member of Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia and holds a Senior Lecturer position at the College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor. You can contact him by email at mohdazrai@uitm.edu.my.

Ahmad Faiz Abd. Rashid , College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

Ahmad Faiz Abd Rashid is a Senior Lecturer at College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak Branch. Holding a PhD from Universiti Malaya, his research focuses on life cycle assessment (LCA), sustainable buildings, and carbon sequestration. He actively publishes in WoS and Scopus-indexed journals, serves as a reviewer for national and international journals, and presents at various conferences. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) and the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM). You can contact him by email at afaiz@uitm.edu.my

Noorsaidi Mahat, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

Noorsaidi Mahat is a professional building and construction technologist and a senior lecturer at the College of Built Environment, UiTM. His research interests include Sustainable Construction, Sustainability Technological Adoption, and Social Change. He is also a research fellow at The Construction Project Management (CPM) group in Oxford, UK. You can contact him by email at noorsaidi@uitm.edu.my.

Nasyairi Mat Nasir , Studies of Quantity Surveying, School of Construction & Quantity Surveying, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Nasyairi Mat Nasir is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Construction and Quantity Surveying, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor. He holds a Master’s in Facilities Management from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and a Bachelor's in Quantity Surveying from the University of Malaya (UM). His areas of expertise include consultancy, construction measurement and construction technology. He is a Consultant Quantity Surveyor (CQS) accredited by the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM) and a member of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM). You can contact him by email at nasya168@uitm.edu.my

Abdul Rahimi Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26300 Kuantan, Malaysia

Rahimi A. Rahman received both a Bachelor's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Master's degree in Environmental Science and Civil Engineering in 2012 and 2014 from Saitama University, Japan. He received his Ph.D. in Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering from Arizona State University in 2018. He is an associate professor in the Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). He has extensive experience serving clients in several industries on project governance, organization design, and talent development. His current research interests include project management and digital construction. You can contact him by email at arahimirahman@umpsa.edu.my

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Published

01-07-2025

How to Cite

Yusni, A. I., Azman, M. A. ., Abd. Rashid , A. F., Mahat, N. ., Mat Nasir , N. ., & Abdul Rahman, A. R. . (2025). Challenges in Open Distance Learning (ODL): An Exploratory Study on Pandemic Era Quantity Surveying Graduates. Built Environment Journal, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v22i2.3851

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 2 (2025): Built Environment Journal

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Copyright (c) 2025 Afiq Imran Yusni, Mohd Azrai Azman, Ahmad Faiz Abd. Rashid , Noorsaidi Mahat, Nasyairi Mat Nasir , Abdul Rahimi Abdul Rahman

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