Appraising young adult built environment researchers training needs in a developing economy: a perspective from stakeholders

Abstract

Purpose: Studies have shown that research is a global innovation’s “engine room.” Therefore, young adult-built environment researchers (YABER), especially in developing countries, need research upskilling and reskilling training for better-integrated outcomes. Evidence shows that research training can improve YABER competencies and proficiencies. In Nigeria, YABER may have had some challenges in training needs. There is a lack of extant literature about the issues facing Nigeria’s YABER upskilling and reskilling training needs. Thus, this study investigated the perceived problems facing YABER and proffered measures to improve their training needs in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: The researchers used participants from Edo State, Abuja and Lagos State, Nigeria. This study adopted a qualitative research approach. The researchers accomplished saturation after 40 virtual interviews and adopted a thematic analysis for the primary data. Findings: The research shows that the built environment research refines current and creates new knowledge. The built environment researchers (trainers and trainees) need training but face challenges. Findings clustered measures to improve quality research publications in the built environment through YABER training into government/regulatory agencies-related, higher education institutions-related and researcher-related measures. Originality/value: The developed framework and thematic network analysis could be used to stimulate YABER training needs and, by extension, stir Nigeria’s higher education institutions regulatory agencies to upgrade requirements for academic staffers, especially published articles, to be compulsorily Scopus/Web of Sciences indexed for promotion exercise. This is the global best practice, and Nigerian scholars cannot be in isolation. It will form part of this study’s implication and revitalise UNSDG 4. © 2024, Andrew Ebekozien, Clinton Aigbavboa, Mohamed Ahmed Hafez Ahmed, Mohamad Shaharudin Samsurijan, John Ogbeleakhu Aliu, Matthew Ikuabe and Angeline Ngozika Chibuike Nwaole.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Nigeria Training Needs Stakeholder Built environment researchers (BER) United nations sustainable development goal 4 (UNSDG 4) Young adult (YA)

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations

University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Department of Engineering, INTI International University, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia, Department of Quantity Surveying, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo, Nigeria

University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Department of Engineering, INTI International University, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia

Engineering Education Transformations Institute, College of Engineering, Athens, GA, United States

School of Construction Economics and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Department of Quantity Surveying, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo, Nigeria

Funding & Acknowledgements

Fakultas Teknik Universitas Indonesia, FTUI

Funding text 1: Special thanks to the participants for providing scholarly contributions to enhance the findings of this study. Thanks also to Dr S. S. Umar (Rector, Auchi Polytechnic) and his team for creating an enabling environment to contribute to this research. The authors appreciate the comments, suggestions and recommendations provided by the anonymous reviewers, which honed and strengthened the quality of this manuscript during the blind peer-review process. Funding: The research was funded by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and CIDB Centre of Excellence (05-35-061890), University of Johannesburg, South Africa.; Funding text 2: Funding: The research was funded by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and CIDB Centre of Excellence (05-35-061890), University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

University of Johannesburg, UJ

Funding text 1: Special thanks to the participants for providing scholarly contributions to enhance the findings of this study. Thanks also to Dr S. S. Umar (Rector, Auchi Polytechnic) and his team for creating an enabling environment to contribute to this research. The authors appreciate the comments, suggestions and recommendations provided by the anonymous reviewers, which honed and strengthened the quality of this manuscript during the blind peer-review process. Funding: The research was funded by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and CIDB Centre of Excellence (05-35-061890), University of Johannesburg, South Africa.; Funding text 2: Funding: The research was funded by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and CIDB Centre of Excellence (05-35-061890), University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Grant: 05-35-061890

Funding text 1: Special thanks to the participants for providing scholarly contributions to enhance the findings of this study. Thanks also to Dr S. S. Umar (Rector, Auchi Polytechnic) and his team for creating an enabling environment to contribute to this research. The authors appreciate the comments, suggestions and recommendations provided by the anonymous reviewers, which honed and strengthened the quality of this manuscript during the blind peer-review process. Funding: The research was funded by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and CIDB Centre of Excellence (05-35-061890), University of Johannesburg, South Africa.; Funding text 2: Funding: The research was funded by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and CIDB Centre of Excellence (05-35-061890), University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

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Appraising young adult built environment researchers training needs in a developing economy: a perspective from stakeholders

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