Pedagogically challenged

The tide appears to be changing for construction. According to figures released by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), applications for construction-related degrees are beginning to soar, after years in the doldrums.

In 2005, more than 3,100 students accepted places for building degrees - a rise of 18% on the previous year. Architecture also experienced good figures with a 10.6% hike in the same period. But there was a dip in the number of people applying for HND courses in building, which dropped from 393 in 2004 to 337 last year.

The rise has been put down to major UK projects such as the 2012 Olympics and the revamping of the Thames Gateway.

However, while these figures are welcome, there is a growing concern that universities are struggling to attract staff with a good industry background to cope with the demand.

Although the evidence is anecdotal, Mel Lees, professor of quantity surveying and education at Salford University, believes there is overwhelming proof that problems exist in attracting good lecturers.

Lees, who is also deputy director of the Centre for Education in the Built Environment (CEBE), emailed 40 universities to gauge their opinions on issues facing recruitment. He got responses from 18.

What he found was that half of construction departments are currently looking for staff, but Lees believes the figure could be higher, as some institutions are not being allowed to recruit. And for those who can, vacancies can remain unfilled for many months.

Of those recruiting, a clear majority said they were experiencing problems in recruiting staff with appropriate professional or industry experience.

Universal problem

We’re in danger of teaching people how to build bridges using teachers who have never built one

Mel Lees, Salford University

All those who responded either agreed or strongly agreed that they had more students than three years ago, and all respondents needed more staff.

If these figures reflect the whole of the country, those who really care about the industry should be enduring some sleepless nights.

Or as Lees puts it: "We are in danger of ending up teaching people how to build bridges using teachers who have never built one."

So just why is it so difficult to attract the required staff? One of the main reasons is money. A professionally qualified worker with a few years' experience can expect to earn at least £35,000; that's around £10,000 higher than someone starting their career as a lecturer.

Apart from teaching being financially unattractive, career progression is tough and the structure is flat: not many people at the top and a lot of people in the middle.

So how do you resolve it? Lees says there is a possibility that the sectors skills council may have a role in providing the answer. Already there are projects that aim to bring universities and industry together.

But he also believes the solution lies in radically rethinking the curriculum although he admits it will take an ambitious university to do this. Salford has plans, but he is not revealing what they could be, adding: "Whether we can pull this off or not remains to be seen. If the curriculum changes and we don't have the staff and professional experience, we are going to be forced to work with industry and find some basis on which we can come to some kind of accommodation. Industry will have to get closer to us to sort its own problems out."