Sessional Lecturing Jobs in Quantity Surveying

🎓 What is Sessional Lecturing in Quantity Surveying?

Sessional lecturing jobs in quantity surveying offer a flexible entry into academia for construction professionals. A sessional lecturer, also known as a sessional instructor, delivers targeted teaching sessions on quantity surveying topics without a full-time commitment. This position type (detailed further on the Sessional Lecturing page) is ideal for experts who want to influence the next generation of cost managers while maintaining industry work.

Quantity surveying, the meaning of which revolves around controlling costs in construction projects, forms the core subject. Sessional lecturers teach practical modules like cost planning, value engineering, and risk assessment, drawing from real-world projects such as high-rise developments or infrastructure builds.

Roles and Responsibilities

In these roles, sessional lecturers prepare and deliver lectures, facilitate tutorials, and grade assignments. They often incorporate case studies from global projects, like the cost overruns in major stadium builds analyzed in recent industry reports. Responsibilities extend to mentoring students on software tools and preparing them for professional exams.

Unlike permanent faculty, sessional positions focus purely on teaching, typically 4-8 hours per week per course, allowing time for consultancy. This setup has grown since the 1990s as universities expanded programs amid construction booms in regions like Australia and the UK.

Required Academic Qualifications, Expertise, and Skills

To secure sessional lecturing jobs in quantity surveying, candidates need a bachelor's degree in quantity surveying or construction management, preferably with a master's. A PhD in a relevant field, such as construction economics, is advantageous for advanced courses but not always mandatory.

Research focus or expertise should include areas like sustainable cost management or BIM (Building Information Modeling) integration in quantity surveying. Preferred experience encompasses 5+ years in industry, publications in journals like the Journal of Construction Procurement, and securing small grants for educational tools.

• Strong analytical skills for bill of quantities preparation.
• Proficiency in QS software (e.g., Candy, Causeway).
• Excellent communication for engaging diverse student cohorts.
• Adaptability to hybrid teaching environments.

Professional certifications, such as those from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), are highly valued worldwide.

Definitions

• Quantity Surveying: A profession that manages all financial aspects of construction projects, from initial estimates to final accounts, ensuring projects stay within budget.
• Bill of Quantities (BoQ): A document detailing the quantities of materials, labor, and services required for a project, used for tendering and cost control.
• Value Engineering: A systematic method to improve project value by optimizing function while reducing costs, often taught in QS courses.
• RICS: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a global professional body setting standards for quantity surveyors.

History and Global Context

Sessional lecturing emerged prominently in the late 20th century as higher education shifted toward flexible staffing amid enrollment surges. In quantity surveying, demand spiked with urbanization; for instance, Australia's construction sector grew 25% from 2015-2020, boosting academic needs.

Today, these jobs thrive in countries specializing in infrastructure, offering rates around AUD 100-150 per hour. Actionable advice: Build a teaching portfolio with guest lectures and volunteer for industry-academia events to stand out.

For career tips, explore how to become a university lecturer or excel in research roles.

Next Steps for Sessional Lecturing Jobs

Ready to pursue quantity surveying jobs in academia? Browse higher-ed jobs, higher-ed career advice, university jobs, and consider posting a job if hiring. AcademicJobs.com lists current openings to kickstart your search.