A study on a new method for training building work process supervisors through internships in Japan

Abstract

The objective of this study is to (1) clarify the current training of building work process supervisors (on-site construction supervisors) at universities and other educational institutions that offer a degree in architecture in Japan, (2) assess the extent to which internship-based training has proliferated among educational institutions and companies such as general contractors, subcontractors, contractors, and home builders that participate in the training by studying the contents and effects of training, (3) gauge how such training has improved the image of the construction industry among the youths who have yet to be employed by a company or become an apprentice, and (4) propose a new internship-based training method and its contents on the basis of the results of the study. The present study was conducted as follows. First, we conducted a survey of educational institutions and companies to determine the extent to which internships at educational institutions, general contractors, subcontractors, contractors, and home builders foster skills applicable to construction sites and help companies develop their human resources in the field. Building on the knowledge gained on the current state of internships, we then analyzed mainly the comments portion of the questionnaire, as well as the contents of the interviews. Based on the results, we then proposed a new internship-based training method and its contents. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.