Latest Publications Archive - University College of Estate Management

Public and Commercial Attitudes to Disability in the Built Environment

Showcasing ‘gold’ standards on inclusive design is critical to illustrate the commercial and social benefits of increased accessibility in the Built Environment for disabled people. Commercial value and consumer choice are two reasons why building owners or service providers should look beyond minimal legal compliance towards the commercial opportunities that an inclusive environment engenders. These are the headline recommendations in a new research report by Adrian Tagg, funded by University College of Estate Management’s (UCEM) Harold Samuel Research Prize, titled ‘Public and commercial attitudes to disability in the built environment’.

Build back better: Improving the apprenticeship system to better support infrastructure

October 2020

High skill, high tech construction apprenticeships are needed to boost the skills needed in infrastructure projects to drive the UK’s economic recovery. This is what is being called for by the authors of a new research report entitled ‘Build back better: Improving the apprenticeship system to better support infrastructure’.

The report, written on behalf of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), University College of Estate Management (UCEM) and the Technical Apprenticeship Consortium (TAC), with data used from a CIC survey of employers, recommends that Government works with CIC, employers and the professional bodies to: recognise the value of technical and higher-level apprenticeships leading to professional registration; increase the flexibility of the apprenticeship levy; join up and improve the apprenticeship systems across the UK; and celebrate and promote apprenticeships.

The role of standards in enabling a data driven UK real estate market

September 2020

UK real estate data must be allowed to flow freely beyond the existing silos in order for the industry to flourish and standards have a key role to play in facilitating this. This is one of the key findings from the research report: ‘The role of standards in enabling a data driven UK real estate market’, authored by Dan Hughes on behalf of the Real Estate Data (RED) Foundation and funded by UCEM’s Harold Samuel Research Prize. The research explores the role of standards in ensuring an effective flow of data across the whole built environment, to set the scene for a sector-wide discussion on what is available, what is needed and the future role of people.

Rural housing issues a barrier to retiring farmers and new entrants

October 2019

Farmers, Retirement and Housing in the United Kingdom: A review of the issues, experiences and possible answers – looks at the impact of access to housing for retiring farmers, and the subsequent impact on the industry.

Released by University College of Estate Management (UCEM), The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), The Prince’s Countryside Fund, Royal Agricultural University and Northumbrian Water Group, with support from a steering group including Addington Fund, the report identifies and examines the measures needed to enable those who wish to retire from the agricultural industry to do so without fear or hardship.

Value of Community: Building a Legacy

September 2019

Published by University College of Estate Management (UCEM) in partnership with The Prince’s Foundation, this report reveals a direct link between housing type and social benefits – so-called ‘social capital’. The team at UCEM surveyed 850 residents at Poundbury and Fairford Leys to give a fascinating snap-shot into the benefits of living, working and growing up in this particular type of housing development. Savills also produced a financial study to go alongside the report that reveals the long-term economic benefits of taking a sustainable approach to house building. A short version of the main report with separate appendices is available.

Automatic Transcription Software: Good Enough for Accessibility? A Case Study from Built Environment Education

June 2019

The increasing use of multimedia in learning resources in higher education poses a challenge for learners with hearing disabilities, unless these are accompanied by transcripts or captions. This paper reports on a small study where six Automatic Transcription Software (ATS) were analysed for their accuracy. Although economical and timesaving, at present, it seems an automatically generated transcript is not yet accurate enough to be an accessibility aid for the subjects relating to built environment sector.

A MOOC Taxonomy Based on Classification Schemes of MOOCs

April 2019

In recent years there has been a significant growth in the number of online courses known as MOOCs available via online providers such as edX and Coursera. The result has been a marked reduction in the clarity around the different course offerings and this has created a need to reconsider the classification schemes for MOOCs to help inform potential participants. Many classifications have been proposed which cover the needs of academics and providers but may not be suitable for learners choosing a course.

Degree Apprenticeships in Construction and Built Environment: The Emerging Landscape

July 2018

This project was originated to provide a comprehensive picture of built environment degree apprenticeships. This report reflects the path towards the present situation and sets out emerging issues before making recommendations intended to support successful implementation of degree apprenticeships. They represent a huge opportunity for the built environment industry to address the growing skills shortage identified by employers and professional bodies.

Solutions to the Built Environment Skills Crisis

January 2018

It is becoming ever more apparent that the current levels of training and education for all disciplines associated with the Built Environment in the United Kingdom are not adequate to meet the growing needs of industry, either now or in the future. Supply is both insufficient and inadequate, largely due to the fragmentation which exists across the supply chain. The challenges for education providers, competing in a market where certainty, policy, regulation and funding are all subject to frequent and cyclical changes, results in decisions being taken which are not always in the best interests of enabling industry.

Open Badges: A Systematic Review of Peer-Reviewed Published Literature (2011-2015)

September 2017

Open badges are a digital representation of skills or accomplishments recorded in a visual symbol that is embedded with verifiable data and evidence. They are created following a defined open standard, so that they can be shared online. Open badges have gained popularity around the world in recent years and have become a standard feature of many learning management systems. This paper presents a systematic literature review of the published open badges literature from 2011 to 2015.

Elderly Learners and Massive Open Online Courses: A Review

January 2016

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have become commonplace in the e-learning landscape. Thousands of elderly learners are participating in courses offered by various institutions on a multitude of platforms in many different languages. However, there is very little research into understanding elderly learners in MOOCs