MAD HATTER

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

The Construction | Management program at Douglas College is gaining national recognition thanks to Jim Sator's five year involvement in one of Canada's largest management in- stitutes.

Sator, the Acting Dean of Applied Programs at Douglas Colllege, recent- ly tabled recommendations from an Interprovincial Certification Committee with the Construction Management Institute (CMI).

The implications of Sator’s work mean an even better quality Construction Management program at Douglas College, and more enhanced employ- ment prospects for its graduates.

in November the CMI Board agreed to start national standards examinations in four construction management areas - estimating, project management, business administra- tion and supervision.

“What happened was the Board saw the need for national standards and the value of a college diploma,” Sator said.

Under the proposal, graduates of a Construction Management diploma program need only work two years before qualifying to write the exams. Other people must have five years work experience.

“Now a Douglas College diploma in Construction Management will be of benefit anywhere in the country, and more people working in the industry will see the value of our program.”

Douglas College has the oldest es- tablished, and one of the best recognized, Construction Management diploma programs in the province. Its instructors are acknowledged experts in the field.

Keith Collier, author of one of the most widely used Construction Management textbooks on the conti- nent, is one faculty member.

Others are award-winning architect Stewart Howard, and Hank Naylor program coordinator, with 15 years experience in construction planning and a long involvement in the building of the new permanent campus of Douglas College.

With Sator's involvement in the CMI, Douglas College has ao headstart in bringing all aspects of the national standards into its Construction Management curriculum.

The national tests will center on topics already included in the two-year diploma program.

“We're right on target for adjusting the new standards,” Sator says. “Our faculty is already teaching material, such as computer applications, which will be part of the national standards in the near future.”

“And national standards will give our graduates real mobility in the in- dustry,” he says. “Whether it’s in Newfoundland or B.C., an employer will know that our students are quali- fied.”

“It also gives a great incentive for people interested in construction to go to Douglas College.”

Sator says one big problem will be for people currently employed in the in- dustry trying to remember details of work they rarely perform.

He suggests currently employed con- struction managers may benefit from evening courses in the program.

Douglas College constantly adds new computer software and hardware to its Construction Management program to keep on top of the latest industry im- provements.

Currently, students are introduced to estimating, accounting and project management software -- the same computer programs used by the largest construction companies.

“With the solid background Douglas College can give a person, the work experience after graduation really just reinforces their education,” Sator

says.

“With Douglas College participation in the new national standards certifica- tion program, our graduates have a double advantage.”

BRINGING INVESTORS AND ENTREPRENEURS TOGETHER AT DOUGLAS COLLEGE

On Saturday, November 29, the Douglas Centre for Enterprise Development sponsored a Business Ideafair in the Lower Cafeteria of Douglas College. The purpose of the fair was to provide an opportunity for clients of the Douglas Centre to ex- pose their projects to potential in- vestors and/or partners.

The biggest challenge facing most small business start-ups today is obtaining financing. There is no short- age of unique and potentially succes- sful ideas but there is a very large shortage of investors prepared to accept the risk commitment inherent in financing projects based on these ideas.

By sponsoring the Business Ideofair, the Douglas Centre enabled 20 of its clients to have direct access to 235 attendees, many of whom were in- terested investors. Reports by ex- hibitors of obtaining 25 plus names of interested parties was not unusual.