(511) ACADEMIC STANDARDS BENCHMARK AND ESTATE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES: COMPLIANCE OR DEVIATION?

摘要

The National Universities Commission (NUC) was empowered by Act No. 48 of 1988 to lay downminimum standards for academic disciplines in Nigerian universities. The aim of this study is thereforeto examine the curriculum of Universities offering Estate Management course of study. This is with aview to determining compliance with or deviation from the set minimum standards. In attaining the aim,a process of comparison and inferences was followed in examining the NUC Benchmark MinimumAcademic Standards for undergraduate programme in Estate Management. Data were obtained fromthe reports of Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) AccreditationTeams to the Universities between 2010 and 2013. Statgraphic statistical software was used todetermine the degree of variation from or compliance with the standards.The study found widedeviation of the observed from the expected standards, while less than 40% of the studied Universitiestruly met the standards on staff/student ratio, facilities, staff composition, minimum spacerequirements, and staff qualifications. This confirms deviation of some universities from complying withthe benchmark standards.The findings provide better understanding of the academic standards asobtained in Departments running real estate course, and recommends that the accreditation teams ofshould adopt more rigorous approach in enforcing compliance with set minimum standards.