CE3INT: International Construction

Module code: CE3INT

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Ariana Darvish, email: n.darvish@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 17 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim is to create awareness of the scale and size of the international construction markets. The construction sector accounts for around 10% of global GDP. The different types of construction markets are explored to develop an understanding of how construction projects are financed, designed, engineered, procured, and delivered, with the contrast between advanced industrial nations and low-income countries. Consideration is given to capacity building in different countries, and the increasing importance of the codes and standards, regulatory, governance, and contractual systems. The global drivers shaping the international construction markets are reviewed with the pressure for projects to be zero carbon, resilient, and sustainable. The organisation and approach used by international consultants and contractors to deliver projects, with contrast between the UK, European, US, Asian, and Latin America.  

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Identify how the social and political environments shape the way that the construction industry operates in any country; and be aware of the different approaches to procurement for design and construction in the international market. 
2. Understand how the European, USA, Chinese, and Japanese construction industries work, and their different methods of procurement. 
3. Ensure that students think globally and act locally by awareness of how technology and new ways of working are shaping the fast-changing construction industry; and understand how the global industry is using new approaches to project financing and delivery of projects. 
4. Have an awareness of how the regulations, compliance requirements, codes and standards, and ethical behaviour affect all organisations in the construction sector, whether working domestically or international projects. 

Module content

• The organisation and structure of the world's construction market, including the size, employment statistics, the scope and type of work. 
• The organisation of the major international construction and design companies, and the challenges of venturing overseas. 
• The theory and practice of developing competitive advantage for companies.  
• The different approaches to buying design and construction services around the world. 
• Investigation of the European, North American, Chinese, and Japanese construction industries. Looking at how cost, speed, quality, safety and health, and labour relations are managed.  
• Construction in the developing markets of Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. 
• Focus on the Chinese construction market, and the behaviour of Chinese companies when operating internationally. 
• Strategies for entry into a market including acquisitions, mergers, and strategic alliances. 
• The issues involved in bribery and corruption and the regulatory and compliance requirements. 
• Understanding the importance of compliance with the UN Global Compact, UK Bribery Act, US Foreign and Corrupt Practices Act. 
• Principles of capacity building in the construction industry in low-income countries, and the requirements for local content. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, tutorials, and private study.

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs