The Dissertation as an Effective Learning Experience for Undergraduate Students and Faculty in a Construction Management Program; a Reflection

The dissertation has been regarded as an important feature of undergraduate education. This paper reports on findings from a research project that reflected upon the effectiveness of the undergraduate dissertation process of final-year Construction Management undergraduates, enrolled in the academic year 2009-2010 in the Technological University of Dublin (DIT) Construction Management Program. The project was undertaken to reflect upon the dissertation process from inception to completion in order to determine the effectiveness following the first year of implementation. The Kolb Learning Styles Model was applied to capture the student experiences and to provide a basis for observation and reflection. The research adopted a qualitative methodology and gathered the perspectives of students and supervisors (faculty) involved in the undergraduate dissertation process. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect the data, which were assessed against the learning outcomes and the Construction Management Program structure. The outcomes of the reflection provide a reference for ongoing research with the aim to ensure an effective undergraduate dissertation process and a student centred learning experience in the DIT Construction Management Program. Keywords: Undergraduate Dissertation Process, Effectiveness, Student Learning, Learning Outcomes.