Identified Competency Focus Areas and Selected Courses

for National Exit Examination

Program: Degree of Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Building

Construction Technology (in Technical Teacher Education)

Compiled By:
Abdulkerim Kedir
Amare Tesfa
Fasil Bahiru
Habtamu Gebreselassie
Hiwot Shume
April, 2024
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

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Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 2
2. Expected Profiles of Graduates .................................................................................................. 3
3. Competences and Learning Outcomes ........................................................................................ 5
3.1. Competences ...................................................................................................................... 5
3.2. Learning Outcomes ............................................................................................................ 7
4. Categorizing Courses of the Program into Themes ................................................................... 10
5. Courses to be Included in the Exit Examination ....................................................................... 10
6. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 12

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1. Introduction

The construction sector is one of the most important contributors for the economic, social and
technological development of our country. There is no wonder that it represents one of the
biggest portions of the national economy and capital budget. Recent facts indicate that more
than half of the Federal capital budget of Ethiopia is channelled to the development of physical
infrastructure.

Therefore, building construction, within the policies and strategies of the Ethiopian
Government, technology transformation by using current international standards and
international best practices as the basis, and, copy, adapting, adopting, and transfer (TeCAT)
them in the Ethiopian context – is a pivotal element.

In conclusion, because the construction sector is one of the most important contributors for the
economic, social and technological development of the country, this sector needs well educated
man power who are qualified to perform and implement there required activates listed on the
firm standards.

Thus, implementing national exit examination for building construction technology program
graduates will have a great implication in producing competent citizens in knowledge, skill,
and attitude.

Moreover, there should be an intervention strategy to evaluate whether graduates have attained
the required competencies with the desired knowledge, skill, and attitude through a
comprehensive assessment of learning. Implementing an exit exam as an intervention strategy
is one of the best ways to check whether students achieved the desired level of competency and
learning outcome with relevant knowledge, skill, and attitude. As briefly explained by Seid
Mohammed1 at (MoE); national exit examination is expected to measure the learning
outcomes of a program to assess students’ overall understanding of their educational
experience. Hence, competence-based comprehensive examination/s are conducted upon the
completion of the program.

1 A workshop prepared and presented entitled as “A guide to set competency and to identify courses
for Exit Exam to be held on 2015 E.C” by Seid Mohammed – head for competency and quality improvement
desk at MoE, held on July 18-19, 2022, Bishoftu, Ethiopia

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In this regard, the Ministry of Labor and Skills (hereafter MoLS) has been working on a
strategy to implement national exit examination for undergraduate programs beginning from
the 2015 E.C(2022/23 G.C).

The Main Objectives of Exit Examination are as follows:

• To ensure students’ achievement and improve the quality of education;

• To improve the relevance of academic programs and institutional performance;
• To assess whether higher education graduates attain the graduate profile or not
• To produce skilled and competent manpower for local, national, and international
markets;
• To ensure that graduates achieve the required learning outcomes and hence meet the
graduate profile of the curriculum;
• To provide a platform as a quality monitoring tool in the form of certification of
competence for employment;

Moreover, it is important to set competency areas of the subject matter (program) in order
to measure how much graduates are acquired skills, knowledge, and attitudes. The
following shows us the significance of setting competencies and identifying selected
courses of the program;

• To set competencies that helps to assess the basic skills, knowledge and attitude of
graduating students,
• To systematically identify the core courses which will be included the exit exam,
and
• To realize standardization of higher education programs and to be able to meet
minimum quality standards across all programs.

2. Expected Profiles of Graduates

A graduate's profile is the general description of the desirable qualities of graduates in real-
world work. Graduates' profile helps to determine the students’ conceptual knowledge, skills,
and attitude that they possess. A graduate profile can be advanced through experience in the
real world. It is known that building construction technology graduates have the necessary
understanding of theoretical, analytical tools, and practical implementation of contemporary

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building construction issues. Similarly, they should have knowledge and skills in applying
building construction technology and science. Firmly, they do also have good mathematical
and analytical knowledge and skill in computer usage and software applications.

Graduates, at the end of the degree program, are expected to

Teach courses in building construction technology and related areas
Copy, modify, and transfer appropriate technology in building construction
sector
Construct projects as per the design and specification provided
Demonstrate an appropriate mastery of the knowledge, techniques, skills and
attitude for modern technology tools/software of construction related to contract
documents, codes, materials testing, construction layout/surveying, best
construction methods/practices, estimating, scheduling, safety, design of
construction systems (all building structures, formwork, basic electrical/
mechanical systems, sanitary system, finishing…),
Adapt construction materials, equipment, machines and other technological
outputs to local needs
Identify the problems/ needs of the client, analyze, design, draw the output as
per the design and prepare the specification.
Read and interpret the building drawings.
Inspect and supervise building construction works
Detect and identify design problems/faults
Organize resources (human, financial, time, and material)
Estimate building construction project costs
Lead construction projects with efficient and effective management systems
Conduct laboratory experiments.
Identify, formulates, and solves construction technology problems
Apply building construction technology tools and software for construction
technology
Understand professional practice issues such as constructing and managing
project management and interactions between the development, design, and
construction professions
Apply business and public policy and administration fundamentals
Administer contracts, make legal agreements

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3. Competences and Learning Outcomes

3.1. Competences

Currently, the competency of students will be measured by national exit examination at the end
of completion of building construction technology courses with a great emphasis on students’
knowledge, skill, and attitude.

The details of the competency are presented here below by categorizing knowledge, skills, and
attitudes.

Areas of Competency Expected Competencies to be achieved

Graduates will be able to

• Demonstrate an appropriate mastery of the knowledge,
techniques, skills and attitude for modern technology
tools/software of construction related to contract documents,
codes, materials testing, construction layout/surveying, best
construction methods/practices, estimating, scheduling, safety,
design of construction systems (all building structures,
formwork, basic electrical/ mechanical systems, sanitary
system, finishing…),
• Read and interpret the drawing according to the specification;
• Analyze and design a system, component, or process to meet
desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic,
Knowledge environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety,
constructability, and sustainability;
• Explain of professional and ethical responsibilities of
construction technologist in relation to public and private
education sectors and in the context of construction technology
infrastructure systems;
• Explain the impact of engineering solutions in a global,
economic, environmental, and societal contexts;
• Demonstrate professional practice issues such as constructing
and managing project management and interactions between
the development, design, and construction profession;
• Interpret project planning, project analysis and evaluation
• List the role of the leader and leadership principles and
attitudes.

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Areas of Competency Expected Competencies to be achieved
• Identify the problems/ needs of the client analyses, design,
draw the output as per the design and prepare the specification.;
•

• Teach course in building Construction Technology and in

related areas;
• Copy, modify, and transfer appropriate technology in building
construction sector;
• Construct building projects as per the design and specification
provided;
• Adapt construction materials, equipment, machines and other
technological outputs to local needs;
• Inspect and supervise by checking and measuring works for
accuracy and fit to specification;
• Organize resources (human, financial, time, and material) and
lead construction projects with efficient and effective
Skills
management systems;
• Conduct researches, projects, discoveries and consultancy
services to identify real problems on site pertaining to
construction technology, management, methods & materials,
& find better solutions;
• Conduct laboratory experiments, to critically analyze and
interpret data, in major construction technology areas;
• Manage efficiently construction works and integrate
constraints and requirements of both manpower and
construction machines; and
• Administer contracts, make legal agreements up hold
construction codes and maintain professional ethics.
• Criticize private and/or public matters and being rational
attitude toward them;
• Adapt working with others (building technologists, other
Attitudes
professionals and stakeholders); and
• Suggest other construction professionals and ready to support
the state and communities.

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3.2. Learning Outcomes

After completing those courses presented on the mentioned themes, graduating students will
be able to:

• Explain Mechanical Property of construction material

• List Engineering properties of cement, aggregate and concrete
• Identify engineering properties of steel
• Define engineering properties of Clay and Clay Products
• Classify structures based on their Stability & Determinacy
• Apply double integration method, moment area method and conjugate beam method to
calculate deflection.
• Apply consistent deformation to analyze statically indeterminate Structures
• Explain the use of influence line for moving load analysis
• Define Design property of concrete and steel according to ES EN 2: 2015
• Design reinforced concrete beam for Ultimate Limit state (flexure & shear) and
Serviceability Limit state (deflection, crack width)
• Design reinforced concrete slab
• Dshow detailing (bar cutting, development length, lap length, minimum and maximum
area and spacing of reinforcement)
• explain type of soil explorations
• Demonstrate type of foundations and foundation selection criteria
• Design shallow foundations
• Design retaining walls
• Explain the basic concepts of surveying, its applications or/and importance as well its
different branches
• Identify units of measurements in basic surveying.
• Define the meaning of Scales, precision, accuracy, Errors and mistakes.
• Compare different methods of leveling, such as simple, differential, and profile & cross
sectional, reciprocal leveling, and other indirect leveling
• Identify coordinate systems & traversing
• Calculate outputs for carrying out civil projects.
• Select procedures of site preparation for construction work

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• Explain the procedure for setting out building according to the working drawing
• Compare the different types excavation, timbering, and setting out
• Relate different types of foundation and method of construction
• Choose formwork erection and stripping for structural elements
• Explain procedure to bend, tie and place reinforcement bar
• Compare Methods to construct wall using stone, brick, concrete block and the
combinations of different materials.
• List types of roof structure and material for roof works
• Illustrate Elements of Roof structure.
• Select types of stairs, Ramp structure, Escalators, Elevators
• Explain Plastering, Pointing, Plastering material and methods
• Distinguish types of floor finishing materials and method construction.
• Explain Types of Paints and painting
• Analyze dampness in building, its causes and effect, damp proofing mechanisms
• Choose Doors and Windows types
• Define glass and glazing
• Organize method of glass Installation
• Explain curtain wall
• Relate methods of Building Maintenance
• Identify building Deterioration and prevention mechanisms or methods
• Recognize electrical safety rules
• Apply principle of electricity (DC&AC)
• Explain the meaning of voltage, current & Resistance
• Illustrate the relation of current, voltage & Resistance
• Examine the three basic electrical quantities Voltage current and resistance
• Demonstrate electrical plan
• Apply wiring method
• List technical drawing instruments
• Develop technical drawing
• Analyze geometrical view
• Interpret multi view drawings
• Interprets section view

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• Utilize different types of building drawings
• Distinguish the building members based on the drawing
• Define material types, symbols & representation of detail drawings
• List tools used for plumbing
• Explain the purpose of pipe fitting
• Define water supply system
• Explain sanitary installation valves
• Compute the slope waste pipe line
• Identify how to test drainage system
• Distinguish sanitary fixture installation
• Explain types and purposes of specification
• Identify the specific scope of work of projects
• Estimate quantity of a given work item using appropriate format
• Differentiate required resources and estimate their quantities
• Compute correctly the required material quantities for a given work item
• Estimate cost of a given work item
• Identify different types and uses of different construction equipment
• Identify earth moving equipment
• List different types of hauling equipment
• Explain factors that affect productivity of different construction equipment
• Estimate productivity of different construction equipment
• Explain planning and selection of construction equipment
• Explain operation and maintenance of construction equipment
• Explain procurement management process
• Explain types of Construction project Delivery Method
• explain contract in general and types of contracts and contract method adopted in
construction project
• Explain process of contract management process
• comprehend contract change & management in construction project
• Explain claim and dispute, and management process
• Explain the basic concept of Planning and Scheduling
• Identify the Planning tasks at different stages of the project lifecycle

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 • Explain different Planning and Scheduling Technique used in construction project
• Apply Planning and Scheduling Practices
• Analyze Planning and Scheduling Methods

4. Categorizing Courses of the Program into Themes

National Exit Examination in building construction technology program for undergraduate

students’ competency has four themes. These are structural design of buildings; building
construction; building drawing and services and construction project management.
Under the Structural Design theme, seven courses such as Construction material and testing,
Theory of Structures I, Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures I and Foundation I would be
considered. While, Fundamentals of Surveying, Building Construction I, II &III courses are
categorized under the Building Construction themes with four core courses. Under the
Building Drawing and Services theme, three courses such as Plumbing, Building Electrical
Installation and Commissioning, and Building Working Drawing would be considered.
Moreover, the final theme takes into account four courses such as Construction Planning and
Control Techniques, Construction Method and Equipment, Quantity Surveying and
Specification and Procurement and Contract Management. Accordingly, for national exit
examination documentation the themes in building construction technology program can be
generalized by the table here below

S.No. List of Themes in Building Construction Technology Program Cr.hrs

1 Structural Design of Buildings 12
2 Building Construction 12
3 Building Services 10
4 Construction Management 12
5. Courses to be Included in the Exit Examination

This document has been compiled with four themes and thirteen courses for exit examination
for achieving the competencies level of graduates that are expected to acquire. According to
the direction suggested by the head of quality and competency improvement desk (at MoLS),
during the preparation of this document, there was a general consensus that a specific program
should consider a total of 10-15 lists of courses. In Building Construction Technology BTech
program there is plenty number of courses that were prescribed in sequences like part I and
part II; but the core courses are clearly presented and have been selected in this

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document. Accordingly, this exit examination document has identified 13 courses delivered
at different semesters and academic calendars.

S. List of Themes List of courses Course Code Cr.hr

No

1 Structural Design Construction Materials and Testing BCTe.2021 3

of Buildings Theory of Structures I BCTe.3023 3
Reinforced Concrete Structures I BCTe4025 3
Foundation Engineering, I BCTe4027 3
Total 12
2 Building Building Construction, I BCTe.3025 3
Construction Building Construction II BCTe.3028 3
Building Construction III BCTe.4029a 3
Total 9
3 Building Services Plumbing BCTe.3028b 3
Building Electrical Installation & BCTe.3027 3
commission
Total 6
4 Construction Construction Planning and control BCTe4026 3
technique
Project
Construction Methods & Equipment BCTe3022 3
Management Quantity Surveying, & Specification BCTe4023 3
Procurement and Contract BCTe3029 3
Management
Total 12
Grand Total 39

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6. Conclusion

Having a competent base exit examination guide in building construction technology program
enables our graduates to have a solid understanding of Analysis , design, valuation,
Construction ,Planning and contract administration of building projects to design various types
of buildings; to prepare project estimates and contract documents ;to administer construction
projects; to highlight the different applications of building design and construction theories in
various sectors and expose the students to the different sub-discipline of building construction;
to plan, appraise, monitor & evaluate development projects ; to offer short term training courses
and provides consultancy service for different organizations and community, and to show
students how construction technology science evolved at present and future vision of the field
and make them up-to-date with the dynamism of the field.

Generally, the basic aim of the national exit examination is to produce high-level and qualified
professionals in building construction technology that will benefit the country’s sustainable
economic development. The national exit examination offers a comprehensive basis for
graduates’ careers and further education in building construction technology on the identified
course lists and themes. Graduates in building construction technology will be equipped with
a solid knowledge of building analysis design and construction theories and principles for
providing consultancy services to the community which benefits the country’s development
endeavours. And also, the academia, students, and concerned higher officials are expected to
be responsible for the successfulness of the new intervention cope up mechanism the so-called
National Exit Examination.

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Name of Validators of the Document

1. Abdulkerim Kedir
2. Amare Tesfa
3. Fasil Bahiru
4. Habtamu Gebreselassie
5. Hiwot Shume

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