Competency Requirements of Quantity Surveyors for International Opportunities: Case of Fresh Graduates from Sri Lanka

The competencies required for migrant Quantity Surveyors (QS) have become highly significant since the employment market had become more competitive. Despite professional bodies having introduced competency standards to be persistent in international markets, Sri Lankan young QSs are experiencing difficulties due to a lack of knowledge in competencies. Thus, this study intended to ascertain the skills required by quantity surveying degree holders to address the competency gaps to enter the international market. A comprehensive literature review was carried out to identify the QS’s competencies underlined by professional bodies and to investigate the job roles available in the international market. The study followed a mixed research approach under a survey strategy. The data gathered in two phases through questionnaire surveys and expert interviews were used to identify the competency gap of QSs in the international market. This gap between the competencies of newly graduated QSs and international market requirements is more visible in the areas of contract administration and construction technology. Furthermore, the study discovered the challenges faced by migrant QSs in their early career including lack of required years of experience and absence of international exposure. Ultimately, the paper guides all the QSs on their career opportunities in overseas employment and it helps undergraduates to identify essential competencies when they want to survive in the international construction industry.