The implementation of procurement policy in higher education projects by property and estates departments

Crowe, P

Abstract

The Higher Education (HE) sector’s deliverable has social, economic and environmental implications. The construction industry has a positive role to play, in assisting the sector to achieve desired outcomes, in relation to these implications. Since the formation of Her Majesty’s (HM) coalition government in the UK in 2010, there have been a number of reports and strategies published, concerning efficiency and procurement in the construction industry. Such reports include HM Treasury’s 2011 Construction Strategy, which sets out a model for construction procurement in the public sector. It is important to both the University Institutions, as well as HM’s UK Government that the recommendations are implemented. The Government has a significant role, through the ‘Higher Education Funding Council for England’, to ensure it receives perceived value, when providing funding. This paper explores the 2011 construction strategy, and its associated documents. The reports are then related to a case study, which is an organisation providing teaching, research and other services within the North West of England. Data is collected with a pragmatic philosophical viewpoint from qualitative data, in the form of interviews, document analysis and participant observation. The findings of the research, form part of an on-going research project into collaboration. The research’s value is in relating the government’s agenda for improvement, to a sector, that due to recent reform has become more aligned with the private sector. The findings identify, that the case study is already moving towards the methods of best practice, identified in the strategy and associated documents. However, further support will be required from the Cabinet Office, to achieve full compliance, including integrated procurement, in smaller university organisations.

Citation

Crowe, P. (2013, April). The implementation of procurement policy in higher education projects by property and estates departments. Presented at IPGRC, Salford

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: IPGRC
• Conference Location: Salford
• Start Date: Apr 8, 2013
• End Date: Apr 10, 2013
• Publication Date: Apr 10, 2013
• Deposit Date: Apr 12, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 12, 2013
• Related Public URLs: http://www.ipgrc.com/2013/
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference; Funders : PCC (Surveying) Ltd