Making a mark : Wits School of Construction Economics and Management and its contribution to the construction and property fields

Abstract

During the 2022 centenary celebrations of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), it became strikingly clear that the rich history and societal contributions of the Wits School of Construction Economics and Management (SCEM) had remained largely undocumented. This revelation sparked a comprehensive effort to uncover and preserve the School’s legacy – its origins, evolutions and impacts on the South African and global construction industry. While a handful of historical accounts had surfaced over the years – from JS Lewis’s 1953 retrospective and Monte Bryer’s 1976 faculty history, to Calderwood’s departmental reflection and Graeme Jay’s 2011 curriculum study – no complete narrative had yet captured the SCEM’s pivotal role in shaping Quantity Surveying and Building Science education in South Africa. In this landmark volume, three scholars at Wits set out to fill that void. Drawing on University archives, interviews with influential alumni and academics, and a deep analysis of the SCEM’s engagement with professional councils and industry stakeholders, they offer a detailed and compelling portrait of the School’s contributions to higher education and the built environment industry. This book stands as both a tribute to the visionary educators and students who shaped the SCEM and a vital record of Wits’ enduring and inculcating legacy in advancing knowledge, practice and transformation in the construction industry.