DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENTEDUCATION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND
MANAGEMENTShunji KUSAYANAGIDr. Eng., Professor , Infrastructure Systems Engineering, Kochi University of Technology, Japan

Abstract: Japanese construction industry has long been utilizing advanced construction technology for rehabilitation anddevelopment of modern infrastructures. However the sustainability in the construction investment could not be seen after
she turned to one of the developed countries. Further, Japanese contractors have not been able to expand their overseas
business significantly beyond the volume in the early1980. The author investigated that lack of appropriate construction
management education in Japan in the past has made the domestic construction industry vulnerable and inhibited Japaneseconstruction industry in expanding overseas business significantly. The practical construction management education for
infrastructure development and management is discussed.

Key words : construction management, civil engineer, project management, engineering education
overseas construction industry has been engaged indeveloping human resources in construction management.
This paper provides a concept for practical construction
management education and recommends an appropriate
curriculum which can be applied to various development
stages of a country.

1. INTRODUCTION
The Japanese construction industry was engaged inbuilding massive as well as unique infrastructures in the
period of time starting the post war rehabilitation until the
burst of bubble economy that was happened in early 1990s.
The industry has already shown its ability by building
world renowned and highly advanced structures such as
long span bridges, tunnels under sea and in soft groundareas etc. Technological research and innovation in theuniversities and industries made possible to realize such
unique structures. Similarly, the civil engineering inuniversities and institute of technologies were engaged in
the elemental technology developments and consequently
the human resources were trained in the specializedengineering fields, but did not incorporate the appropriate
management education in the field of engineering.
As a result, the industry could not realize and incorporate
the feasibility of structures and possible changes in social
structure and needs while developing infrastructures in thepast. Many local governments are now facing financial
difficulties to maintain the previously built infrastructures.
Such environments have further exacerbated the decline in
the public trust with the construction industry.
In addition, Japanese construction industry has not beenable to expand its overseas business significantly beyond
the 1980s’ value. Japanese consultants are also not being
able to draw significant overseas business from other thanJapan’s official development assistance (ODA).
The industry lacks appropriate human resources inconstruction management area. The author based on his
more than 30 years of involvement in Japanese and

2. JAPANESE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
2.1. Construction Investment
Some of the Japanese construction companies havemore than 120 year’s histories. Along with the Meiji
restoration period in 1860 the construction industry grewsteadily until the 2nd World Wars when it came to astandstill. Since then Japanese construction industry grew
rapidly after the World War II.
The post war reconstruction and rehabilitation were
supported with heavy investment by the government andprivate enterprise. The construction investments in Japan
since 1960 are shown in Figure 1. The investment in theconstruction industry was sharply increased from thebeginning of 1960 at an average annual rate of 15 percentand reached nearly 59 trillion yen in 1973. Thereafter, there
was no significant growth in investment in the industry till
1979, the year of second oil crisis.
The largest investment in the construction was observed
about 84 trillion yen (US$1≑Yen 150) in 1992. The
industry did not require exploring markets as thegovernment and private enterprise continued to request
more and more infrastructures and construction products.
The industry was engaged in technological innovations tofulfill the clients’ demand as early as possible without
considering the economic feasibility of the projects and1