Strategic Approaches for Sustainable 4IR Skills Development in South Africa’s Built Environment

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) continues to redefine industries through technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT). In South Africa's built environment, advancements provide opportunities to improve productivity and sustainability. However, these efforts are impeded by poor policy alignment, inadequate educational reform, and a lack of digital infrastructure. This study explores strategic approaches that can enhance the sustainable development of 4IR skills in South Africa’s built environment. Standardised questionnaires were administered to 73 professionals working in the built environment, including architects, engineers, project managers, contractors, construction managers, and planners, through the purposive sampling technique. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, such as means, standard deviations, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The topmost strategic approaches were ‘Curriculum reform to include 4IR and sustainability’, ‘Investment in digital infrastructure for training’, ‘Digital literacy programmes for underserved communities’, ‘Training in sustainable practices’, ‘Public-private partnerships for skills development’, and ‘Continuous professional development programmes’. The EFA results identified three key areas for skills development. Component 1: Institutional and Educational Programs, Component 2: Social and Awareness Interventions, and Component 3: Policy and Partnership Strategies. These results highlight the significance of collaborative governance, ongoing professional development, and curriculum modernisation in enhancing national 4IR competencies in the South African built environment.

Keywords: Built Environment, Education Reforms, Fourth Industrial Revolution, South Africa, Skills Development.

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007897