Why there is a need to integrate and promote quantity profession in public and private institutions

By Lydia Atieno

Last week, Rwanda hosted an Executive Committee Meeting for  Africa Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS) and  Seminar for Local Professional Quantity Surveyors practitioners.

AAQS Ex-co Meeting was attended by highly experienced Professional Quantity Surveyors from various African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda etc.

Amongst the core objectives of the AAQS is to promote the recognition of the Quantity Surveyors roles in the development of national economies of Africa nations as well as to maintain a high public confidence in the integrity and competence of qualified Quantity Surveyors practicing in Africa.

Rwanda is a member of AAQS through the Quantity Surveyors chapter of the Rwanda Institute of Architects (RIA/QS Chapter)

A two-day seminar was conducted to deeply understand the regional and international practice of the QS profession and how the Quantity Surveying profession collaborates with  Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Urban Planners other professions in the built environment. 

The theme of the seminar was   the need of integrating Quantity surveying  Profession in both private and public institutions.

The training known as Continuous Professional Development (CPD) was all about the Quantity Surveying Professional Practices.

AAQS has a mandate to advocate for the Quantity Surveying profession at national and international level and ensures that Quantity Surveyors acquire adequate education and trainings.

It is within this regards that the AAQS leaders met the Minister of infrastructure (MININFRA) and Minister of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) to discuss about the best professional practice and how the government should explore untapped potentials of the Quantity Surveying profession since it it would immensely contribute to the growth and development of the Rwanda as a nation.

Charles Lugira, the chairperson of Governing Council of the Quantity Surveyors Chapter under Rwanda Institute of Architects, said that the Quantity surveying profession seems to be undermined and not fully recognized to provide the services at a pr ofessional level.

He also added that the Government of Rwanda Invested a lot of money in bringing the Quantity Surveying profession and it should be the right time for the Government to get return on investment made in this new profession.

He noted that the Law governing the Profession of Architecture and Engineering in Rwanda should be amended to recognize the Quantity Surveying practice as a profession not as a service offered by Architect.

According to Frederic Nyaminani, the Vice-Chairperson of RIA/QS Chapter, the statistics indicate that among Employed Quantity Surveyors the field, a very minor percentage of 1.8 percent are in the government institutions, yet the government is the major client for Infrastructure and construction projects.

Quantity Surveyors are experts in the planning and management of construction costs, contracts as well project administration in general.

He also added attention should be made on construction costs and contracts since these are driving factors for the success of construction projects.

Although Quantity surveying profession looks relatively new in Rwanda, profession that dates back to the 18th century in the United Kingdom, when construction projects were measured and valued after they were designed and built.

The Organized professional practice in the East Africa Region date back beyond the 1940s. Quantity surveyors (QS) are also known as Cost Estimators, Cost Planners, Cost Managers, Cost Engineers, Cost Consultants, contract managers, Building Economists or Metreur Verificateur / Les économistes en construction/ gestronnaires des coûts et des Contrats de Construction in French speaking countries etc.

In Rwanda, the industry now recognizes about 600 Quantity Surveyors including 350 graduates from University of Rwanda, former Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) from 2013, and 250 graduates from Rwanda Polytechnics (IPRC). 

He said that the number of those enrolling for this profession is gradually increasing as the market still need construction costs and contracts experts.

Rwanda, the industry now recognizes about 600 Quantity Surveyors including 350 graduates from University of Rwanda, former Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) from 2013, and 250 graduates from Rwanda Polytechnics (IPRC). 

He said that the number of those enrolling for this profession is gradually increasing as the market still need construction costs and contracts experts.

Obafemi Onashile, the President of AAQS said that the construction industry is responsible for the delivery of the construction projects such building , civil engineering and infrastructure.

They normally require high resources that need expertise for the effective management and the Government should be the main client in need of effective resource management.

He noted that infrastructure is a major core in every project of every governance. Based on this, Onashile said it is such an important construction industry where a team of professionals has put up construction worldwide effectively, the success of this kind of project is when relevant parts are put together to effect it.

Besides, he noted that part of the relevant is Quantity Surveyor, there are Architects, Engineers, land surveyors among others, that all come together to affect the building.

“Unlike architects and engineers, who are designers and do a bit of costly work, there have been no points of majorly around, architects and engineers have been filling in but not much effect, and for this reason, projects are becoming more expensive and requires greater eye in managing it.

“It requires delineation of roles, separating the roles to relevant capable patches to handle and that’s why we are here to promote this with the Rwandan government,” he added.

He further said that Quantity Surveyors are not involved in the management of  building projects, they are also involved  infrastructure, roads, and bridges, as long as  construction finances and contracts are concerned.

During the seminar, the President of the Africa Association of Quantity Surveyors offered 10 scholarships for Rwanda contest Quantity Surveyors in AAQS graduate school for two years.

As one of the outcomes from the discussions between RIA/QS Chapter, AAQS and MININFRA, the ministry of infrastructure
promised to involve the Quantity profession and issue a related ministerial order as a short-term resolution while waiting for the amendment of existing law and Rwanda Building code.

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