Harnessing Digital Informal Learning for Quantity Surveying Student Development

Abstract

The growing digitalisation of the construction industry demands that future quantity surveyors develop strong digital competencies. While formal education remains central, students increasingly engage in digital informal learning- self-motivated use of online platforms, tools, and communities beyond the classroom. Despite its prevalence, little is known about how quantity surveying students harness digital informal learning, the skills they acquire, the barriers they encounter, and strategies for integrating such practices into their academic and professional development. This study employed a qualitative approach, guided by four research questions. Data were analysed thematically to explore the platforms students use, the competencies they develop, the challenges they face, and strategies to strengthen digital informal learning within higher education. The findings reveal that students rely heavily on platforms such as YouTube, LinkedIn, WhatsApp groups, and professional forums to acquire both technical competencies and employability skills. However, barriers such as poor internet access and time constraints hinder optimal engagement. Students expressed the need for institutional support, curriculum integration, and student-centred approaches to maximise the benefits of digital informal learning. The study concludes that digital informal learning is not peripheral but central to the way quantity surveying students engage with knowledge and professional skill-building.