Ascertaining the Knowledge Level of Fresh Graduates of Civil Engineering and Allied Programmes on the Types and Primary Functions of Geosynthetics: A Study from Ghana

Abstract

This study was informed by the lack of country-specific studies that established the knowledge level in geosynthetics among fresh graduates with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or allied programmes in developing countries. Thus, this study seeks to establish the knowledge level of fresh graduates with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or allied programmes in Ghana on the types and primary functions of geosynthetics. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and one sample t-test. The analysis revealed an overall mean score of 2.06 and 1.74 regarding the knowledge level among fresh graduates on the types and primary functions of geosynthetics respectively. Thus, compared with the hypothesized mean of 3.5 for the study, there was generally a low knowledge level regarding the types and primary functions of geosynthetics among fresh graduates with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or allied programmes in Ghana. However, Ghana’s case was of great concern as the fresh graduates were only knowledgeable in 3 out of the 9 types of geosynthetics and 4 out of the 10 primary functions of geosynthetics. The uniqueness of the study lies in the fact that it empirically established the knowledge level of fresh graduates in civil engineering, building technology, and construction technology and management programmes at the bachelor’s level on the types and primary functions of geosynthetics which hitherto was not in existence. It recommends the review of the existing curriculum for building technology, civil engineering, and construction technology and management programmes at the bachelor’s level to include adequate content on geosynthetics as a soil improvement technology. Again, the study contributes to the existing literature on geosynthetics and forms the basis for future studies in geosynthetics.