ACADEMIC STANDARDS BENCHMARK AND ESTATE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES: COMPLIANCE OR DEVIATION?

The National Universities Commission (NUC) was empowered by Act 48 of 1988 to set minimum standards for all academic disciplines in Nigerian Universities. The aim of this study is therefore to examine the curriculum of the Universities offering degree in Estate Management. This is with a view to determining compliance with or deviation from the set minimum standards. In attaining the aim, a process of comparison and inferences was adopted in examining the NUC Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards while data were collected from the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) Professional Accreditation Visitations to the Universities between 2010 and 2013. Statgraphic statistical software was used to analyse the data and determine the degree of devariation from or compliance with the standards at 0.05 alpha level. The study found that less than 60% of Universities met the standards, especially on staff/students ratio, facilities, and staff mix; thus confirming deviation from the set standards. It was recommended that stricter process of accreditation should be followed to enforce the set minimum standards.