Dr Thayaparan Gajendran

Biography

I worked in the industry until 2001 outside Australia and commenced a full time academic career since 2002 in Australia. My learning curve was steep in terms of developing an understanding of the culture and academic practices of Australia. Early stages of my career focused on developing an in-depth understanding of Integrated Problem Based Learning teaching philosophy and teaching materials for the coursed I was teaching.

The research focus I had developed from the Masters Research Project Building Performance Measurement and Facilities Management (in Singapore), had to be discontinued due lack of infrastructure and the different discipline research priorities. As an early career researcher, I refocused my research in the area of human side of information communication technology and construction management education.

Primary focus of the outputs of the research in the discipline is based on industry education. Therefore, industry talks and conferences are target as primary forums for dissemination of research outputs. However, selected outputs are targeted to academics audience to extend the boundaries.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 2010
• Master of Science (Building), The National University of Singapore, 2001
• Bachelor of Science (Quanity Surveying), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 1995
• Graduate Certificate of Tertiary Teaching, University of Newcastle, 2007
• Post Graduate Diploma in Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura - Sri Lanka, 2000

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Research

Research keywords

• Business Governance
• Culture in Construction
• Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Construction

Research expertise

Research expertise areas include the areas of human side of information communication technology (ICT) and construction management education.

The ICT side of research focus on the ICT integration and cultural implications in the construction industry. The current research studies the impact of attitudinal/cultural profiling of construction project teams to on ICT uptake and integration.

Educational research focuses on student learning strategies, teamwork skills and curriculum design in construction management education. Current research seeks to study the teaching approaches to team working skills in the undergraduate curriculum.

Versed in both quantitative and qualitative research approaches and has experience in conducting Delphi studies, questionnaire surveys, interviews and focus groups. Also can operate research software programs, SPSS and Nvivo, for data analysis.

Experienced in conducting research for both industry based and academic entities. Prior to joining the academic institution, worked in a private organisation in a research and development project to develop a prototype for a construction productivity benchmarking system in Singapore.

Languages

• Sinhalese
• Tamil

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
120200	Building	100

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Centre for Interdisciplinary Built Environment Research

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Editor - Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors

Appointments

Chair Engineering and Built Environment Research Ethics Committee, The University of Newcastle (Australia)

01/01/2005 - 01/12/2006

Invitations

ICT in Construction Supply Chains: The challenges and implications for project managers Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka (Industry Talks)	2005
Construction Supply Chains and Asset Manager: How ICT developments in the construction industry impact on asset and facility management Government Asset Management Arena, Department of Public Works Queensland, Australia (Industry Talks)	2005

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

Research Ethics Committee - Operated in the capacity of Deputy Chair of the Engineering and Built Environment Research Ethics Committee in 2003 -2004 and as Chair in 2005-2006. Also was the member representation the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment on the University Research Ethics Committee from 2005 to 2007. Experiment in reviewing ethics application for research in the filed of management, economics, and health. Also participated as the member of the University Ethics Committee in forming a submission for NHMRC ethics review in 2005. Participated in restructuring of the University ethics committee in 2006 in moving to risk based ethics review process.

Postgraduate Director for Building Discipline (2003 - 2004) - The main role was assessing the postgraduate applications for the Building discipline and evaluating documentation for postgraduate scholarships. Also to ensure adequate infrastructure is provided for postgraduate students.

Program Convener Construction Management (2007- )- The main role is to review the quality and integrity of the program. Involved in accreditation process with AIB and AIQS.

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Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Construction Economics
• Estimating and Tendering
• Facilities Management

Teaching expertise

Experienced in teaching quantity surveying subjects, including Building Economics, Estimating and Tendering, Project Appraisals, and Construction Management and Facilities management.

Experienced in designing inductive (student centred) teaching/learning environments characterised by problem/project-based learning for both on campus and distance learning curriculum. Applies multiple teaching/facilitation methods including, lectures, group discussions, site visits, face-to-face and online discussions, reflective practice etc.

Experienced in designing the course structure, assessment and learning strategies to develop both Industry ready graduates and life long learning reflective practitioners.

Experienced in supervising undergraduate research (Honours students). One of the students supervised was awarded CIOB best undergraduate thesis worldwide and Institute of Engineers Australia undergraduate thesis award in 2004.