Contract Administration (7829.6)

Please note these are the 2025 details for this unit
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Contract Administration
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Arts And Design
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Design And The Built Environment Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
In this unit students will develop a working knowledge of built environment contract administration principles and processes. The unit covers differing administration processes for commonly used contract models.

Using case study learning students practice practical management techniques covering real life contract administration issues. Students are introduced the management of documentation and scheduling of a build as a contract administrator, using manual and automated techniques.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Distinguish appropriate contract administration processes for different construction contractual models;
2. Critically analyse the use of different techniques to manage time and resources for a building project;
3. Manage strategic planning techniques to solve contractual management issues, such as time, cost, quality and disputation; and
4. Demonstrate advanced organisational skills in the management of the requirements of specific construction contract models, using manual and relevant techniques.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Skills development

Australian Institute of Building (AIB) and Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors - Benchmark Standards

Both the AIB and AIQS have requirements and expectations for graduates from an accredited course. These have been shown below to assist the student as to the importance placed on generic skills by the accrediting bodies. These can also be found on their respective websites www.aib.org.au and www.aiqs.com.au. Further information regarding the building and quantity surveying professions is also available on these sites and represent a valuable source of information.

The AIB encourages course and curriculum design to develop graduate attributes in contexts including as referred to in the AIB Standards of Accreditation, Academic Standards Booklet.

Creative, Reflective and Critical Thinking

Lifelong Learning

Knowledge Skills

Use of Technology

Communication

Teamwork

Social Responsibility

Environmental Responsibility

Professional Responsibility

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS (AIQS) REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATES

The academic content for this unit forms part of the attainment of the AIQS skills and attributes for a Quantity Surveyor graduate as referred to in the AIQS Competency Standards for Quantity Surveyors and Cost Engineers.

Quantification/Measurement

Communication Skills

Personal and Interpersonal Skills

Business and Management Skills

Professional practice

Computer and Information Technology

Construction Technology

Construction Law and Regulation.



Prerequisites

11287 Building and Construction Law AND 7823 Building and Construction Studies 2

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Nethmin Pilanawithana
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Nethmin Pilanawithana
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Recommended Reading:

Carter, J..W and Harland, D.J. (2013). Contract Law in Australia, 6th ed., Butterworths, Australia.

Davenport, P. and Durham, H. (2020). Construction Claims, 4th ed., Federation Press, Sydney.

Davenport, P. (2004). Adjudication in the Construction Industry, 2nd ed., Federation Press, Sydney.

Fisk, E.R. and Reynolds, W.D. (2006). Construction Project Administration, 9th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall, Boston, USA.

Goldfayl, G. (2004). Construction Contract Administration, 2nd ed., UNSW Press, Sydney.

Knowles, R. (2005). 150 Contractual Problems and their Solutions, 2nd ed., Blackwell Publishing.

Newitt, J.S. (2009). Construction Scheduling: Principles & Practices, 2nd ed., Pearson Prentice Hall, USA.

RICS (2011). Contract Administration: RICS Practice Standards, 1st ed., London, UK <available at: https://www.rics.org/globalassets/rics-website/media/upholding-professional-standards/sector-standards/building-surveying/contract-administration-1st-edition-rics.pdf> (accessed 21 July 2021).

Uher, T.E. (2002). Programming and Scheduling Techniques, UNSW Press, Sydney

Uher, T.E and Davenport, P (2009). Fundamentals of Building Contract Management, 2nd ed., UNSW Press, Sydney.

Weber, S.C. (2005). Scheduling Construction Projects: Principles and Practices, Pearson Prentice Hall, USA.

Note: Copies of the books presented above are all available at the University of Canberra Library. Please access the following link of the Library's website to search them: https://www.canberra.edu.au/library.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Artificial intelligence

Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for StudentsLinks to an external site. Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

Students are strongly encouraged to attend all scheduled classes for this unit.
Students who attend campus for class or other purposes must play their part in keeping our campus and community safe by following these basic guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission:

  • Practise good hand hygiene, washing hands regularly;
  • If you do happen to cough or sneeze, please do so into the crook of your elbow, dispose of tissues immediately and wash hands immediately
  • Practise effective physical distancing;
  • Follow all directions of teaching and other UC staff regarding safety measures;
  • Stay off campus if you are unwell and get tested according to ACT Government guidelines, and 
  • Follow University communications about campus arrangements https://www.canberra.edu.au/coronavirus-advice.

Required IT skills

You are assumed to have adequate skills in the use of word processing and spread sheet programs, Internet browsers and search engines. You are also assumed to be familiar with Canvas. If you feel you do not have adequate skills, please discuss the matter with the unit convenor.

Work placement, internships or practicums

Not applicable

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