Appraising Time Performance of Higher Education Institutions Building Projects To Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4

Abstract

Higher educational institutions (HEIs) worldwide frequently embark on building projects to expand infrastructure, enhance facilities, and accommodate growing student populations. However, time performance has been very poor over the years due to several factors. There is urgent need to improve the time performance of HEIs building projects to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 4. Recognizing the pivotal role of educational infrastructure in advancing inclusive, equitable, and quality education, the paper underscores the need for a strategic alignment of time management practices with the principles of SDG 4. This study aimed at identifying factors influencing project duration and the impact of time performance on HEI projects. It employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods research design in Edo State, Nigeria. Twenty projects were selected, and their time performance was assessed to draw inferences for this research. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among 12 professionals in the physical planning department that showed interest in participating in the study and were interviewed. The result revealed that the time performance of tertiary educational building projects is very poor, as most projects extend beyond the initial construction time. The causes of this time overrun were attributed to payment delay, lack of planning, and bureaucracy involved in the approval of payments by client. It is therefore recommended that adequate planning and stakeholders management be encouraged to improve the time performance of HEI buildings.