Collaborative Competencies Developed in a Capstone Portfolio Course: Perspectives from Construction Engineering Graduates

Abstract

Teamwork is a critical competency in construction engineering; however, a persistent gap remains between its development in university education and the demands of professional practice. This study examines how Construction Engineering graduates reinterpret the collaborative dynamics experienced during their capstone portfolio course once they enter the workforce. Using an exploratory qualitative approach, ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with graduates from the 2024 cohort who had up to one year of professional experience. An inductive–deductive thematic analysis identified ten emergent categories: communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, feedback, decision-making, time management, transfer to the professional context, professional identity development, course evaluation, and labor market insertion. Findings indicate that graduates tend to positively reframe their formative experiences after entering professional practice, recognizing the relevance of the collaborative competencies developed during the capstone course. Moreover, these competencies align closely with those most valued by employers in the construction sector.