Masters in Facility Management and International Facility Management Association Professional Qualification

Abstract

The Certified Facility Manager (CFM) credential is the most professional certification in the Facility Management (FM) profession as such, the peak aspiration of every Facility Manager is to become certified by a renowned body like the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). This paper investigates the fitness of students to becoming CFM’s by assessing the curriculum of Masters in Facility Management (MFM) program in Ahmadu Bello University Nigeria. An evaluation form in form of a data sheet was used to fetch data from MFM students. A desk based study of relevant documents was also conducted to obtain the course contents of the MFM program and FM core competency areas required for CFM certification. A content validity was performed by comparing the courses taught in the MFM program as against those examined for CFM certification. It was found that while the students presently enrolled in the MFM program come from eight distinct professions in the construction industry, they will all have a minimum of three years working experience upon graduation. Furthermore, all the courses taught in the MFM program are in line with the nine core competency areas required for CFM certification examination (as was validated by a Certified Facility Manager with over two decades of facility experience). It was concluded that all the MFM students are eligible for the CFM certification since they will all poses the three years minimum of working experience required to register for certification upon graduation from MFM. Furthermore, results show that all the courses taught in the MFM program will amply give the students an edge during their preparation for CFM certification. It was recommended that the MFM program should be continuously improved upon so its students will possess scholarship that will not only make easy their CFM certification, but will keep them abreast with world’s best practice in FM.