Higher education in the construction and building fields has an enthusiastic and generous supporter in Quest Solutions, a Sarasota, FL-based software manufacturer. Eager to share its own success and to help prepare the construction professionals who will shape the future of the industry, Quest set about developing an innovative program of product donations and support.
“Quest’s Education and Technology Program, or ETP, is our way of helping train and educate the constructors and engineers of tomorrow,” explained Quest spokesman Spencer Fleury. “It also gave us a way to respond to requests we’d received from educators who wanted to provide their students with access to new technologies in the industry.” He noted that, since 1986, Quest has produced estimating software for the full range of construction applications: commercial, civil, concrete, earthwork, and cross sections.
“Our Education and Technology Program has been in operation for about five years, now,” Fleury said. “We donate our entire line of software titles — Estimator, Earthwork, Cross Sections, Roadwork, and Trenchwork — to accredited schools, colleges, and universities throughout the U.S.”
But Quest’s involvement doesn’t stop with the initial donation. Along with the software, the company also provides — at no cost to the schools — documentation manuals for all the titles, and special training for faculty members who will use the software in their classes. Quest even offers opportunities for the schools to purchase computer hardware at discounted prices.
Construction industry professionals use Quest Solutions’ estimating packages extensively. Automating the estimation processes enables contractors to prepare bids faster and with greater accuracy. The technology also has provided an opportunity to enhance professionalism within the industry by generating neat, easy-to-read reports for clients’ inspection.
“We think that students who have the opportunity to learn a comprehensive automated estimating system will have an added advantage when they’re ready to move into the work force,” said Fleury. “Companies looking to hire recent graduates tend to be much more favorably impressed by a candidate who has practical experience with the latest estimating software. In fact, that item on a student’s resume can even be a deciding factor for a potential employer.”
One reason Quest’s software has been so popular with leading college and university construction education programs is its versatility. According to educators who have incorporated the packages in their curriculum, its ability to serve contractors in different specialties is appealing. Students who want to learn how to estimate jobs in concrete, civil, commercial, underground, masonry, and heavy highway construction can do it all using the Quest products, rather than having to rely on — and take time to learn — a variety of different software packages.
The University of Florida’s distinguished M. E. Rinker Sr. School of Building Construction is among the latest to join the nearly 50 institutions now benefiting from Quest’s Education and Technology Program. Dr. Ralph Ellis, associate professor in UF’s Department of Civil Engineering will use Quest software in the construction management and engineering management classes he teaches.
“We’re just beginning our involvement with Quest,” said Ellis, who has been instrumental in the implementation. “We wanted to center graduate course work around a real construction project. When we contacted Holder Construction in Atlanta and asked them to work with us in planning the program, we found that they were using Quest estimating packages in their business. We wanted to use an actual Holder construction project in our classes and with Holder’s help, we connected with Quest.”
Ellis reports that the software manufacturer will soon begin training sessions for UF faculty at its Sarasota headquarters. “We have the software installed,” Ellis reported, “and we’re gaining a little familiarity with it before we start training. We think the estimating applications will be very effective in teaching construction management principles to our civil engineering students." Ellis expects to put the software into the curriculum with the beginning of UF’s spring term in January.
For more information, visit www.questsolutions.com.
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