Real estate and built environment professionals have severely criticized the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development’s recent announcement of paid internship opportunities under the affordable housing program. They argue that these internships are tokenistic and unsustainable, offering only temporary relief without addressing the industry’s deeper issues. Additionally, the announcement appears vague, leaving doubts about the actual availability of these jobs. These criticisms were aired during a discussion on the Built Environment Assembly Twitter (X) Space platform.
The Ministry plans to recruit up to 10,000 university graduates in phases, with the first phase (Lot 1) aiming to hire 4,000 interns. These interns will work under the guidance of professional consultants already contracted by the State Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Despite the Ministry’s intentions, industry professionals argue that such internships offer only temporary relief and fail to address the long-term challenges within the sector. Participants in the Built Environment Assembly emphasized the need for more sustainable and comprehensive strategies to genuinely improve the built environment industry.
The available internship opportunities span a variety of fields, including architecture, quantity surveying, construction management, civil engineering, structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, land surveying, geoinformatics, landscape architecture, interior design, social development, urban and regional planning, environmental science, health and safety, communication and branding, and ICT.
Applicants must possess at least an undergraduate degree in the specified disciplines from a recognized university. The internship will last for one year, and interns will be employed and compensated according to the Public Service Commission’s internship regulations.
However, the announcement’s vagueness further fuels skepticism about the actual availability of these positions. Critics pointed out during the Built Environment Assembly discussion that the program details are unclear, and it is uncertain whether these job opportunities genuinely exist or are simply a facade.
The Ministry’s initiative, while well-intentioned, has drawn significant skepticism and calls for more effective and lasting solutions to the challenges facing the built environment sector.
