Student research
APM is keen to support all students at all levels regarding their research into the management of projects. Our research department encourages students to submit their surveys and would like to see the project management community becoming involved by completing the surveys, if applicable, and answering questions which will assist students in their studies.
Two ways to promote your research
Via this page
Your input will help to develop the knowledge base of project management and drive the profession forward. Please see the Promote your research section below on how to upload your survey.
Via the APM Community platform
Members can promote their research via our Surveys and media requests feed on APM Community.
Surveys and media requests is a space where you can ask for help with your research, ask for survey's to be completed from a diverse range of professionals from a wide range of project and sectors.
Disclaimer: Please note that whilst APM are keen to advertise these research opportunities it is the responsibility of each student to follow their University's ethical guidelines.
List of current research by students
The following is a list of current and recent requests from students for assistance and contributions to aid their research activities. Please note that some of these are date sensitive.
From Price to Partnership: Using Subcontractor Performance Data to Identify Innovative Subcontractors in UK Building Projects
Synopsis This research investigates how Tier 1 contractors in the UK building sector use subcontractor performance data to identify and evaluate innovation. Despite decades of policy reform, lowest price continues to dominate subcontractor selection, leaving a significant gap between procurement rhetoric and practice. This study uses a mixed-methods approach - combining a practitioner survey and semi-structured interviews - to examine which performance indicators most effectively distinguish innovative subcontractors. The findings aim to provide a practical, evidence-based framework to support more value-driven subcontractor selection in UK construction procurement.
Requirement I am seeking responses from construction professionals employed by Tier 1 contractors in the UK building sector, particularly those with direct involvement in subcontractor selection, procurement, or supply chain management. Eligible roles include project managers, commercial managers, procurement leads, contracts managers, and supply chain managers. Participation involves completing a short anonymous online questionnaire (15–20 minutes). Those willing to share their experience in greater depth are also invited to take part in a follow-up interview (45–60 minutes) conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams or Zoom.
Target audience Tier 1 construction professionals - project managers, commercial managers, procurement and supply chain managers in the UK building sector.
Survey closing date 31 July 2026
If you're interested or would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me.
Across industry: Need for an SME Decarbonisation Toolkit for Measurement and Verification
Synopsis I’m Jordan Hutchinson, a Year 4 Construction Management student at the Technological University of the Shannon. I’m researching the need for a practical decarbonisation toolkit for construction SMEs with cross industry inputs.
Many SMEs deliver a large share of project work but often don’t have the time, staff, or systems to measure emissions consistently, and many existing carbon tools are designed for larger organisations. My dissertation is developing a lightweight toolkit (simple data inputs + clear outputs) to help SMEs identify emissions “hotspots” and prioritise practical actions.
Requirement Could you spare 8–10 minutes to complete this short survey? Responses are confidential and will be anonymised in analysis for academic purposes. Contact details (if provided) are collected separately for follow-up only.
Target audience Seeking responses from all industry stakeholders. It would really benefit the study if you could also share/forward the link to any relevant colleagues or contacts (especially those involved in sustainability, operations, procurement, or project delivery).
Dynamism in External Stakeholder Engagement in infrastructure megaproject
Synopsis I am a PhD candidate at University College London, conducting research on Dynamism in External Stakeholder Engagement in infrastructure megaproject. Key research area covers:
- Various perspectives on external stakeholder engagement.
- Dynamism of external stakeholder engagement, how engagement has changed or evolved over time.
- Narratives surrounding protesters and promoters.
Requirement I am currently inviting participants for a 45-minute semistructured interview to share their experiences and insights on external stakeholder engagement in megaprojects.
Target audience Engagement managers, Local authorities, Environmental activists, Local community members.
Closing date 31 October 2026
If you're interested or would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me at wei-zhang@ucl.ac.uk or reach out via LinkedIn.