KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has once again positioned itself at the forefront of construction technology transformation with the successful organisation of the Construction Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Seminar in Malaysia. Held at the UTM Kuala Lumpur campus, the high-impact event brought together leading minds from academia, industry, and government to explore the convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and Industrialised Building Systems (IBS) in redefining the future of construction and facilities management. 

This seminar forms a critical component of the internationally funded research collaboration under the British Council Going Global Partnerships initiative, led jointly by UTM and the University of Salford, United Kingdom, under the project titled: “Upskilling and Pedagogical Improvements in Advanced Construction Manufacturing Skills Leveraging Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)”. 

Reimagining the Construction Industry through Digital Transformation 

Delivering his opening address, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohamad Syazli Fathi, Project Leader of Research at UTM Kuala Lumpur, emphasised the significance of the event as a catalyst for national and regional transformation: 

“This is not just a seminar. It is a milestone in our mission to empower the next generation of professionals with frontier skills in AI, robotics, and digital construction. Together with our international partners, we are redefining how infrastructure is designed, built, and maintained.” 

The seminar outlined three core objectives: 

1. Digital Upskilling in Construction – Equipping Malaysian and regional talents with essential skills in AI, BIM, and robotics. 
2. Pedagogical Innovation – Transforming teaching and curriculum to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 and smart infrastructure development.
3. Research Collaboration – Strengthening international partnerships to deliver high-impact, evidence-based research and policy recommendations. 

Global and National Perspectives from Distinguished Experts 

The full-day programme featured high-level keynote addresses and thought-provoking panel discussions from both Malaysian and UK experts, highlighting best practices, national strategies, and frontier applications: 

• Prof. Dr. Zeeshan Aziz (University of Salford) delivered a keynote titled “The Future of Construction: Integrating Robotics, AI, and IBS,” outlining global construction trends, housing demands, and sustainability imperatives under the UK’s Construction 2025 strategy. 

• Ts. Dr. Aizul Nahar Harun (UTM) shared Malaysia’s digital policy alignment in “Malaysia’s National Construction Transformation and Digital Blueprint,” connecting AI and robotics to initiatives like CITP, the National AI Roadmap, and MyDigital. 

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Samira Albati Kamaruddin (UTM) captivated the audience with her session on “AI-Driven Construction: Upskilling Academia for a Smarter Built Future,” underscoring the importance of curriculum reform and digital competency building. 

• Sr. Dr. Zulakhmar Zakiyuddin (UiTM) demonstrated real-world solutions in “Robotics in FM: Automating Routine Maintenance and Inspection,” revealing how AI-powered service robots are transforming facilities management. 

A high-level panel discussion titled “Bridging the Skills Gap – Academic Roles in AI-driven Construction” united speakers across sectors in addressing how universities can better align with industry needs and future-proof the talent pipeline. 

Strategic Impact and Global Recognition 

This event showcased UTM’s leadership in advancing the national agenda on digital construction, smart infrastructure, and workforce readiness for the 4IR era. It strengthened UTM’s commitment to the Construction Industry Transformation Programme (CITP) and the National Digital Economy Blueprint, while fostering Malaysia–UK research diplomacy. 

“This seminar is a milestone in our mission to develop future-ready academic talent and industry professionals who are equipped for the digital construction era,” said Prof. Dr. Zeeshan Aziz, the UK-based Co-Project Leader. 

The event also served as a platform for research dissemination, stakeholder engagement, and curriculum co-development—an approach that aligns with UTM’s vision to be a globally respected, innovative university. 

Acknowledgements 

UTM extends its sincere appreciation to: 

• The British Council for funding and strategic guidance 

• The University of Salford, particularly Prof. Zeeshan Aziz, for long-standing research leadership 

• The Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, UTM, for co-organising and supporting the event 

• Construction Quality & Maintenance (CQM) Research Group, Smart Engineering & Advanced Technology Department, UTM for supporting the event. 

• All invited speakers, researchers, industry collaborators, and student volunteers for their active participation 

Next Steps 

As the seminar concluded, conversations turned to future opportunities — joint publications, AI curriculum rollout, and collaborative pilot projects in smart construction. The event’s success sets the stage for future research collaboration for Construction 5.0 — where human intelligence, robotics, and AI collaborate to build resilient, efficient, and sustainable built environments.