Manchester, March 2023 – An international collaboration project aimed at improving advanced construction manufacturing skills leveraging Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology has been successfully conducted at the University of Salford. The project, which was funded by the British Council through the UK-China-BRI Countries Education Partnership Initiative, brought together leading researchers and academics from four nations: the University of Salford, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Tianjin University, and Hanoi University of Civil Engineering.
Led by Professor Dr Zeeshan Aziz from the University of Salford, United Kingdom and supported by associate research leaders from each participating university, the project focused on enhancing the efficiency of the construction sector by promoting the adoption of modern methods of construction and Industry 4.0 innovations. The project also aimed to address challenges arising from changing societal expectations, climate change, resource scarcity, and disruptive innovation.
The collaboration week began with a kick-off meeting and discussion on the research project’s context and deliverables, followed by a day of intensive seminar and workshop on the impact of modern methods of construction (MMC) and Industry 4.0 innovations on construction skills from a global perspective. The seminar provided an international perspective on global challenges, whereas the workshop sessions developed a shared vision and a way forward for the project.
The research team was also invited to discuss potential academic and research opportunities with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International from the University of Salford. They were also given a chance to visit the Energy House, unique research and testing laboratory at the university that explores energy consumption issues in buildings.
The collaboration week concluded with a site visit to the Natwest Bank Headquarters. The research team and construction management students from the University of Salford were given a tour of the construction site and briefed on the design and construction activities conducted at various stages of the building.
The international collaboration project has yielded key findings regarding the current context of modern construction methods from various perspectives. The team also discussed the challenges and planned future research activities related to upskilling and pedagogical improvements in advanced construction manufacturing skills, which will be conducted in Malaysia, Vietnam, and China in the future. To learn more about this project and explore collaboration opportunities, please contact Associate Professor Dr Mohamad Syazli Fathi at the Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.