“When students graduate, they will be prepared to work in the digitally transformed construction industry”, said Dr. Sujatavani Gunasagaran.
A senior lecturer said in Malaysia that the construction industry is progressing in terms of digital technology and sustainability, albeit slowly. This is due, in part, to construction management programs such as Taylor University’s Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Sustainable Digital Construction Management, which will begin in March 2023.
Dr. Sujatavani Gunasagaran, 46, stated in an interview that students and graduates will be critical in propelling the construction industry toward the nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Sujatavani has over 15 years of teaching experience at Taylor’s University and will be in charge of the new programme, which will teach students about sustainability and advanced digital skills.
The construction management programs, according to Dr. Sujatavani, incorporates digital technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), laser scanning, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and 3D printing to help students embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and fill the void of a tech-savvy workforce in the construction industry.
“Students can experience the latest technologies in various modules with the support of Taylor’s VORTEX XR Lab. This includes the use of drones for progress tracking and virtual reality (VR) for immersive walking to detect defects at a construction site,” she explained.
The programme not only aligns with the Construction Industry Development Board’s (CIDB) Construction 4.0 Strategic Plan (2021-2025), but also with the CIDB competency standard and the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) educational framework, which will set undergraduates on the path to becoming construction managers.
Graduates of this programme will be at the forefront of supporting the implementation of “disruptive technologies” such as prefabrication, radio frequency identification (RFID), pulsed radar object detection, smart wearables, and artificial intelligence (AI) in 2025, while maintaining successful and effective site management that delivers on time, within budget, and meets quality standards.
“When students graduate, they will be prepared to work in the digitally transformed construction industry. Talent will drive the construction industry to adopt more 4IR strategies as a result of programmes like this,” she continues.
The programme offers two specialisation areas in which students can choose between green construction and smart construction based on their career goals in construction management.
Green Construction includes modules such as “Green Technology in Construction,” “Innovative Construction Materials,” and “Smart Building Systems,” which promote energy conservation, waste reduction, and recycling while emphasising sustainability.
Smart Construction Modules introduce technology that can improve construction management practises through the use of IoT, advanced building information modelling (BIM), and extended reality. This new program’s specialisations are current and relevant to Construction 4.0.
The new Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sustainable Digital Construction Management programme is tailored to Gen Z students’ learning preferences. Furthermore, the programme allows for a practice-led curriculum that is closely supervised and advised by a panel of adjunct academics from the industry.
An industry advisory panel, on the other hand, will collaborate closely to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas among board members in order to maintain industrial relevance. They will also offer advice and assistance with curriculum development based on the most recent needs, trends, and graduate employment skills.
“Students can choose to do a semester of internship or work-based learning, giving them two years at the lakeside campus and one year of hands-on experience with our reputable industry partners like Eco World Development Group Berhad and Green Quarter Sdn Bhd,” Dr Sujatavani explained.
In addition to traditional construction managers, there is a growing demand for prominent tech-savvy managers such as digital construction managers, green building construction managers, BIM technicians, smart technologists, site health managers, and environment managers.
Dr. Sujatavani believes that the next generation of talent will be well-equipped with digital aptitude, personality, acquired skills, and industry knowledge, in accordance with Taylor’s Curriculum Framework.
“The modules we provide are geared toward digital technology, which they are comfortable with.” “When we introduce new software, they can learn it in a day or two on their own and produce results,” she stated.