Case study: lessons learned from Building Information Modelling (BIM) extracurricular activity organised for architecture, engineering and construction students with a UK university

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a digital method of managing the physical and functional characteristics of a building throughout its life cycle. It promotes a collaborative working within the construction industry, an alternative to the current silo working mentality. To equip students with the right skills for future employment, a major university in the UK developed a BIM collaborative working extracurricular activity with the key interest in promoting multi-disciplinary teamwork. Personal experience suggests that this is an area where students find challenging and there are very few formal learning opportunities to practice this. This case study presents both staff and students’ view of this BIM extracurricular activity. Lesson learned from this research activity will be used for future iterations in how BIM is implemented within this particular university. This study can also be used as a preliminary to carry out further multiple case studies in the future. The data collation methods included the use of questionnaires, targeted at students who participated at the extracurricular activity; and an online focus group consisting of a number of staff members. The key findings suggest that both students and staff found the multi-disciplinary teamwork experience to be beneficial. However, as there are no opportunities to put this in practice in their final year, the benefits may diminish over time. Whilst students agreed that this extracurricular activity should be re-run, the long term focus is to implement it within the formal curriculum to ensure all students will benefit from it.