Building information modelling for tertiary construction education in Hong Kong

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a thriving technology and approach for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry which facilitates, among others, the functions of planning, design, construction and operation of the project lifecycle. BIM is gradually replacing the 2D or 3D CAD technology in many parts of the world. BIM offers wider range of applications than CAD. Therefore, its learning needs are different from the learning needs of CAD. Educators around the world are contemplating with various approaches and methodologies for teaching BIM to tertiary students of the AEC disciplines enabling them to apply BIM in their future careers. These approaches are reviewed in this paper along with the initiatives being taken by the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to incorporate BIM in the construction management, building technology and quantity surveying curricula. Feedback as obtained from questionnaire surveys of students who learned BIM at BRE is analyzed and presented which highlights the knowledge they gained by learning and practicing BIM. Such an approach can be used at universities in other regions and countries and can serve as a guideline for BIM implementations.