A Building Information Modelling (BIM) Management Masters degree course has been launched by Middlesex University in response to radical Government plans to make BIM compulsory for all centrally procured Government projects.
The course, which begins in October 2013, will focus on technical, operational and strategic BIM management issues and provide practitioners the necessary qualifications to work on large scale building and infrastructure projects.
Applicants can achieve a variety of qualifications all the way up to a Masters level, with a number of exit opportunities for practitioners to also attain a diploma or certificate.
The qualifications are targeted at practitioners with background experience in the construction / infrastructure industry who are expected to or will be expected to manage BIM projects including architects, engineers, contractors, sub-contractors, mechanical, electrical and plumbing services, facilities managers, project managers and quantity surveyors.
Developed and tailored to practitioners, the course is delivered online with additional lectures from experts in the field in different BIM issues and strategies, and combined with a short Summer School for collaboration and sharing experiences between participants from different disciplines. It can be studied part time over two years, but this can also be shortened to 12 months full time.
Middlesex University’s BIM Management programme leader Dr Noha Saleeb said: "The construction sector is a major part of the UK economy, representing some seven percent of GDP or £110bn per annum of expenditure, 40 percent of this being in the public sector, with central Government being the industry's biggest customer. Consequently the changes will have a significant impact, and with the changes coming into effect in 2016, practitioners will need to start thinking about this immediately. Middlesex University has been quick to respond to these changes and has worked with the industry to ensure it addresses the needs of the sector in the most accessible way.
“The objective is not just to address technical requirements of the 3D digital assets but to ensure efficiency of the whole technical, operational and strategic management of the BIM process for a project throughout its entire lifecycle, from briefing, design, through procurement and construction, into operational lifecycle and facilities management, all the way to restoration then demolition.”
Property and Construction Consultant, Charles Rich who worked with the University to develop the course said: "Collaboration is at the heart of BIM, so the course is structured to enhance skills in this area. BIM is a process driven environment, Middlesex University recognised that its sound management will be needed to ensure its successful implementation so the masters course is focused on this. It is very pleasing that in collaborating with industry and the Government in developing the programme the response to the course structure and content has had enthusiastic comments from those consulted.
"I think that the people who will benefit from the masters course will already be in responsible positions and not be able to take a lot of time away from their work, so being able to do it through remote learning, including online lectures and webinars, will make has great appeal to potential participants.”
"In introducing its requirement for BIM the Government did not want to dictate how this should be achieved, but allow industry to develop its own means of delivery. I am very pleased to have been able to help the University rise to the challenge in this most exciting way," added Rich.
The course will be delivered by the Department of Design Engineering and Mathematics in Middlesex University’s School of Science and Technology.
