Analysis of Skills Needs for Future Architecture Graduates of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Malaysia: A Thematic Review Paper

Sharifah Fairuz  Syed Fadzil; Nooriati  Taib; Nor Azida  Ishak

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become an essential tool for improving construction methods in delivering projects. Yet, much BIM-related expertise is needed to achieve the performance quality of the projects. The Malaysian Construction Industry Transformation Plan (CITP) 2016–2020 under the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) highlights that the government is beginning to follow the BIM for level 2 by 2020. The move was to improve the adoption and implementation of BIM among the practitioners in the construction industry. The government initiatives have raised the importance of BIM skills and knowledge among practitioners to facilitate successful implementation of BIM-related projects. This paper reports the findings of a thematic review analysis of skills that need to be harnessed from architecture graduates in preparing them to undertake BIM-related projects. Publications from 2010–2020 were analysed by means of a thematic review. Findings from the code-to-document review using ATLAS.ti 8 identified the BIM skills needed from an employee. This paper contributes to analysing the BIM skills indicated from the published papers hence the avenue for future studies on BIM graduates' preparation prior to entering the labour market in Malaysia.

Abd Hamid, A. B., Embi, M. R., Mohd Taib, M. Z., & Abdul Razak, A. H. N. (2020). Enhancing the Knowledge and Proficiency for Interior Designers in Malaysia through the Implementation Building Information Modelling. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 713(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/713/1/012047
Abdirad, H., & Dossick, C. S. (2016). BIM curriculum design in architecture, engineering, and construction education: A systematic review. Journal of Information Technology in Construction, 21(May), 250–271.
Ahmad Jamal, K. A., Mohammad, M. F., Hashim, N., Mohamed, M. R., & Ramli, M. A. (2019). Challenges of Building Information Modelling (BIM) from the Malaysian Architect’s Perspective. MATEC Web of Conferences, 266, 05003.
https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201926605003
Azmi, N. F., Chai, C. S., & Chin, L. W. (2018). Building information modeling (BIM) in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry: A case study in Malaysia. Proceedings of the 21st International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, 2016, 209889, 401–421. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6190-5_36
Azzouz, A., & Papadonikolaki, E. (2020). Boundary-spanning for managing digital innovation in the AEC sector. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 16(5), 356–373. https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2020.1735293
Barison, M. B., & Santos, E. T. (2011). The Competencies of BIM Specialists: a Comparative Analysis of the Literature Review and Job Ad Descriptions. Computing in Civil Engineering 2011, 194–201.
Barison, Maria Bernardete, & Santos, E. T. (2019). An overview of BIM specialists. EG-ICE 2010 - 17th International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering, January 2016.
CIDB. (2019). The Construction Industry Transformation Program (CITP) 2016 – 2020 Mid-term. Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB), January 2019, 2016–2020.
Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2013). Teaching thematic analysis?: Overcoming challenges and developing strategies for effective learning Associate Professor in Sexuality Studies Department of Psychology Faculty of Health and Life Sciences University of the West of England Coldharbour Lane Br. University of the West of England, 26, 120–123.
Davies, K., McMeel, D., & Wilkinson, S. (2015). Soft skill requirements in a BIM project team. Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference of CIB W78, 108–117. http://itc.scix.net/data/works/att/w78-2015-paper-011.pdf
Elliott, J. W., Glick, S., & Valdes-Vasquez, R. (2019). Student perceptions of model-based estimating. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 15(2), 118–135. https://doi.org/10.1080/15578771.2018.1460642
Ghosh, A. (2012). Virtual Construction + Collaboration Lab?: Setting a new paradigm for BIM education. American Society for Engineering Education. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--22216
Hallowell, M., Tatum, C., & Rowings, J. (2014). Findings and Path Forward: Leveraging Project and Career Success. Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction, 19(1), 142–147. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)sc.1943-5576.0000194
Hardi, J. (2015). Case Study: Lessons Learned From Building Information Modelling (BIM) Extracurricular Activity Organised for Architecture, Engineering and Construction Students Within a Uk University. Rics Cobra Aubea 2015, July, 12.
Haron, N. A., Raja Soh, R. P. Z. A., & Harun, A. N. (2017). Implementation of building information modelling (Bim) in malaysia: A review. Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology, 25(3), 661–674.
Hodorog, A., Alhamami, A. H. S., Petri, I., Rezgui, Y., Kubicki, S., & Guerriro, A. (2019). Social media mining for BIM skills and roles for energy efficiency. Proceedings - 2019 IEEE International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation, ICE/ITMC 2019, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICE.2019.8792571
Holzer, D. (2015). BIM and parametric design in academia and practice: The changing context of knowledge acquisition and application in the digital age. International Journal of Architectural Computing, 13(1), 65–82. https://doi.org/10.1260/1478-0771.13.1.65
Huang, Y. (2017). Introducing an advanced Building Information Modeling course in construction management programs. ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings, 2017-June. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--28576
Ismail, A. S., Ali, K. N., Mustaffa, N. E., A. Iahad, N., & Yusuf, B. Y. (2019). Enhancing the Graduates’ Employability and Career Development Through Building Information Modelling Intensive Training. International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability, 6(1–2), 91–99. https://doi.org/10.11113/ijbes.v6.n1-2.387
Kepczynska-Walczak, A. (2020). Building Information Modelling for 2020+ Realm Contemporary practice and future perspectives. BIM | Concepts - Volume 1 - ECAADe 36, 1, 271–280.
Kovacic, I., & Filzmoser, M. (2015). Designing and evaluation procedures for interdisciplinary building information modelling use—an explorative study. Engineering Project Organization Journal, 5(1), 14–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/21573727.2014.989426
Liu, J., Kramer, S., & Ph, D. (2011). East Meets West?: Teaching BIM in a Study Abroad Class with Chinese & American University Students. 47th ASC Annual International Conference Proceedings.
Lucena, A., Mah, D., & Arain, F. (2015). Enabling Building Information Modeling (BIM) practices in the Canadian construction industry: A case for an academic program. ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings, 122nd ASEE(122nd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Making Value for Society). https://doi.org/10.18260/p.23934
Musa, S., Marshall-Ponting, A., Nifa, F. A. A., & Shahron, S. A. (2018). Building information modeling (BIM) in Malaysian construction industry: Benefits and future challenges. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2016(September). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5055507
Raiola, J. A. I. I. I. (2016). Employability Skills in BIM for Construction Managers?: Recommendations for Education. ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings.
Rosli, M. F., Razak, A. S., & Younus, A. M. (2016). To BIM or not to BIM: A pilot study on University of Malaya’s architectural students’ software preference. Journal of Design and Built Environment, 16(1), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.22452/jdbe.vol16no1.2
Sampaio, A. Z. (2014). Teaching Building Information Modelling in an Architectural School. ASA 2014 - 48th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA), 421–432.
Shelbourn, M., Macdonald, J., McCuen, T., & Lee, S. (2017). Students’ perceptions of BIM education in the higher education sector: A UK and US perspective. Industry and Higher Education, 31(5), 293–304. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422217725962
Solnosky, R., Parfitt, M. K., & Holland, R. J. (2014). IPD and BIM-focused capstone course based on AEC industry needs and involvement. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 140(4), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000157
Wu, W., & Issa, R. R. A. A. (2014). Key Issues in Workforce Planning and Adaptation Strategies for BIM Implementation in Construction Industry. Construction Research Congress 2014, 2008, 140–149.
Yakami, M., Singh, V., Suwal, S., Yakami, M., Singh, V., Suwal, S., Do, W., & Think, P. (2018). What Do Students and Professionals Think of BIM Competence??
Zairul, M. (2020). A thematic review on student-centred learning in the studio education. In Journal of Critical Reviews (Vol. 7, Issue 2, pp. 504–511).
https://doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.02.95
Zhao, D., McCoy, A. P., Bulbul, T., Fiori, C., & Nikkhoo, P. (2015). Building Collaborative Construction Skills through BIM-integrated Learning Environment. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 11(2), 97–120.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15578771.2014.986251

In-Text Citation: (Ishak et al., 2021)
To Cite this Article: Ishak, N. A., Fadzil, S. F. S., & Taib, N. (2021). Analysis of Skills Needs for Future Architecture Graduates of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Malaysia: A Thematic Review Paper. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(5), 759–773.

Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

Analysis of Skills Needs for Future Architecture Graduates of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Malaysia: A Thematic Review Paper

Sharifah Fairuz Syed Fadzil, Nooriati Taib, Nor Azida Ishak

Further Information

Our Journals

Get intouch with us