Providing Collaborative Education with an International Dimension: An Ulster University and Pennsylvania State University Case Study

The BIM process, encompassing the use of Common Data Environments (CDEs), collaborative working and the sharing of approved, up-to-the-minute information, has revolutionized the construction industry. However, this method of delivery is something which is alien to many needing a paradigm shift in communication methods (Homayouni et al, 2010), as most are more familiar with traditional approaches such as email communication and sharing communication and sharing 'marked up' hard copies of drawings. In the technology driven world in which we live, it is important that those entering the industry from this point forward have an appreciation of this way of working. Therefore, this paper will provide an overview of a collaborative project which has been undertaken at Ulster University to help undergraduate students become familiar with this new way of working and communicating. The paper will outline how the students worked in multidisciplinary teams on a hypothetical building project, before collaborating asynchronously with students from Pennsylvania State University.