BIM EDUCATION FOR NEW CAREER OPTIONS: AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION

Current efforts in promoting college BIM education tend to focus on curriculum development and student learning outcome assessment, among which the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner and Operator (AECOO) industry has been playing an indispensable role. As acknowledged by both the academia and the professional community, college education is critical for quickening the learning curve and recruiting ready-made BIM professionals for the industry. It seems that there is a gap between the industry expectations and the student learning outcomes, which is directly reflected by the fact that companies seldom recruit college students for job openings dedicated to BIM. This research utilized a comparative survey that invited stakeholders from both communities to investigate the possible impacts of BIM education on students' career development, and how current recruiting practices may help identify discrepancies between existing BIM curriculum development and industry expectations. Results of this research are expected to facilitate rethinking and enhancing collaboration between educational and professional communities on promoting a career oriented BIM education.