Determinants for Students Perceived Potential of BIM Use

Newly graduated students are shown to constitute an important source of innovation within the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. In relation to digital technologies like BIM (Building Information Modelling) that is claimed to have a potential to transform the industry, newly graduated students may play a vital role in innovating with BIM. The paper aims to explore determinants for students perceived potential of BIM use (PPBU) and the role of the educational background. The aim will be achieved by analysing the results from a survey conducted among third- and fourth-year students in construction and civil engineering in Hong Kong, Sweden, and Thailand (n = 194). When the different groups are compared Swedish and Thai students perceive a significant higher PPBU than Hong Kong students. In a step-wise multiple regression analysis five predictors for PPBU were identified for Thai respectively Swedish students, and one predictor was identified for Hong Kong students. It is concluded that in the contemporary BIM-discourse it is claimed that BIM can/should transform the industry, and BIM is even seen as a disruptive technology, and newly graduated students will contribute to (digitally driven) innovation. However, from the predictors of PPBU, the question can raised if the awareness of the need for structural changes is lacking in the education, if students later in their working life should contribute to a BIM-induced transformation of the industry?