A Partnership Approach to Tackling Strategic Construction Initiatives (George Heaney)

George HeaneyProfessor of Construction

A Partnership Approach to Tackling Strategic Construction Initiatives

Personal Profile• Third generation ‘builder’• Like the industry • Like academic life• Want to contribute to the development of:

People – students & construction professionalsProcesses – efficient project deliveryProduct – the Built Environment, making a difference

to people

University of Ulster• Dedicated to Built Environment education

since inception • Strong commitment to local community• Seeks to contribute to the economic, social and

cultural development of N Ireland• Works in partnership with professional and statutory

bodies

Professional Education for Professional Life

Construction Sector Partners(1)Client Public and Private Sector

Supplier Design services Construction services, Materials and product

suppliers, Financial, contractual & legal services

Policy Maker Standards, processes etc.

Construction Sector Partners(2)

Educator Schools, Institutes of FE and Universities, Skills training organisations

Regulator Planning, Building Control, NIEA, HSENI etc.

Professional Bodies Maintaining professional practice standards

Trade Bodies and Supporting and representing sectors of Associations the industry

Examples of Strategic Construction Initiatives

• UK Construction Strategy• Low Carbon Initiative • NI Public Procurement Reform• Achieving Excellence• Health & Safety• Design Quality• Sustainable development and construction• Supply Chain Codes of Practice• Building Information Modelling

University contribution to industry partnering• Educated workforce – Graduates and Continuous

Professional Development• Knowledge broker• Research and Development• Consultancy • ‘Honest broker’ role• Facilitation• Dissemination

Example – Constructing Excellence

UK brand, 12 centres

Local Centre referred to as CEni

CEniA partnership between the Construction Industry, NI Government Construction Clients and the University of Ulster

CEni Strategy Objectives• Improving performance through increased

productivity and competitiveness• Improving industry image by taking action to create a

step in culture, in the development of people, enhanced engagement with the community and customers

• Engaging and taking action with individuals, businesses, organisations and industry associations

Examples of CEni Engagement

Professional Development Programmes

Examples of CEni Engagement

Conferences

Examples of CEni Engagement

Political Engagement

Examples of CEni EngagementDemonstration Projects

Examples of CEni Engagement

Reports

Current Ceni Projects

Project Bank Accounts• Engagement with politicians via All Party Working Group on

Construction• Engagement with Central Procurement Directorate &

Construction Employers Federation• Developing a comprehensive Professional Development

Programme to disseminate to the wider industry• Programme has been delivered 5 times to date

Current CEni Projects

Building Information Modelling (BIM)• Ran 2 awareness seminars introducing speakers from

England and ROI• Collaborated with Construction Industry Group

(Professional College) to deliver Regional BIM Hub event• Provided UU Staff workshop on BIM with BIM Advisor to

the Treasury