Future of construction education

What we did and why

The BPC supported research by Monash University and The University of Melbourne, through the Building 4.0 Cooperative Research Centre, to investigate how construction education can better prepare the workforce for the future needs of the construction industry.

The construction industry is changing rapidly. Digital technologies, automation, prefabrication and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are creating demand for new skills and capabilities across construction management, building surveying, design and skilled trades. However, education and training pathways have not always kept pace with these changes.

This project examined whether current education and training programs are equipping students and workers with the skills the industry will need in the years ahead. It reviewed education pathways in Australia and overseas, considered future workforce needs, and explored opportunities to strengthen links between industry and education providers.

The research also examined how higher education, professional development and lifelong learning can help workers adapt to new technologies and ways of working.

The project was led by Professor Chris Knapp, and was jointly funded by the Building 4.0 CRC, BPC, A.G. Coombs, Holmesglen Institute, Lendlease Digital, Master Builders Victoria, and Sumitomo Forestry Australia. The final report was published in 2026.

What we found

The research identified significant skills gaps associated with emerging technologies, digital design and construction methods, automation, sustainability and MMC. It found that existing education and training opportunities were not keeping pace with these changing industry requirements, particularly across construction management, building surveying, design and the skilled trades.

To address these challenges, the project developed a new Bachelor of Digital Construction and Management degree in collaboration with Holmesglen Institute. The degree is designed to equip graduates with digital, technical and industrialised construction capabilities aligned with future industry needs.

The project also developed a broader educational framework to guide the future of construction education in Australia. The framework provides a long-term vision for how vocational education, higher education, industry training and professional development can work together to support workforce capability across the construction sector. A key output was the Future of Construction Education Network Map, which outlines a more flexible and connected approach to construction education, with stronger industry engagement and lifelong learning opportunities.

What difference this makes

This project provides a practical roadmap for developing the skills needed for a construction industry increasingly shaped by digital technologies, MMC and changing workforce requirements.

A major outcome of the project was the development of Australia's first Bachelor of Digital Construction and Management degree. Following approval by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, the degree is scheduled to commence in Semester 1, 2027. As an AQF Level 7 qualification, it creates a new pathway into the construction industry and provides a foundation for future qualifications, short courses and micro-credentials at a range of levels.

The project’s broader educational framework promotes stronger connections between industry and education providers, more flexible learning pathways and lifelong learning opportunities to support workforce development throughout a person’s career. The Future of Construction Education Network Map helps illustrate how learners can move between education, training and employment throughout their careers, supporting lifelong learning and workforce mobility.

Beyond the degree and education framework, the project expanded and delivered subjects focused on design and construction in the digital age and Building Information Modelling (BIM). These subjects help build capability in areas identified as increasingly important to the future of the construction industry.

The project also explored future workforce scenarios through a design studio delivered within the Monash University Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture. This work examined how emerging technologies and changing industry practices may influence the way buildings are designed, delivered and managed in the future, helping inform longer-term workforce planning and education strategies.

The project's findings have informed subsequent Building 4.0 CRC research projects examining skills and training implications of MMC and the development of a VET qualifications system and training framework for MMC, helping build the evidence base for future workforce development, training reforms and education pathways across the construction industry.

Related research

This research forms part of a broader portfolio of BPC-supported research exploring how the building and plumbing industries can build the skills, capabilities and training pathways needed to respond to new technologies, changing work practices and future workforce challenges. Related projects include: