Elisabeth O'Brien,

RDI, Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT)

Reducing the energy footprint in the built environment

What’s next in NZEB Trainings for the

Construction Industry?

National NZEB Conference 5th March 2020

National NZEB Conference

6,500 Students

7 Dynamic CAMPUSES

7 Enterprise Centres

LIMERICK

MoylishClare StreetGeorge’s QuayCoonagh

TIPPERARY

ThurlesClonmel

CLAREEnnis Education Centre

Limerick Institute of Technology

Research, Development & Innovation

LIT Development

Unit

Thurles Campus, Tipperary

www.lit.ie/rdi

• Development Unit works across the Institute supporting access to EU funds, engaging with public and private sectors

• Applied focus engaged in capacity building, applied research and development activities

• Core areas

• Sustainable & Renewable Energy

• Sustainable Development

• Social Enterprise

• Rural Development

• International, EU, National and Regional Focus

Limerick Institute of Technology ¦ www.lit.ie ¦ information@lit.ie ¦ +353 61 29 3000

www.lit.ie/rdi

Projects:➢BIMCert

➢Building Upon National RenovationStrategy

➢BIMzeED

➢BUSLeague

➢Sector Skills All Construction Blueprint

Trainings for the Construction Industry

Market:

➢ Skills Needs in the Construction Industry

➢ National NZEB Specifications and Trainings

➢ NZEB Centre of Excellence – Training Units

What does the industry need?

Who are the Actors?

• Project manager

• Engineer/Designer

• Engineer/Site supervisor

• Site engineer

• Student

• Technician/Craft worker

• Educator

• Apprentice

• Building Owners

• Facility manager

• Policy maker

• Consultant

• Public administration

• Developer

• Contractor – Constructionmanager

• Construction Workers

For each Target Group:

Higher education: (Trainers, Students, Professionals, Specialists)Match Industry needs, Update course content, Blended learnings, Fragmented across Ireland

Vocational education: (Trainers, Craft workers, Apprenticeships)Match Industry needs, Update course content, Develop Blended learnings, Practical Training Units

Construction Industry: (Contractors, SMEs & Construction Workers)Flexible micro-units, CPDs, Develop Blended & on-line learnings, Practical Training Units

Look at Skills Gaps and NeedsResearch and studiesCollaboration with other educational bodies and construction industry across Europe

Awareness, Flexible Trainings, Training Plans, Skills Recognition

Key areas

Energy Efficiency

It is one of the main drivers of

skills development in

the sector

The European Commission

agreed to decarbonise the

European building stock by

2050

It is foreseen that 3-4 million

workers will need to be

updated in this field.

Environmental and Comfort Impact

Key areas

Digitalisation

Workforce will use tools to do

their job quicker, more precisely and with fewer

errors

Tools will contribute to

further optimisation of building design and utilisation

BIM is one of the main key drivers of this

change

Quality and financial/time savings

Key areas

Circular EconomyThe

construction industry has a

very important

role

Circular economy will change the traditional standard of the sector

From a linear economy to a

more sustainable

one

Sustainable and reuse of materials

National NZEB Specifications and Trainings

WWETB NZEB Trainings for Craft workers…C&G• Bricklayers• Carpenters• Plasterers• Electricians• Plumbers

WWETB NZEB Trainings for Specialists……Ventilation – Installation and Design TrainingsNSAI approved - Auditing specialists

BUSI BuildUp Skills QualiBuild Foundation Energy Skills (FES) Course for construction workers –WWETB NZEB Trainings for Construction Workers

National Specifications for NZEB Trainings approvedWWETB NZEB Trainings for Site Supervisors……NZEB for site supervisors

LIT Flexible Learnings SPA Level 6…QQI…Cert in Near Zero Energy Buildings

Modules: NZEB & EU policies, Building Regs, Product Certs: Building Physics: Building Fabric: Building and Smart Services: Communication and User information

NZEB Centre of Excellence

The NZEB Centre of Excellence in Enniscorthy, Wexford –

• Develop to assist in NZEB and Sustainable trainings

• Provide a platform for the advancement of awareness and understanding of Energy

Efficiency, and Circular Economy.

• Developed new NZEB Training Unit in Waterford for retrofit trainings

• Additional Training Units/ETBs are also proposed to enable practical trainings

nationwide

• the Terms of Reference developed for Train-to-NZEB Building Knowledge Hubs can

be used.

Projects:➢BIMCert

➢Building Upon National RenovationStrategy

➢BIMzeED

➢BUSLeague

➢Sector Skills All Construction Blueprint

Trainings for the Construction Industry

Market:

➢ Skills Needs in the Construction Industry

➢ National NZEB Specifications and Trainings

➢ NZEB Centre of Excellence – Training Units

bimcert

Digital Innovations Transforming the Construction Sector

A learning environment guided by a series of INSTRUCTOR LED LIVE LECTURES. This can be complimented through Project Based Learnings PBL, and self-guided learnings which would create the ACTIVE LEARNING environment suggested in the results.

To Include:NARRATIVE VIDEOS and LIVE LECTURES with a focus on student doing SELF-GUIDED LEARNING through Project Based Learnings PBL before they advance to next micro training unit.

Key Training Methodologies established for delivery of BIM!

BIMCert Trialed and Tested Curriculum

Specific Low Energy Building Construction

Training Plans and Modules using

Digitalisation tools

https://platform.energybimcert.eu/

Building Upon National Renovation Strategy

Retrofitting housing and other buildings is a crucial part of Irelands Climate Action remit:

LIT and IGBC are developing new roles: • Energy Retrofit Advisors• Energy Retrofit Installers

Collaboration with panel including: Industry, Education, Environmental experts, Government bodies, Facilitating energy renovation trainings. Developing a one-stop-shop Skills App where professionals and workers can find suitable trainings and develop their own training plan. This App will be further advanced in the BUSLeague project

BIMzeED Website: www.BIMzeED.eu

https://youtu.be/g61fyPfrzY0

BIMzeED Video:

BIMzeED Overview

Gap and Skills Analysis

Review the training gaps and needs for:• construction industry - general operatives, apprentices, craftworkers, site managers, managers,

professionals and current students

• educators and determine their level of skill and knowledge for BIM in NZEB trainings.

Desktop research, surveys and reporting: • on-line research of training needs in the construction industry and educators at HEIs and VETs in

partner countries.

• questionnaires/surveys

• of workers in SMEs and industry (10 SMEs and 25 Industry stakeholders per

country – 140 in total)

• and educators in HEIs and VETs (15 per country – 60 in total)

Current practice and limits

24

▪ BIM and NZEB skills are often transferred in a fragmented way – different training courses from different organisations

▪ No structured offer of training from level 5 - 7 of the educational system NQF▪ Individual trainings held at each HEI and little collaboration is achieved at national level ▪ Few European-oriented courses on the integration of BIM and NZEB

Trainings available

FRAGMENTATION

▪ Lets start collaboration between other HEIs and VETs as well as essential interaction and collaboration with SMEs and industry

▪ Knowledge and information exchange/support with other current projects such as BIMEET, Fit-to-nZEB, eCentral, BIMplement, Net-UBIEP, BIM-speed, Renozeb, BIM4EEB, DigiPLACE and All.Construction Blueprint to work together and collectively on mutual issues

EU projects and initiatives

COLLABORATION /

EXCHANGE

Perception of advanced skills

▪ NZEB policies still seen as time consuming and expensive by the construction industry and SMEs▪ BIM advantages not realised in the construction sector except within the professional fields at

design stage and for large tender projects managed by larger construction companiesWRONG PERCEPTION

Project stages and output

Develop Micro-Learning Units

What we want to do

NZEB skill

BIM skills

➢ Blended Learning Format - Open Educational Resources (OERs)

across EU. Combination of blended, in-class, on-line and on-site

trainings.

➢ Flexibility of Learning Units - Short flexible Learning Units to be

used as stand-alone units or combined with existing modules.

➢ The combination of LUs to be changed to follow the changing

market’s needs in each country.

➢ Strengthen links between VET/HEI, R&D, industry and SMEs

using innovative digitalised technologies.

Pilots

BIMzeED innovative approach

29

▪ Open Educational Resources (OERs) for exploitation across EU

▪ Combination of in class, on-line and on-site

▪ Creation of an E-Learning Portal and Learning Toolkit

The innovative character of BIMzeED project is represented by:

BLENDED LEARNING FORMAT

FLEXIBILITY OF LEARNING

UNITS

INTERACTION between

HEI,VET and INDUSTRY

▪ Short flexible Learning Units to be used as stand-alone units, or added and combined with existing modules and programmes

▪ LUs can be grouped together to create specific modules

▪ The combination of Lus can be changed to follow the changing market’s needs

▪ Strengthen links between VET/HEI, R&D, industry and SMEs using innovative digitalised energy efficient technologies and installations

▪ creating connected learning communities (viewing case studies, on-site site visits, industry demonstrations)

BIMzeED impact

30

▪ Updated vision on the skills needs of the construction sector and database of existing trainings (Gap Analysis Roadmap Plan).

▪ Roadmap used by HEIs, VETs and SMEs to develop other supports, outside the frame of BIMzeED

▪ “Ready to use” Learning Units on nZEB and BIM compatible with HEIs / VET programmes, plus creation of two toolkits to enable adaptation onsite.

▪ Open access to an E-Learning portal for the dissemination of learning material available for all interested stakeholders (HEI/VET trainers, students, SMEs, industry related organisations)

Long term impact

▪ LUs to be rolled out across EU as standalone training information, grouped together as new accredited modules or added to existing EQF programmes.

▪ Better collaborative opportunities for HEIs and VETs to establish mutually recognised LUs and programmes across Europe, enabling the mobility of a mutually recognised skilled workforce

▪ General improvement of the construction sector image with increased attractiveness and competitiveness. Working with other EU funded projects and initiatives.

Short term impact

N. educators from HEI/VET per country (min 60)

N. industry representatives surveyed per country (min 100)

N. private construction products providers surveyed per country (min 40)

N. of training material downloaded

N. of HEIs, VET participating in BIMzeED training approach (min 120)IN

DIC

ATO

RS

N. of LUs available

Medium term impact

• Structuring of training material and content

using common LUs with standardised delivery

(in class, on-line, on-site) suitable for HEI and

VET training.

▪ Increased capacity of the HEI and VET sectors to develop and implement new education and training programmes in the field of BIM and nZEB, which are responsive to the fast changing sector

▪ Better training opportunities for students and SMEs with consequential gradual transfer of new skills in the construction market. Improvement of capacity building of the construction sector in increasing the human capital basis of its workforce

BUSLeague

Aim: is to address and overcome the challenges of the stimulation of demand for energy skilled workforce, along with hands-on capacity building to increase the number of skilled workforce across the building design, operation and maintenance value chain.

BUSLeague will achieve this by developing and implementing a cross European recognition of energy skills,together with upscaling successful training methods and techniques which have already been developed inprevious EU and National initiatives such as BUILD UP Skills, Construction Skills. BUSLeague focusses on a blend of four elements:

1. mutual recognition of energy skills, 2. awareness raising, 3. capacity building, 4. Legislative changes.

BUSLeague

Challenge is: ‘how to motivate and upskill the majority of workforce involved’

Challenge 1: Testing and Recognition of Skills

Challenge 2: Awareness by both the general public and workforce

Challenge 3: Lack of support / request for the skilled professional by the Public Authorities

Challenge 4: Lack of motivation, time and trainings

Challenge 5: Integration of new technologies and addressing new societal and technological trends

BUSLeague

Push Pull

BUSLeague

One –stop-Shop for trainings -White and Blue collar workers

Develop a Training Plan -White and Blue collar workers

Assess Workers Skills -Workers and Potential clients

Update and provide Future Trainings -Encourage further trainings and Create new rolesMutual Recognition of Workers across Europe-Reduce Skills Shortages BUSApp

So ➢ we have the training modules – digital, NZEB, circular economy, retrofit

➢ we have the training BUSApp

➢ We need the workforce to follow –Skills RecognitionQuality buildingImproved management and organisation (time and financial savings)

➢ What next?Construction Blueprint – The future of construction skills

Where is the construction industry going, Address skills shortages, mis-matches and gapsFunding and competiveness

Construction Blueprint Website:

http://constructionblueprint.eu/

Establishing a new Strategy on Construction Skills in Europe

COM (2016) 381. A new Skills agenda for Europe

Skills Blueprint for the Construction Industry

"In a rapidly evolving global context, capabilities determine, to a large extent, competitiveness and the talent to drive innovation"

General plan for sectorial cooperation on skills [...] sector skills alliances will be established, [...] needs detection and development of concrete solutions [...]

"40% of employers in Europe have trouble finding people with the skills they need to grow and innovate"

The All.Con project has a strong and diverse partnershipincorporating 3 EU sectorial umbrella organisations, namelyFIEC, EBC (construction companies’ representatives) andEFBWW (trade unions), 9 National sectorial representativesfrom 9 countries and 12 Vocational and Education Trainingproviders in construction. These 24 partners come from 12EU countries and will work together to develop a newsectorial strategic approach for cooperation on skills in theconstruction industry, supporting better matching betweenskill needs of companies and skills provided by trainingcenters.

The All.Construction Blueprint Project will drive acrucial change and invigorate the constructionindustry by addressing skills shortages, gaps andmismatches in the labour market through acommon EU Sectoral Skills Strategy. The projectwill address three key areas for the ConstructionIndustry: Energy Efficiency (EE) Digitalisation, andCircular economy (including bio-based andsecondary recycled products).

Key areas

Skills Blueprint for the Construction Industry

Digital Skills

Circular Economy

Energy Efficiency

Raise awareness and provide abasic upskilling on EnergyEfficiency, Digitalization andCircular Economy.

9 good practices and innovative initiatives ineach country tackling the gaps andmismatched skills. Also best practices to reapthe benefits of EU funding to supportdifferent career paths, mobility projects,entrepreneurship opportunities, etc.

Interactive Map

Observatory

Web-based tool that will be able to anticipate skills needs by using a Big Data methodology at national and regional level, by combining information from primary source (survey) and secondary ones. This tool will support partners in making decisions concerning training offer.

This Sustainable Sectorial Alliance is to establish a common framework that will

allow the whole sector at the European level to drive the needed changes

towards the same direction through the “WatchTower”.

Campaign to assist with Attractiveness and Mobility in the Construction Industry

The construction industry does not have a positive image and is not the career of choice for many when compared with other industries. Need to transform the construction industry into a career opportunity, Construction Blueprint proposes: promoting the attractiveness of the construction industry among youth and particularly among women, identify solutions to facilitate the mobility in Europe.

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Elisabeth.obrien@lit.ie

Thank you Any Questions?