NEWS, PARTNERSHIPS
CIT delivers more for construction students with win-win industry collaboration
Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) partnered with Simpel to provide students with a unique learning experience that blended classroom training, a structured worksite visit, and hands-on exposure to Simpel’s construction management software.
Katie O'Mara | Published on 10 September 2024
Practical application of construction theory
Lead by Tony Cowlishaw, Head of Department, Building & Construction Management at Canberra Institute of Technology, the goal of the collaboration was to provide students, studying Building and Construction, with first-hand experience of the construction environment, before they graduate.
Passionate about delivering industry-aligned training paired with practical worksite experience, Tony’s vision is to provide a cohesive learning environment that will equip his students with skills that give them an advantage in the workplace once they graduate.
“We’re bringing students to construction sites so they have a much better understanding of the operational applications within an industry they are all happy to be a part of”
Tony Cowlishaw
Head of Department
CIT Building and Construction Management, Engineering and Design
Classroom sessions...
CIT students kicked off on an early Saturday morning at Woden, Canberra, where the new CIT Campus building was under construction by Lendlease.
The day started with a deep dive into a tower crane installation. Led by Morgan Sidwell, Site Manager at Lendlease, the session outlined safety protocols, installation setup, resourcing and assembly processes.
Taking learning out of the classroom and onto the worksite
A first taste of construction management software
The students then moved to the project turnstiles where Simpel’s team provided instruction on completion of compliance; including SWMS, digital worksite inductions, and sign offs. Simpel's construction management software was already being used to manage safety and site access on the project, so Brayden Stolfa and Peter Ciceran showed students how to set up their own profile on Simpel. This is called a Simpel Passport - it equips users with their own unique profile page and QR code that they manage and use across worksites. The CIT students used their smartphones to create their profile and to display a temporary QR code which was scanned at the turnstile to gain entry to the CIT worksite for the day.
Applying theory to a practical worksite
Morgan, from Lendlease, then took the lead for a site-walk which focused on the practical set up and considerations of the crane installation - helping the students to bridge the gap between theory and practice and solidifying their learning within a real-world context.
The collaboration is a game-changer
CIT's partnership with Simpel is a prime example of how education and industry collaboration can work together to address the skills gap and further empower the workforce to drive positive change within the construction industry.
“Theory is well and good in some ways but most people in construction are more practically based so actually seeing the work being undertaken and having the experts like Morgan and other people we work with in the industry talk to the students about solutions… and how they solve problems - from an industry perspective they are more adaptable and more prepared for what is involved in the job that they are hoping to undertake.”
Tony Cowlishaw
Head of Department, CIT Building and Construction Management
Engineering and Design
The benefits of a CIT construction education
- Job-ready graduates
Students gain valuable on-site experience and digital exposure that translates directly to the realities of working in construction - Bridging the skills gap
A more comprehensive educational approach directly addresses the industry's need for workers who can seamlessly connect traditional construction methods with the latest technologies. - Expanded career opportunities
By combining immersive worksite visits with hands-on training in industry-leading construction management software CIT graduates stand to gain a distinct advantage in the job market.
Beyond individual benefits, this collaboration fosters industry-wide transformation
- Change from the ground up: New CIT graduates with a blend of digital experience and real-world experience can play a pivotal role in helping construction companies navigate digital transformation within their teams.
- Broader industry transformation: By exposing students to both established practices and cutting-edge technology like Simpel, CIT is paving the way for a more digitally-savvy construction sector overall -paves the way for broader digital adoption across the construction sector.
We're proud to support the next generation of construction leaders
The team at Simpel were thrilled to be a part of this collaboration with CIT. We're confident that CIT graduates, equipped with both practical experience gained through the support of Lendlease, and familiarity in tools like Simpel, will be well-positioned to lead the construction industry of tomorrow.
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