A new report “Timber in Construction Academic Survey” by the Timber in Construction Steering Group evaluates the current approach in Ireland to teaching engineers and architects in third level institutions on the use of timber in construction. Recommendations are provided on the academic supports needed for timber in construction and the growing need to include much more timber content in the core syllabus of third level courses.
Timber in Construction Academic Research Report
The Report identified Key Action points:
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1. There needs to be an integrated strategic roadmap for development of timber
in construction, incorporating academia and teaching best practice.
2. There is a need to agree routes to encouraging timber in construction in both
architecture and engineering courses by:
✓ Making timber a core module
✓ Starting with timber – developing a base foundation level in timber.
3. Provide exemplars, case studies and a central repository of education and
training material for academics and design practitioners through a single
centralised asset resource.
4. Provide up-to-date practical materials, calculators and stats, in an easy to find
accessible way, in line with the academic year and tailored to specific courses.
5. Use new tech and alternative approaches to keep it fresh and up to date for
students such as augmented and virtual reality, videos, graphics and imagery.
6. Institutions working closely together with industry and suppliers, leading to
integration into academic supports and promotion.
7. Create a forum for industry and academia to collaborate.
8. Government to provide multi-annual funding to support industry initiatives and
the establishment of a centralised asset resource.
And set out Jobs to be Done:
1. Practical
❑ Establish, resource and manage central
repository for all education, training &
promotion activity.
❑ Assets to be developed to include:
✓ Lecture notes on timber topics to
comprise minimum basic
foundation level training
✓ Lecture notes tailored for specific
courses (e.g. surveyors)
✓ Up-to-date stats, easy to use
calculators and guides
✓ Case studies
✓ Exemplar buildings
❑ Industry provision of raw material for
testing
❑ Lab supports to be made available to all
2. Strategic
❑ Tap into the existing interest in
sustainability and circular economy,
creating a link to forests and wood
supported by promotional material
❑ Industry support from sponsorship to
site visits, to closer ties with academics
❑ Develop guest lecture programme,
seminar series, webinars, etc, for
students and CPDs for lecturers.
❑ Develop links with Skillsnet and others
to support funding.
❑ All Government approach needed to
support timber in construction across
various departments e.g. education,
planning, codes, grants, industry
supports, with long term planning and
multi-year funding and a centralised
driving force.
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