1. George Heaney
Professor of Construction
A Partnership Approach to Tackling
Strategic Construction Initiatives

2. Personal Profile
• Third generation ‘builder’
• Like the industry
• Like academic life
• Want to contribute to the development of:
 People – students & construction professionals
 Processes – efficient project delivery
 Product – the Built Environment, making a difference
to people

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. University contribution to industry partnering
• Educated workforce – Graduates and Continuous
Professional Development
• Knowledge broker
• Research and Development
• Consultancy
• ‘Honest broker’ role
• Facilitation
• Dissemination

8. Example – Constructing Excellence
UK brand, 12 centres
Local Centre referred
to as CEni
CEni
A partnership between the Construction Industry, NI Government
Construction Clients and the University of Ulster

9. 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

10. Examples of CEni Engagement
Professional
Development
Programmes

11. Examples of CEni Engagement
Conferences

12. Examples of CEni Engagement
Political Engagement

13. Examples of CEni Engagement
Demonstration Projects

14. Examples of CEni Engagement
Reports

15. 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

16. 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