Education and the digital built environment in the spotlight
Academics from across the UK and Ireland met at Salford University’s MediaCityUK campus on Thursday 16 April 2026 to discuss how best to relaunch the group previously known as the BIM Academic Forum (BAF, see 9 February 2026 news).
Welcoming delegates, BAF chair and event host Professor Jason Underwood gave an overview of the group’s history from 2011, and its parallel development alongside the UK BIM Task Group and, from 2016, the UK BIM Alliance (now nima).
nima vice chair for upskilling and education, Paul Woddy (profile) then talked about plans to update the Learning Outcomes Framework, and to reconstitute the Forum, before Professor Sarah Davidson (of Nottingham University) facilitated a detailed discussion about how to relaunch and restructure the group and its activities.
Steering group to agree new name and next actions
A healthy debate followed about the continued relevance of the term ‘BIM’, whether the name should include ‘academic’ or ‘education’ or have wider aspirations, and how to identify the focus of the group’s work in the built and managed environment. Aided by some online voting, there was strong backing to drop the existing name, but no clear consensus on what the relaunched group should be called. Volunteers were invited to join a steering group to agree a new name and to identify actions and a programme of future events around the UK to help the group move foward. Plans were outlined to:
- provide a coordinated response to the ongoing consultation regarding revisions to Parts 1 and 2 of ISO 19650 (news)
- produce a ‘State of the Nation” report on the information management education landscape
- promote discussion between industry, educators and qualification awarding/ accreditation bodies about ensuring current courses deliver competent individuals meeting employers’ needs, and
- explore how to widen the talent pool available to the built environment sector.
Paul Woddy said:
“Given that the forum has not met for some time, it was exciting to see the clear enthusiasm to refresh and reinvigorate it. While we resolve the name issue, we are already planning the next event, provisionally in November 2026, and then a regular series of events starting in 2027, with February, May/June and November being calendar staples going forwards.
“There was a strong consensus on being an inclusive network embracing all elements of the education landscape, from schools and FE colleges, through higher education to training providers and trade and professional associations, while also engaging with employers, government, technology providers (including Trimble and Autodesk, who sponsored this latest meeting) and other stakeholders. This is in line with the nima objective to be the hub of all things IM and I am pleased that we are able to facilitate these important conversations.”
Nima will share further details about the group and its activities as it evolves.
- Relaunching the BIM Academic Forum, April 2026 – YouTube video playlist
- Nima education and upskilling strategy, March 2026 presentation by Paul Woddy:
