Kickstarting nima’s upskilling and education drive
Following his summer 2025 appointment as nima vice chair for upskilling and education, Paul Woddy (September 2025 profile) aims to develop an updated Learning Outcomes Framework, and to reconstitute the group previously known as the BIM Academic Forum. To push both objectives forward, he is currently looking to engage with professionals from across the education and training space via a series of online and face-to-face gatherings.
Updating the Learning Outcomes Framework
Paul Woddy says:
“One part of our plan is to take a different, more detailed approach to a Learning Outcomes Framework that encompasses all aspects of the IM lifecycle, from as many perspectives as possible. I want to create a master list of all IM-related actions, responsibilities and deliverables, which we can filter in order to signpost people towards what they need to know, specifically for their job role.
“The overall intention is to define tailored curricula for each niche persona and make training more relatable and relevant. The first stage of this work is to get groups of knowledgeable people together around a table – or several tables over the coming months – to review the concept and the work done to-date. I would then ask for volunteers to step up and take a detailed look at a small section of the matrix we have, specifically looking at the IM tasks and responsibilities for their profession. We can then recompile the master list and take it to a wider group for validation. Once done, we have a number of use-cases defined for the data, but we can discuss this when we meet.”
Two face-to-face meetings about the Learning Outcomes Framework have been organised to start the process, one at Buro Happold’s office in central London on 11 February 2026, and one at BDP’s office in central Manchester on 25 February 2026. A virtual gathering will also be convened in March for those unable to attend the North or South meetings. Phase two will involve more gatherings with a wider group (dates TBC).
Reinvigorating an education forum for information management
Originally established in 2011 to bridge the gap between industry need and higher education delivery, the BIM Academic Forum played a key role in advancing digital construction education across the UK. Since then, the built environment has evolved rapidly – from information management and BIM to AI, automation, MMC and emerging digital practices – and education has also had to evolve.
Paul aims to bring together secondary, FE and HE educators, professional bodies, industry partners and digital leaders to redefine the Forum’s purpose, refresh its remit, and strengthen its role in influencing skills, standards and education for the digital built environment. Paul continues:
“With Professor Jason Underwood of Salford University, we are planning a face-to-face conference to be held at Salford’s MediaCity on 16 April 2026. The intent is to reinvigorate the forum, review its purpose and remit, and launch various research projects to explore the current and future capability and capacity in the educational supply chain. The long-term goal would to expand into an international forum, run by and for its members.
Delegates will comprise people involved in secondary/FE/HE teaching, curriculum development, research, or skills strategy in the built environment. If you want to join the relaunch and help shape the future of digital construction education, please register your interest.
