It’s a mini adventure

The annual event brings universities, contractors and consultants together for a week-long field course on which participants construct small versions of bridges, buildings, dams and civil engineering projects. The Swiss Re tower, dubbed the Gherkin (pictured), and the underground station at Naples airport, were among those chosen as case studies this year.

The course is designed to complement exams by linking theory to the reality of construction.

At the end of the week – the sixth of seven sessions held this year – students are assessed in terms of budgetary control, methodology and timely completion.

Robin Holdsworth, Constructionarium’s scheme manager, commented: ‘The practical experience of working on site is invaluable for students. It provides practical skills and experience and hopefully encourages students to stay within the industry.

‘These are ‘live’ projects,’ adds Holdsworth. ‘The students are organised into teams of 20 which must look after all aspects of the build. That means one is appointed project manager, for example. They learn the hard way – sometimes the concrete might not be on hand or the steel arrives late. One year, one group had a disaster and they didn’t manage to build their structure.’

The format has proved a success and several universities have signed up for future events.

‘Dundee, Salford, Portsmouth and Southampton have all signed for next year,’ says Holdsworth, who adds that overseas universities are also looking to participate.

At this year’s event more than 600 students, from seven different universities, have been working together with employees from 14 construction firms.