Ao, Y; Peng, P; Li, M; Li, J; Wang, Y and Martek, I (2025) Empowering architecture, engineering and construction students through building information modeling competitions: a deep dive into behavioral motivation. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 32(7), pp. 4475-4494. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Building Information Modeling (BIM) competitions are a beneficial approach to enhance BIM education, offering students practical experience in BIM application, including mastering workflows and technical tools. However, research exploring the individual perceptions influencing participation intentions and behaviors in BIM competitions is limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors affecting university students' behavioral intention and behavior in BIM competitions, providing theoretical support for BIM competitions and educational reform. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework to analyze the factors influencing BIM competition participation among 970 Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) university students. Findings: The results of the study show that social influence, attitude, and self-efficacy play critical roles in shaping students' intentions to participate in BIM competitions. Furthermore, self-efficacy, facilitating conditions, and behavioral intention significantly influence students' actual engagement in such competitions. Surprisingly, effort expectancy negatively influences intentions, as less challenging tasks can lead students to perceive their participation as less impactful on their skills and learning, reducing their behavioral intention to participate. Originality/value: This research provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of BIM competitions in enhancing BIM education for AEC students. Extending the UTAUT model to include self-efficacy and attitude, provides a novel perspective for understanding students' intentions and behaviors regarding BIM competitions. The study's theoretical support proposes incorporating BIM competitions to augment BIM teaching methods and offers suggestions for advancing the efficacy of students' involvement in BIM competitions within higher education, thus contributing to educational reform in the AEC sector.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | behavioral intention; building information modeling competition; engineering education; self-efficacy |
| Index terms: | engineering education, higher education, building information modelling, modelling, self-efficacy, effectiveness, teaching method, motivation, university student, workflow, competition, methodology |
| Subjects: | market analysis, professional education, research methods, analytical methods, psychology, curriculum design, human factors and perception, information systems, educational institutions, teaching methods, management, performance management |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Education, Quality Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Digital Applications, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here