Deepening Belt and Road Educational Cooperation: Glodon and Partners Advance Digital Construction Education in Malaysia

Recently, Song Yuhua, Dean of the School of Smart Cities and Transportation, Chongqing Vocational College of Applied Technology, and Li Xing, Director of the Office of External Cooperation, along with An Qi, Director of International Cooperation for Digital Education at Glodon, and Cheng Mingyi, International Cooperation Manager, to form a delegation that traveled to Malaysia for a series of exchange visits. 

The delegation visited the MyBIM Center under the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) of Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Tunku Abdul Rahman (TARUMT), and the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM). They engaged in in-depth discussions on core topics including the development of digital construction education, industry digital transformation, industry-education integration practices, and deepening international cooperation. These efforts have built a solid foundation for practical collaboration between China and Malaysia in relevant fields.

Visit to CIDB MyBIM Center: Focus on Digital Transformation in Construction and Technical Training Cooperation

The delegation's first stop was the CIDB MyBIM Center, Malaysia's core education and training platform for advancing digital transformation in the construction industry. The center is responsible for promoting BIM technology, cultivating industry digital capabilities, and implementing information technology strategies. Mr. Sharifudin Umar, Chief of Division - Corporate Business Development CIDB E-Construct Services Sdn. Bhd., and his team warmly welcomed and provided a detailed overview of the center's progress in establishing BIM technical standards, building industrial training systems, demonstrating enterprise digital applications, and shaping policy frameworks.

The delegation also shared insights from China's vocational institutions, including:

- Developing digital construction curriculum frameworks

- Establishing industry-education integration training bases

- Implementing collaborative school-enterprise talent development models.

Anqi also introduced Glodon BIM's comprehensive digital education ecosystem solutions, spanning software tools to professional training, teaching resources to industry collaboration. Both parties identified key collaboration opportunities: CIDB aims to leverage China's construction robotics training expertise to address Malaysia's smart construction and robotics application needs, and plans to conduct an on-site visit to Glodon educational training labs in China.  

 

Visit to TARUMT: Advancing Industry-Education Integration and Faculty-Student International Exchange

The delegation visited TARUMT. Discussions were attended by Ts. Dr. Wong Wai Fang, Dean, Faculty of Built Environment, and Mr. Ooi Hwee Jin, Department of International Student Office. The delegation learned that TARUMT has strong expertise in engineering, built environment, and technology, coupled with a well-established international education cooperation system, laying a solid foundation for trilateral collaboration

During the exchange, Anqi introduced Glodon's achievements in digital cost management, BIM education, and the implementation of smart construction teaching scenarios. The three parties reached a consensus: deepening industry-education integration can enhance students' professional capabilities and international employment competitiveness. The delegation also toured campus facilities and training labs, including the jointly established BIM training lab, engineering technology laboratories, architectural teaching spaces, and student innovation platforms.

TARUMT outlined specific cooperation directions: plans include faculty and student exchange programs, joint training for international skills competitions, professional development for educators and collaborative curriculum development, and joint project development in green building and low-carbon construction. A tripartite/multilateral MOU is proposed to establish a long-term cooperative mechanism.

 

Visit to the RISM: Exploring Industry Certification and Joint Talent Development

On the same day, the delegation visited RISM, where President Sr. Wan Ainon Zuraiha Wan Khalid and QS Divisional Secretary Sr. Saravanan Subramaniam received them. They also specially invited professors and over 40 faculty and students from the University of Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to attend, enriching the dimensions of academic and industry interaction.

At the meeting, the QS Divisional Secretary of RISM introduced the background, organizational structure, and core role—fostering high-caliber talent for Malaysia's construction and cost management sectors through an “industry certification + professional training” system. Its rigorous certification processes and standards drew keen interest from the visiting delegation.

Anqi, Director of international collaboration at Glodon shared Glodon's digital construction education initiatives: including industry-academia integration training bases, smart construction curriculum systems, industry case repositories, and digital talent development programs. China's experience garnered widespread attention from both faculty and students.

RISM and UNIMAS expressed clear intentions for collaboration: - Joint student training programs and short-term exchanges - Faculty capacity building and mutual visits - Professional training in cost and surveying disciplines - Mutual recognition of industry certifications and collaborative research

The recent series of visits to Malaysia has laid a solid foundation for collaboration between Chongqing Vocational College of Applied Technology, Glodon Digital Education, and local association, universities/colleges, and enterprises. All parties have reached broad consensus in areas such as digital construction education, international talent development, industrial digital transformation, and the implementation of industry-education integration. Moving forward, they will drive the implementation of more practical projects, deepen the integration of education and industry between China and Malaysia under the Belt and Road Initiative, and achieve mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.