How universities plan the construction site of the future
The HWZ in Zurich and Mainz University of Applied Sciences are joining forces to make the construction industry more digitally fit. The focus is on new study and further education courses at the interface of real estate, data and the built environment. This will give companies better access to expertise and talent for BIM, digital processes and new business models.
The HWZ and Mainz University of Applied Sciences are explicitly focusing their cooperation on the interface between the real estate industry, digitalization and the built environment. In future, joint study programs and further education courses will cover topics such as digital planning and construction, data management in existing buildings and digital business models in the real estate environment. The target group is students and professionals who move between project development, operations and technology.
Education and further training under one roof
Specifically, the partners want to develop new formats for both regular studies and further training. Joint modules, exchange semesters or certified programs that combine content from both universities are conceivable. The focus is on reciprocal transfer. Students should benefit from the different regulatory contexts and market logics in Switzerland and Germany, while lecturers develop their expertise in cross-border projects.
Focus on data, processes and new value creation
In terms of content, both universities are focusing on the transformation of data, processes, technologies and value creation models. The focus is on the question of how planning, construction and operation are changing with digital twins, platforms and networked sensor systems. At the same time, the cooperation addresses classic pain points in the industry, fragmented information flows, media disruptions between planning and management and the difficulty of building robust business cases from building data.
Partner to companies instead of just a training centre
In this collaboration, the HWZ and Mainz University of Applied Sciences expressly see themselves as service providers for companies and organizations. They want to support companies in the construction and real estate sector in their transformation. For example, through applied research, project laboratories or customized further training. The cooperation is intended to bring the universities closer to the reality of companies and, conversely, give practitioners more direct access to scientifically sound approaches.
How the industry benefits
For the construction industry and the real estate sector, this creates an additional anchor point in the training of specialists and managers. There is a demand for profiles that understand construction processes, can handle data and digital tools with confidence and can think along with new business models. The Zurich-Mainz alliance is aimed precisely at this type of transition. For companies that want to make their teams fit for BIM, digital services or data-based portfolio management, the range of tailor-made, in-service training courses is growing.