Building Sciences Forum champions innovation and collaboration

Students from Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) were challenged to look beyond traditional approaches to construction and find new ways of addressing challenges in the built environment at the Next Generation Built Environment Forum, hosted by the Department of Building Sciences. The forum also saw the launch of a student competition aimed at turning innovative ideas into practical solutions.

CIDB CEO Bongani Dladla spoke on the importance of building a strong professional reputation. Held at the Pretoria campus on 29 October, the forum brought together students, academics and industry professionals under the theme “Build. Innovate. Transform”.

One of the highlights was the launch of the Buildathon Competition by the Head of the Department of Building Sciences, Dr Rudzani Muthelo. The competition invites students to form multidisciplinary teams and develop practical, innovative solutions to challenges in the built environment.

“Students will work in teams of 10, bringing together different FEBE disciplines and study levels to develop solutions around four key themes: turning waste into infrastructure, smart and sustainable campuses, adaptive reuse, and AI and the future of construction,” said Dr Muthelo.

With industry mentorship, expert guidance and incubation opportunities, students will have the chance to develop and refine their ideas, with the winning team due to be announced at the 2027 forum.

Dr Muthelo emphasised the importance of moving ideas beyond the classroom and creating opportunities for students to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.

In her welcoming address, FEBE Assistant Dean for Teaching and Learning, Prof Caroline Khoathane, highlighted the importance of cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional collaboration in addressing complex societal challenges.

Building Sciences HOD Dr Rudzani Muthelo launched the Buildathon Competition. “We cannot work in silos if we want to solve complex societal challenges,” she said, adding that universities have a responsibility to produce future-ready graduates who can adapt to a rapidly changing world and use their knowledge to drive positive societal impact.

Delivering the keynote address, Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) CEO Bongani Dladla called for stronger connections between university knowledge and the practical needs of the construction industry.

“The future of South Africa’s construction industry depends on how effectively we connect the knowledge developed in our universities with the practical needs of industry,” he said.

He encouraged students to look beyond their chosen disciplines and embrace collaboration, noting that construction projects require professionals with diverse areas of expertise. He also urged them to work hard and build a strong professional reputation from the start of their careers.

FEBE Assistant Dean Prof Caroline Khoathane challenged the university community to embrace collaboration. Another keynote speaker, Prof Amira Osman, challenged the audience to rethink how African cities are designed and who they serve.

Opening her presentation, Where is Wakanda? Who is T’Challa? The Sustainable African City Re-imagined as a Liveable and Lovable City, she said: “Create inhuman environments and people will respond likewise.”

She argued that space is never neutral; it has the power to exclude, humiliate and intimidate, but can also make people feel valued and included. With apartheid-era spatial planning still shaping cities, she called on Africans to draw from their own histories, cultures and heritage to create cities that are equitable, beautiful, functional and welcoming.