A Milestone in Building Future Construction Leaders

25 October 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The 11th CIDB-CIOB Youth Arena Convention Malaysia 2025 successfully concluded today at the CIDB Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, marking a significant milestone in International Construction Week (ICW) and BuildXpo 2025’s commitment to cultivating future-ready talent in the construction industry.

Over the two-day event (24–25 October), the Youth Arena Convention united 280 students and academics from 11 universities nationwide, alongside industry professionals and policymakers.

Under the theme “Beyond BIM: Driving Digital Construction with CDE and Intelligent Technologies,” the convention featured engaging forums, innovative challenges, and collaborative activities designed to equip the next generation of construction professionals with the skills and mindset necessary for Construction 4.0.

Officiated by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan, Deputy Minister of Works, the event was co-organised by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Malaysia, with institutional support from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT).

In his keynote address, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan emphasised the importance of embracing digital tools and fostering innovation in construction, stating: “The transformation towards ‘Beyond BIM’ will only succeed through strong leadership, collaboration, and a proactive mindset — especially from our future construction leaders.”

The Youth Arena Convention featured dynamic activities such as the AI Quest Challenge 2.0, Paper Plane Challenge: Beyond BIM Edition, and Future Builders: AI-Generated Video Challenge. Participants benefited from networking opportunities with leading professional bodies, including the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM), Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM), Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (REHDA), Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM), and Malaysia Green Building Council (mGBC).

The event also celebrated excellence through the presentation of the CIOB Malaysia Best Student Award, recognising outstanding academic achievement and leadership potential among emerging professionals.

Beyond the convention, ICW 2025 showcased prominent youth competitions that highlight technical excellence and creative ingenuity.

As part of the Digital Construction Summit 2025, the international BIM Challenge attracted over 500 students from Malaysia and Indonesia’s Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya (POLSRI). Themed ‘Pioneering the Future of Smart Construction,’ participants engaged in real-time BIM tasks, integrating architectural, structural, and MEP elements within strict timeframes. The competition aimed to deepen understanding of BIM technology, aligned with Construction 4.0, and included industry talks, BIM Awareness Day, and awards for top performers across various categories.

Organised under BINA 2025 and hosted by CIDB IBS, this design challenge invited students to conceptualise modular city zones using Industrialised Building Systems (IBS) principles. This year’s theme focused on developing a “Mini BINA City” supporting Malaysia’s sustainable construction agenda. Sixteen TVET institutions participated, with shortlisted teams presenting their models at BuildXpo from 28 to 30 October.

Organised by the Malaysian Structural Steel Association (MSSA) in partnership with CIDB Malaysia and PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd, this competition challenged architecture and civil engineering students to propose innovative solutions for urban resilience through digital and sustainable design. The focus was on reimagining Stadium Negara’s renovation using steel, BIM, CDE, and intelligent technologies. Finalists will be showcased during ICW & BuildXpo 2025, with the top five teams sharing RM28,000 in cash prizes.

These initiatives underscore Malaysia’s strategic focus on digitalisation, sustainability, and technical excellence, aligning with the National Construction Policy 2030 and the Construction 4.0 Strategic Plan. Through continued investment in youth development, Malaysia is paving the way for a future construction industry that is innovative, resilient, and sustainable.