Outcome of UMPSA expertise, national contingent wins gold and Best of Nation in Digital Construction

TAIPEI, 30 November 2025 – Outcomes from intensive guidance and support by the Director of the Building Information Modelling Innovation and Knowledge Hub Centre (BIM Centre), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Tarmizi Haron, who is also the National Chief Expert, together with the Technical Executive of the BIM Centre, Ts. Muhammad Syaiful Safwan Nordin, as National Expert, and instructor at Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara (KKTM) Sri Gading, Mohamad Fazil Jamaluddin, who also served as National Coach, became the decisive factors in the national success when KKTM Sri Gading alumnus, Muhamad Nashrul Zulkifli, successfully won the gold medal and was crowned Best of Nation for Skills 58 – Digital Construction at the WorldSkills Asia (WSA) Competition held in Taipei.

This success is made even more special as Digital Construction was contested for the first time in the history of WSA, thus marking the nation’s capability to compete at the global level in the era of construction industry digitalisation.

In fact, it also proves that Malaysia not only possesses young talent with high potential, but also universities capable of providing structured training platforms and international expertise, thereby placing the nation on the Asian Digital Construction skills map.

According to Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Tarmizi, this competition not only demanded high-level technical skills but also tested participants’ mental resilience.

“The cold weather in Taipei posed a significant challenge to comfort, causing rest disruption and emotional pressure on participants.

“Furthermore, several minor incidents also occurred, including light accidents while bathing due to hot water pipes.

“In addition, communication challenges arose when participants were required to interact in English with experts from other countries throughout the competition,” he said.

From the technical aspect, he explained that several competition questions were considered tricky and required critical thinking skills in line with the requirements of the Test Project as well as the BIM Execution Plan.

“Nevertheless, the participant’s strengths proved to be the catalyst for national success, namely through the intensive and systematic training provided, which enabled Nashrul to master Digital Construction components more solidly.

“Experience working in the BIM field also helped strengthen confidence in carrying out tasks under pressure.

“Nashrul is a diligent participant, easy to guide, and always committed to training instructions, thereby accelerating the absorption of the required skills,” he said.

He added that this success cannot be separated from the role of UMPSA, which serves as the main backbone of Digital Construction talent development in Malaysia.

“Through the UMPSA BIM Centre, the institution not only plays a major role as the technical lead organiser in preparing the Test Project, competition infrastructure list, and strategic documents such as the Skill Management Plan, but also serves as the national centre of excellence for the Digital Construction field.

“UMPSA is also involved in the development of WorldSkills modules, preparation of digital construction skills frameworks, training of national participants, and management of equipment, sponsors, and industry partners.

“This team brings extensive experience from previous participations such as WorldSkills Lyon 2025 and the Belt & Road International Skills Competition in Chongqing,” he explained.

Ts. Muhammad Syaiful Safwan described Malaysia’s victory as deeply moving because it clearly proves the capability of local talent to compete on par with developed nations such as Korea, Japan, and China.

“Participant selection was carried out through the WorldSkills Malaysia Belia (WSMB) competition organised by the Ministry of Works, with Nashrul emerging as national champion before defeating regional competitors in the ASEAN TVET Friendly Match 2025.

“Malaysia’s strength lies in the combination of UMPSA’s experience in BIM projects since 2014, technical expertise, and structured training methodology tailored to international competition standards.

“Throughout preparations, the team faced major challenges including high competency requirements covering ISO 19650, preparation of deliverables, model coordination, and industrial information management,” he said.

He further explained that the tight training schedule also demanded significant time sacrifice, requiring a balance between work duties, testing sessions, and technical training.

“Preparation of competition strategy was also prioritised because the assessment format differs from actual industry practices.

“Intensive training was conducted both online and physically, with the use of pre-recorded videos, periodic assessments, and full-time placement of the participant at KKTM Sri Gading two weeks before departure to Taipei as a final sprint.

“In evaluating Malaysia’s performance compared to other countries, he explained that Nashrul demonstrated a very high level of technical accuracy and discipline.

“Each task was completed with strategies designed daily, ensuring that the participant was always prepared for the next module,” he said.

The gold and Best of Nation victory symbolises Malaysia’s capability to become a new benchmark, while opening opportunities for greater collaboration and investment in Digital Construction talent development.

This success carries great significance for Malaysia as it confirms that the nation’s talent development and BIM ecosystem are on the right track.

For UMPSA, it highlights the university’s capability as a leader in producing highly skilled workforce and contributing to the national Industry 4.0 agenda.

Ts. Muhammad Syaiful Safwan added that Nashrul is seen as an example of the next-generation successor capable of carrying the increasingly demanding industry requirements for a BIM-skilled workforce, especially following the issuance of a government circular mandating the use of BIM for public projects valued at RM10 million and above.

“The national technical team is now focusing on refining weaknesses, strengthening training strategies, and developing a more structured talent pipeline for the next generation.

“UMPSA sees the need to enhance industry collaboration, strengthen training modules, and expand young talent participation so that Malaysia can maintain momentum as a competitive nation in Digital Construction,” he said.

He added that the future of this field in Malaysia over the next five to ten years is very progressive, with increased adoption of BIM, integration of Digital Twin, IoT, AI, and automation in project management.

“Malaysia is expected to produce more local experts, increase participation in global competitions, and build a construction industry that is more productive, efficient, and data-driven.

“Young generations must always be brave to try, diligent in learning, and consistent in building skills because success in Digital Construction demands systematic thinking, mastery of standards, and high training discipline.

“With spirit and perseverance, they not only have the potential to achieve success, but also to become future leaders in the nation’s digital transformation,” he said.

Appreciation was also extended to the Ministry of Works (KKR) as the lead agency, as well as CIDB MyBIM Centre and BIMAGE Consulting as sponsors who greatly assisted in ensuring the success of the national team’s preparations, while KKTM Sri Gading served as the final sprint training centre by providing the necessary facilities and technical support, as well as Pertubuhan BIM Malaysia, Jabatan Kerja Raya Malaysia, and CIDB Malaysia, friends, and family members who continuously provided unwavering support.

This success also catalyses Malaysia’s preparation for a larger competition, namely WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.

By: Nur Hartini Mohd Hatta, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Ts. Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press