Behavioural intention to use building information modelling (BIM) in architecture curriculum among community colleges in Malaysia

Abstract

The use of new technology including building information modelling (BIM) has become important as tools in most architectural and constructions projects. Given this circumstances, BIM education curriculums was developed and implemented in many higher learning institutions including in community colleges of Malaysia. Even though behavioural intention to adopt BIM in the industry has been investigated, its acceptance and intention to use for students during training at higher learning institutions (HLI) has yet to be established. It is also important to investigate to what extend students in the HLI are willing to accept this new technology and use it. It is useful to find the factors that influence the behavioural intention to use BIM and the extent of these influence. Hence, this study was intended to examine the behavioural intention to use BIM among community colleges students. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the students’ behavioural intention to use BIM was deliberated by factors such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitude towards the use of BIM in classrooms. This study examined the levels of the three factors which act as independent variables and the intention to use this technology as the dependent variable. It specifically answer the question of ‘Do perceived usefulness, perceive ease of use and attitude influence the intention to use BIM among students community colleges in Malaysia?’ in order to clarify whether these variables could influence their intention to use BIM. This study employed a quantitative approach using survey questionnaire method. 144 community college students from the north, south, east and west zones all over Malaysia who were undertaking the Architectural program participated in this study. The findings showed that the respondents’ behavioural intention towards BIM usage was high. They perceived that BIM as useful, easy to use and their attitude towards BIM were very positive. The result also implied that the intention to use BIM was 79% influenced by perceived usefulness, ease of use and attitude to use BIM. More importantly, all the independent variables were positive and highly correlated with behavioural intention to use BIM. For future study, the researcher recommends applying other determinants of intention to use, employing mixed-method approach in longitudinal research and using a larger sample for the study for a more detail result. The results of the study may provide insight to educators, human resources sectors and policymakers in decision making of adoption of BIM in education. Key words: perceived useful, perceived ease of used, attitude, intention behaviour, building information modelling