Understanding BIM Adoption: A Study of Usefulness, Ease of Use, and Attitude Among Malaysian Polytechnic Students

Abstract

This study investigates the willingness of polytechnic students in Malaysia to embrace and apply Building Information Modelling (BIM) in their learning and training. Although BIM is increasingly used in architecture and construction, there is a dearth of research focusing on students' attitudes regarding its application throughout their education. This gap in the literature is addressed by exploring the relationship between students' characteristics and their intention to utilize BIM, as well as the perceived usefulness and ease of use factors influencing this attitude towards using BIM. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework, the study analyses the perceptions of 418 civil engineering polytechnic students on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of BIM, indicating that these perceptions influence technology acceptance. Statistical Package for Social Sciences 20 (SPSS) and Smart PLS 4.0 were used to analyze data for this study. Findings indicate that students have a moderately positive attitude toward BIM usage.. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating BIM education into civil engineering curricula at polytechnics and higher education institutions in Malaysia. By enhancing BIM training, educators can foster positive attitudes and increase proficiency in BIM, facilitating its broader adoption in academic and industrial settings..

Key words:  Building Information Modelling, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use,

attitude towards use, Technology Acceptance Model