The CIOB Global Student Challenge Returns for 2018

The annual CIOB Global Student Challenge has now opened for registration for the 2018 competition.

Since 2014, the competition has challenged built environment students to run their own virtual construction company – with the very best after six weeks of competition given the opportunity to compete in the tense finals that, for the last four years, have been held in Hong Kong.

In this, the fifth year of running the competition, there have been some changes made to the format to ensure the competition remains the best.

Announcing a new stage: The Foundation Years.

Previously known as the free trial period, it’s been noted in the last few years that the teams who do well in the competition are the ones who have made the most of the trial period. With this in mind, we’ve introduced the name Foundation Years to establish this period of time as the official starting phase of the competition.

Following on from the Foundation Years, which take place in February 2018, will be the Early Years stage, which has a first submission date of 20 March 2018. The Early Years end on 24 April 2018, with the top six ranking teams announced as the finalists the following day.

The biggest change is that the July finals are being moved from Hong Kong for the first time. Instead, the finals will be hosted in Toronto.

In 2016, the Global Student Challenge finals were held in Hong Kong alongside another CIOB event – Members Forum. When Members Forum moved to Cardiff in 2017, the Global Student Challenge finals remained in Hong Kong, but in 2018 both events will once again be run alongside each other - in Toronto. 

What that means for the finals is that as well as competing to win the Global Student Challenge title, finalists will also be able to take part in Members Forum activities and network with senior construction professionals from around the world. 

Finally, the entry requirements have been amended slightly and the competition for 2018 will only be open to full-time students. However, there remains an allowance of one postgraduate member per team as in previous years.

The competition is open to students studying a degree in the built environment. All finalists and their university tutor will be flown out to Toronto, with all expenses paid. The winners receive mentoring from senior construction professionals; this includes past CIOB presidents and a cash prize of £2000 for the winning team. 

Global Student Challenge 2018 timeline

Open for entry – 6 November 2017

The Foundation Years start – February 2018

The Early Years first submission – 20 March 2018

Finalists announced – 25 April 2018

Finals in Toronto – July 2018