It was a long shot but it was a hole in one. On July 12, three graduating students from the Honours Bachelor in Technology at the Angelo DelZotto School of Construction Management, George Brown College, won the 2018 Global Student Challenge, organized by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Here, Professor Blago Blagoev interviews the team to find out what it’s been like since.

The achievement was very special for Mike Lino, Nicholas Lourenco, Doan Lucas Dang, of Stalwart Construction, as they named themselves, and their mentor, Andrew Gordon (FCIOB), Principal at the Gordon+Gordon Group and faculty at the College. This was the first time George Brown had entered the challenge and the first time a Canadian team was crowned a winner. In the final round, the victorious trio managed to outlast competition from seasoned Challenge participants such as RMIT, Loughborough, Chongqing, Curtin, and University of Cambridge.

How does it feel to win the 2018 CIOB Global Student Challenge?

Mike: It feels good knowing our hard work paid off in the end. It was a great opportunity and opened our eyes to new possibilities. It gives us a feeling of accomplishment and a confidence boost.

Doan:I feel extremely happy that we won the CIOB challenge. It was a great opportunity for us to meet the other student teams and network with construction professionals from the CIOB.

Clint Kissoon, when you decided to enter your students in the 2018 CIOB Global Student Challenge, what were you hoping they would get out of it? Did you think one of the teams from George Brown College would actually win the competition?

Clint Kissoon: Our Bachelor of Technology - Construction Management is an accredited CIOB degree program. My decision to enter our students for the first time in the CIOB Global Student Challenge was primarily to expose them to the CIOB as a global professional institution. In the preliminary rounds, I was fully aware of their challenges with the process and some of the terminology. Given the depth of our curriculum, the dedication of supportive faculty, and the students’ commitment to be successful, I had no doubts that one of our teams will make us proud by going all the way and winning this global competition.

This is the first time George Brown College has participated in the Global Student Challenge. It was also the only college in the finals and the only Canadian entry. Tell us about the secret of your success and the support you got from your faculty?

Doan: The secret of our success was preparation. Before the competition started, we spent a lot of time creating formulas and finding alternative procedures to come up with the fastest and most accurate result.

Andrew Gordon, how would you describe the three students you worked with?

I first met Mike, Nick, and Doan when delivering a series of lectures at the Casa Loma Campus at George Brown College in 2015. The three of them were keen to absorb as much information I could provide them with. All three entered the competition fully prepared to compete, and with each round their confidence grew. Finishing third in the qualifying rounds was a fantastic achievement for the team and progressing to the final round was a surprise, but they pushed ahead, undaunted, to attain first place.

What were your biggest challenges during the finals and before?

Mike: The time crunch – as we had never had to complete a round in under an hour before. The other challenge we faced was the lack of information due to never being in the finals before.

How has participating in the CIOB Global Student Challenge benefited you thus far? Why should Canadian construction management students learn about the CIOB?

Nick: Participating in the competition, making it to the finals, and eventually winning has given us a confidence boost that we really needed. You really don’t know what you’re made of until you’re pushed to your limits. Hopefully we can continue to push ourselves to achieve again what we never thought possible before.

The CIOB also allowed us to network with seasoned construction professionals from around the world. We had the opportunity to learn from others’ successes and failures, and hopefully we can help the construction industry tackle the challenges of sustainability and urbanization.

Elmira NezamiFar and Tom Stephenson, you currently teach the MERIT simulation in the Construction Management bachelor degree at George Brown College. This simulation is also used in the CIOB Global Student Challenge. How does it help students grasp the various aspects of managing a construction company?

Tom Stephenson: I believe the MERIT software provides an exceptional and unconventional platform for students to flex their leadership muscles. It was encouraging to see students talking in the halls, booking rooms in the library, and meeting over coffee to discuss even better ways to run the simulation. In the decades I’ve spent teaching this course, I have yet to see this level of interest and self-motivation. It was quite inspiring.

Elmira NezamiFar: Our winning team had to deal with many different factors as directors of a construction firm. They had to have strong knowledge in estimating, finance, and marketing, plus making effective decisions in terms of HR management to employ staff who can improve efficiency and maintain high level of productivity and customer satisfaction.​

What is your advice for students going into the CIOB Global Student Challenge next year?

Mike: Take it seriously but have fun with it. We were serious about winning from the beginning. But we always had a good time competing, learning in a new way, and looking at things in a new way.

Nick: Take what you have learnt in the classroom and begin to apply it. Most importantly, build a team of individuals who trust each other and understand the entire business process of running a construction company. This is a great opportunity to test yourself and see what you are made of!

Think you could lift the trophy in 2019? Entries are now open for the chance to be named the winner in Edinburgh.