The teaching of construction operations is first and foremost an examination of processes and resources. Processes and interrelationships must be understood. But without knowledge of construction techniques, joining and materials, construction operations cannot succeed. Only those who understand what the craftsman actually does on the construction site, how a drawing becomes built reality, where a material comes from and what properties and conditions have to be taken into account, can think and plan construction operations. Last but not least, the people on the construction site must always be considered, because to this day, construction is a manual activity and physical labor. Therefore, the safety of people is just as much a field of consideration for construction operations as their efficient use. In times of digitalization, one topic is now moving more and more into the focus of processes and construction operations - prefabrication. We have been building for a long time with prefabricated, ready-made components, which have passed through high approval hurdles and are sometimes so complex in themselves that we actually only "install" them. But BIM, 3D modeling, rapid prototyping, etc. are once again changing construction and rapidly changing the degree of prefabrication and automated construction. Building with robots is no longer a utopia. Parametrically developed facades from prefabricated generated components are already practice. Teaching at the university must take this into account.

The basis must deal with the "how", "who" and "what" of classical construction. There will always be this, since every building is unique and we cannot solve every problem digitally, at least not yet.

In the master, however, we need to open up to robotics, parametrics, and techniques of implementation and prefabrication. Serial construction as well as prototyping are becoming increasingly important. Teaching must also take this into account.

We understand the construction industry as a holistic discipline of project development and construction, which accompanies the entire life cycle of a building from demand planning to building operation. In our view, construction in the 21st century cannot be thought of without dealing with the subsequent operation of the building. Only those who look beyond the mere construction of a building can also plan sustainably and produce holistic quality. Demand planning has become a must due to the complexity and high demands placed on construction. There is no way around the consideration of the entire life cycle of the building. This is how projects become sustainable and move humanity forward. Thinking in the construction industry is changing and must change. Whether "something pays off" can no longer be considered from just one point of view. Long-term effects and long-term costs have long since replaced the actual construction costs in the importance of economic consideration.

Only those who think about what they put into the world will generate in the next 50-100 years in terms of follow-up costs in use, maintenance, modernization and demolition, think sustainably about their work, their impact and their influence on future generations.

In the Bachelor's degree, the fundamentals of the economic side of construction must be taught. In the master's degree, however, the view must be broadened and the real estate industry must be recognized and considered in its entire scope.

The Climate Crisis has shifted the focus away from the 'image' of architecture, and onto the performance of buildings. (...) How do they integrate circular thinking?

Ben van Berkel, Green Tie Gala 2019