CIOB student challenge inspires a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals

Eager built environment students from across Ireland put their skills to the test during the CIOB Ireland Student Challenge, which took place at South East Technological University (SETU) in Waterford on Thursday 12 March.

Technological University Dublin came away victorious against eight other teams, each made up of four students, in a fast-paced construction challenge designed to test their problem-solving, teamwork and presentation skills.

Teams were handed a secret task shortly before the competition began and were given just a few hours to develop a solution. They then presented their ideas to a panel of built environment judges and industry professionals.

Sarah Hallinan, Regional Manager at the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), said she was impressed by the high standard of ideas presented by the students.

She said: “Every team brought a unique perspective to the challenge, which was particularly impressive given the time constraints they were working under. In just a few hours, the students were able to analyse the brief, develop creative solutions and present their ideas in a clear and structured way.

“Strong communication skills are essential in the construction industry, especially when it comes to presenting proposals and convincing clients or stakeholders of the value of a project. It was fantastic to see how confidently the students communicated their ideas and the excellent teamwork on display to bring those solutions to life.”

Around 100 attendees were present at the event, including students, lecturers, committee members, sponsors, Tomorrow’s Leaders champions and CIOB staff.

As part of the day’s programme, Faye Kennedy, one of CIOB’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Champions, gave a presentation encouraging the students to become Champions or to get involved with the Tomorrow’s Leaders community – helping to shape the future leaders of the construction industry.

The challenge concluded with the announcement of Technological University Dublin as the winning team. ATU Donegal finished as runners up and University of Limerick came in third place.

Speaking on behalf of the winning team, Saoirse Gilbert said: “Winning this year's CIOB Ireland Student Challenge was a very proud moment for our team and will be the highlight of our University year.”

Hallinan added: “Events like this are a great opportunity to not only put students’ minds to the test, but also give them the opportunity to engage with industry professionals and gain valuable insights into what a career in construction really looks like.

“We would like to thank our sponsors, Ganson Construction, and supporting partner sponsors CIAT and Walls Construction, as well as SETU Waterford for hosting such a fantastic event.”

To find out more about the CIOB Tomorrow’s Leaders community, visit: www.ciob.org/tomorrows-leaders

This article appears on the CIOB news and blogsite as CIOB student challenge inspires a new wave of Irish construction professionals.

--CIOB

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