Critical Workforce Competencies for Accelerating Industrialised Building System Implementation in Dilapidated Rural School Reconstruction: Evidence from Sarawak, Malaysia

Purpose: This study identifies critical workforce competencies required to accelerate Industrialised Building System (IBS) implementation in dilapidated rural school reconstruction projects in Sarawak, Malaysia, addressing a critical gap in educational infrastructure development.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A comprehensive systematic review of 30 peer-reviewed studies was conducted, examining IBS implementation challenges, workforce competency requirements, and contextual factors specific to rural construction in Malaysia. Evidence was synthesized to develop a multi-tiered competency framework encompassing technical, managerial, digital, and context-specific capabilities.

Findings: Successful IBS-based rural school reconstruction requires four critical competency domains: (1) technical competencies including prefabricated component handling, precision assembly, and quality control; (2) managerial competencies encompassing project coordination, supply chain management, and stakeholder engagement; (3) digital competencies involving Building Information Modeling (BIM), digital fabrication, and data-driven decision-making; and (4) context-specific competencies addressing rural logistics, local material integration, and community engagement. Major barriers include limited IBS knowledge among Sarawak contractors (78% reporting insufficient awareness), critical shortages of skilled installers, inadequate training infrastructure, and logistical challenges in remote areas.

Research Limitations/Implications: The study is based on available literature and may not capture all emerging competency requirements. Future empirical research should validate the framework through field studies in active reconstruction projects.

Practical Implications: The competency framework provides actionable guidance for government agencies, educational institutions, and construction firms to develop targeted training programs, establish industry-academia partnerships, and implement policy interventions that build sustainable local capacity for IBS-based school reconstruction.

Originality/Value: This is the first comprehensive study to systematically identify workforce competencies specifically for IBS implementation in Sarawak rural school reconstruction, addressing the unique intersection of industrialized construction, educational infrastructure, and rural development contexts in Malaysia.

Industrialised Building System; IBS; workforce competencies; rural school reconstruction; construction education; Sarawak; prefabricated construction; infrastructure development; skill development; construction workforce

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