GLF-CEM 2026 — Programme Schedule

Sunday 28 June 2026 – Executive Committee (ExCom) Meeting   |   Venue: ICSR Conference Hall 2, IIT Madras, Chennai, India

Time Session Lead / Notes
4:00–5:30 pm GLF-CEM Executive Committee Meeting. Review of 2025 outcomes and strategic priorities for 2026–2028 and the new curriculum framework initiative.
6:00 pm Welcome Reception. Hosted by IIT Madras and GLF-CEM Chair. Networking among ExCom members and participants.

Monday 29 June 2026 - Main Forum Day 1 | Venue: ICSR Conference Hall 2, IIT Madras, Chennai, India

Time Session Theme / Description Speaker(s) / Lead
8:30-9:00 am Registration.
9:00-9:20 am Opening & Welcome. What is GLF-CEM and Why Curriculum, Why Now?. Prof. Koshy Varghese.
and
Prof. Patricia Tzortzopoulos.
9:20-9:50 am Invited Talk 1:
Mega Projects in India: Smart, Green Growth in India: Implications for CEM Education.		 Theme:
Current challenges in delivering major infrastructure (rail, metro, airports) and what competencies are missing or needed from graduates.		 Speaker:
Prof. K.N. Satyanarayana,
Director of IIT Tirupati.
9:50-10:50 am Invited Talk 2:
AI and New Ways of Teaching Construction Management.		 Theme:
Models to adapt AI and digital tools in the way we teach, not just what we teach, to make CEM education more effective.		 Speakers:
Dr. Navin Kabra, ReliScore.
Dr. Venkata Delhi, IIT Bombay.
Dr. Varun Reja, IIT Bombay.
10:50 am-12:30 pm Discussion - What Should Change in Our CEM Curriculam?. Round-table discussions in 3 tracks
Track-1

What is non-negotiable core in CEM courses?.


Track Chair:
Prof. Simaan Abourizk,
University of Alberta, Canada.

Venue: Exhibition hall. 		Track-2

What new content is essential? (AI, Sustainability, Systems)?


Track Chair:
Prof. Patricia Tzortzopoulos,
Nottingham Trent University, UK.
Venue: Annex hall. 		Track-3

How to structure two career paths: a technical path and an administrator path?.

Track Chair:
Prof. Charles T. Jahren,
Iowa State University, USA.

Venue: 1st floor Annex hall.
12:30-1:30 pm Networking Lunch. Venue: Main Dining hall.
1:30-2:00 pm What we expect from a CEM degree. Short student video inputs summarizing "What we expect from a CEM degree". Speaker:
Dr. Murali Jagannathan, IITM, India.
2:00-3:30 pm Panel 1:
Sustainability and Circular Economy in Construction.		 Theme:
Discussion highlighting how sustainability and circular construction principles can transform the built environment by reducing waste and environmental impact while meeting conventional project requirements.		 Panelist:
Ms. Mili Majumdar, MD, GBCI.
Dr. Venu Raju, Advisor, Keller Group.
Dr. Dayana Costa, Dean of PG Studies, UFBA, Brazil.
Moderator: Prof. Makarand Hastak, Purdue, USA.
3:30-3:45 pm Coffee Break
3:45-5:00 pm Panel 2:
Balancing Innovation and Industry Needs.		 Theme:
Balancing Innovation and Industry Needs at Undergraduate and Graduate Levels - What Industry wants, Now and Skills for 2030 Graduates.		 Panelist:
Mr. AL Sekar, L & T Construction.
Mr. Ravi Tata, Bechtel.
Prof. Daniel Castro-Lacouture, Purdue, USA.
Prof. David Root, WITS, South Africa.
Moderator: Dr. Nikhil Bugalia, IITM, India.
5:00-5:30 pm Day Summary and Next Steps. Rapporteurs present key points; GLF-CEM Chair summarises follow-up.
07:00 pm Networking Dinner & Cultural Evening. Hosted by IIT Madras.Click here for Cultural Evening Details.

Tuesday 30 June 2026 – GLF-CEM Forum Day 2 and Lecture Series for Students   |   Venue: ICSR Conference Hall 2 & Hall 3, IIT Madras, Chennai, India

Time Session Theme / Description Lead / Speakers
9:30–10:30 am Future Leaders & Women in CEM. Theme:
Short lightning talks from early-career academics and mentoring conversations.		 Moderator:
Prof. Maggie Tang,
University of Newcastle, Australia.
10:30-11:00 am Coffee Break & Registration for Lecure Series
11:00-12:20 pm GLF-CEM Lecture Series.
Hall-2

Prof. Mohamed Al-Hussein,
University of Alberta, Canada.

Prof. Dayana Bastos Costa,
Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. 		Hall-3

Prof. Kalyan Ram Piratla,
Clemson University, USA.

Prof. Samuel Ariaratnam,
Arizona State University, USA.
12:30-1:30 pm Networking Lunch.
01:30-03:50 pm GLF-CEM Lecture Series.
Hall-2

Prof. Patricia Tzortzopoulos,
Nottingham Trent University, UK.

Prof. Makarand Hastak,
Purdue University, USA.

Prof. Janaka Ruwanpura,
University of Calgary, Canada.

Prof. Maggie Tang,
University of Newcastle, Australia. 		Hall-3

Prof. Charles T. Jahren,
Iowa State University, USA.

Prof. Hans-Joachim Bargstadt,
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany.

Prof. David Root,
WITS, South Africa.

Prof. Rakesh Mishra,
University of Huddersfield, UK.
4:00 pm Closing Remarks.

Sunday 28 June 2026 – Executive Committee (ExCom) Meeting   |   Venue: IIT Madras (TBC)

4:00–5:30 pm Meeting
GLF-CEM Executive Committee Meeting
Review of 2025 outcomes and strategic priorities for 2026–2028 and the new curriculum framework initiative.
7:00 pm Dinner
Welcome Dinner
Hosted by IIT Madras and GLF-CEM Chair. Networking among ExCom members and industry guests.

Monday 29 June 2026 – Main Forum (one and a half days)   |   Venue: IIT Madras (TBC)

8:30–9:00 am Registration
Registration & Coffee
Participant check-in and informal networking over coffee.
9:00–9:20 am Plenary
Opening & Welcome
What is GLF-CEM and Why Curriculum, Why Now?
Host (IIT Madras) and GLF-CEM Chair (e.g. Prof. Patricia Tzortzopoulos) introduce the forum as a working space for academic managers.
9:20–9:50 am Keynote
Keynote 1: Mega Projects in India – Smart, Green Growth in India: Implications for CEM Education
Keynote on: current challenges in delivering major infrastructure (rail, metro, airports) and what competencies are missing or needed from graduates.
9:50–10:20 am Keynote
Keynote 2: AI and New Ways of Teaching Construction Management
Keynote on: how AI and digital tools are changing how construction management is taught, including simulation, data-rich case studies, and generative tools.
10:20–10:40 am Break
Coffee Break
Refreshments and informal networking.
10:40 am–12:10 pm Discussion
What Should Change in Our CEM Curricula?
Round-table discussions in three tracks:
  • Non-negotiable core (planning, control, contracts, etc.).
  • New essential content (AI, data, sustainability, systems thinking).
  • Structuring two career paths: basic technical and leadership/“administrator”.
Each track reports two key insights back to the plenary.
12:10–12:30 pm Plenary
Synthesis and Key Insights
Brief plenary capture of insights and messages for the afternoon sessions.
12:30–1:30 pm Lunch
Networking Lunch
Buffet lunch and networking among participants.
1:30–2:00 pm Keynote
Keynote 3: What Industry Wants, Now and Next – Skills for 2030 Graduates
Industry leader keynote on skills that give graduates an edge, including AI and digital capabilities.
2:00–3:30 pm Panel
Panel 1: Balancing Innovation and Industry Needs – Voices from Industry, Students and Women in CEM
Short student video clips (2‑min, gathered globally) on “What we expect from a CEM degree”. Industry representatives, 1–2 women academic leaders, and a Future Leader discuss: how to hear and respond to student and industry expectations, and what AI‑related capabilities are realistic at UG vs PG level. Moderator: Maggie Tang (Future Leaders).
3:30–3:45 pm Break
Coffee Break
Refreshments and informal conversations.
3:45–4:30 pm Talk
Panel 2 / Talk: Sustainability and Circular Construction
Talk on how sustainability and circular construction can transform the built environment by reducing waste, extending asset life, and optimising resource use, including practical strategies, policy levers, and real‑world examples for transitioning from linear to circular, regenerative systems.
4:30–5:00 pm Plenary
Day Summary and Next Steps
Rapporteurs present key points; GLF-CEM Chair summarises follow‑up actions and next steps.
7:00 pm Dinner
Networking Dinner & Cultural Evening
Hosted by IIT Madras, celebrating India’s rich urban and construction heritage, with a short reflection on women in construction and academic leadership woven into the evening.

Tuesday 30 June 2026 – GLF-CEM Forum Day 2 and Lecture Series for Students   |   Venue: IIT Madras Department of Civil and Building Engineering

9:00–9:30 am Welcome
Welcome
Opening of Day 2 by IIT Madras faculty and the Future Leaders Committee.
9:30–10:30 am Session
Future Leaders & Women in CEM
Short lightning talks from early‑career academics and mentoring conversations focusing on future leaders and women in construction engineering and management.
10:30–11:00 am Lecture
Lecture 1
TBA.
11:15 am–12:45 pm Lecture
Lecture 2
TBA.
12:45–1:30 pm Lunch
Lunch Break
TBA.
1:30–3:00 pm Lecture
Lecture 3
TBA.
3:00–4:00 pm Lecture
Lecture 4
TBA.
4:00 pm Closing
Closing Remarks
TBA.