Reducing the gap between academic theory and the reality of the work. This was the objective with which the CHM-UPV Chair was born, promoted by CHM in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Valencia.
The real challenges in construction require an initiative with a transformative vocation that, more than training future engineers, prepares them to intervene today in a constantly evolving sector.
A partnership to apply knowledge to real challenges in construction
During his intervention in the program "Territorio Empresa" of Plaza Radio - of the daily newspaper Valencia Plaza-, David NicolasDirector of Construction of CHMIn the interview, he addressed the major challenges of the sector as well as the real challenges in construction from a technical point of view. Throughout the interview, the focus was placed on the fundamental role played by the CHM-UPV Chair as a bridge between the university and the company, between research and work, between training and action.
The Chair was created with a clear mission: to create a collaborative space where technical training is nourished by practical experience. As Nicolás himself explains, "the university offers an extraordinary technical capacity, but it is often far from the urgencies of the work". For this reason, the Chair seeks to reduce this gap, integrating learning with the concrete day-to-day challenges of the sector and the real challenges in construction.
The focus is not limited to a single area. Sustainability, digitalization, planning or talent management are some of the lines of work addressed jointly and with a long-term vision. The important thing is to respond to the real challenges of the sector, from a technical, rigorous and applied approach.
Practical training
One of the greatest values of the Chair is its impact on students. Through internships, seminars, site visits and real projects, future engineers not only acquire technical knowledge, but also understand how to apply it judiciously in changing and demanding contexts.
This allows CHM to be in direct contact with new talent, identify profiles with potential and incorporate a fresh vision that sometimes questions the established and improves solutions. Thus, the relationship between company and university becomes reciprocal: both learn, both evolve.
A space to experiment before executing
"Innovation is not useful if it arrives late on site," says David Nicolás in the podcast. The Chair makes it possible to anticipate, test and analyze ideas before their direct application. Thus, projects have been developed in the field of BIM modeling, site planning, energy efficiency and traceability through sensors. It is not a matter of theorizing, but of experimenting in order to make better decisions.
This approach makes it possible to reduce errors, optimize time and build with more sense, beyond fashions or regulations, facing the real challenges in construction.
Collaboration and shared vision
The Chair is not just an academic project or a corporate showcase. It is an environment of trust where students, teachers and professionals share concerns, challenges and opportunities. Technical conferences, joint publications and sector meetings are examples of how collaboration generates useful and applicable knowledge.
In addition, topics such as digitalization, artificial intelligence or the need to improve public planning are addressed from multiple perspectives, favoring a critical and multidisciplinary view.
Values taught and practiced
One of the less visible but most relevant contributions of the Chair are the values it transmits: commitment to the environment, responsibility in decision-making, openness to technical dialogue and respect for continuous learning. For CHM, this shared culture strengthens the sector from its base: the people.
Much more than a Chair: a commitment to the future
The CHM-UPV Chair is today a model of how companies and universities can build together more than just infrastructures. They can build useful knowledge, lasting professional relationships and, above all, a new generation of engineers capable of acting with judgment, technique and humanity.
The interview with David Nicolás in Company Territory not only brings to the table the great challenges facing the construction industry, but also shows how the sector is generating spaces for knowledge, dialogue and innovation.
The complete episode of Company Territoryhosted by journalist Toni Cabot, is now available in audio and video format.
