Construcciones Yamaro: Octave launches NextGen Builders Program

The program will give Curtin students hands-on experience using BIM software. Image: Andrey Popov/stock.adobe.com

Octave Intelligence, an industrial software company, has launched a new initiative to equip students with practical skills for critical industries. The Octave NextGen Builders Program will prepare students to make decisions across the design, construction, operation and protection of assets, with Curtin University confirmed as the inaugural partner.

Fabio Yada, vice president for Asia Pacific at Octave. Image: Octave

Across Australia, demand for skills in construction, infrastructure and engineering continues to exceed supply. Similar pressures are evident across the Asia-Pacific region, where major infrastructure, data centre and energy-transition projects are increasing demand for workers with technical and digital capabilities.

The Octave NextGen Builders Program has been created to help address this gap by giving students hands-on experience with how data and intelligence are applied across construction and infrastructure projects before they graduate. It also aims to change how careers in these sectors are perceived by showing that modern construction and infrastructure roles are technology-driven, data-led and central to shaping cities, economies and the energy transition.

By providing access to professional tools used across engineering, construction and infrastructure projects, the program aims to help bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practice. Through the partnership, Curtin University will integrate Octave OnSite Visualize software, formerly iConstruct, into selected construction and built environment units, supporting project-based learning.

Curtin Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management) course co-ordinator Dr Vasilios Papastamoulis said strong industry alignment was key to preparing students for the workforce.

“This partnership equips our students with in-demand digital skills and real-world experience, while highlighting the vital role careers in construction and infrastructure play in shaping Australia’s future,” he said.

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As part of the program, Curtin students will be able to transform complex building information modelling (BIM) models into construction-ready work packages by aligning engineering, procurement and construction in a single environment. This supports work packaging, sequencing, constraint management and more efficient project delivery.

Fabio Yada, vice president for Asia Pacific at Octave, said critical industries need to address workforce shortages and an ageing employee base while also attracting younger workers with digital skills.

“The Octave NextGen Builders Program is about making sure graduates are ready for the reality of modern projects, where decisions across design, construction and operations are increasingly interconnected, but also about demonstrating that careers in these industries are innovative, high-tech and genuinely exciting,” he said.

As it grows, the program will expand to additional universities to encourage greater interest in careers in asset-intensive industries. It forms part of Octave’s broader commitment to workforce development, digital capability and building a sustainable talent pipeline for critical industries across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

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