The JBCC Postgraduate Research Excellence Award

Modern construction practices achieve sustainable excellence and innovation by merging and transforming traditional building workflows through digital technology, advanced materials, and sustainable automation. Historically, the sector has been slow to change, plagued by low productivity, high material waste, and significant carbon emissions. However, recent advancements are modernizing how the built environment is planned, constructed, and maintained. The industry is shifting from traditional manual methods to automated, high-precision workflows.

According to Thamini Nyide, the CEO of JBCC:

‘this award aligns with the JBCC’s mission to support a sustainable, transformed, and professional construction industry by encouraging postgraduate research that addresses contemporary challenges and opportunities facing the sector. By recognising and promoting emerging research talent across Southern Africa, the award seeks to contribute to the advancement of construction practices, foster innovation, and strengthen the industry’s capacity to deliver greater value, productivity, and sustainability for future generations.’

Prof Theo Haupt of ASOCSA (Pty) Ltd agrees that,

‘this important partnership with JBCC aligns perfectly with the strategic objective of the association to promote, support and recognize relevant and excellent postgraduate research in the Southern African region’

THE AWARD

This annual award recognizes the research conducted by built environment postgraduate students at Southern African higher education institutions to sustainably improve existing construction practice through advancing sustainable excellence and innovation.

SUBMIT ONLINE

HOW TO ENTER

This award is open to submissions by any currently registered postgraduate student at a higher education institution in Southern Africa who is still in the early to middle stages of their research study.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Submit electronically by NO LATER than 30 June 2026 by completing the below form and uploading your research study for review.

Details of the research study not more than 3 pages in length that includes

Introduction/motivation/background
Research problem/questions
Aims and objectives
Methodological approach
Annotated literature review

Once acceptance has been received, the student must arrange to attend the 20th ASOCSA Built Environment Conference in the Premier Hotel in Pretoria from 13-14 July 2026. Students should also prepare a poster setting out graphically the details of the research study as well as a PowerPoint presentation of not more than 5 total slides.

ADJUDICATION OF SUBMISSIONS

Both the presentation and poster will be evaluated and scored by an independent panel. The presentation and poster will be equally weighted, and the submissions ranked according to the combined scores.

Three awards will be made:

3rd place – R2,000 plus a certificate
2nd place – R3,000 plus a certificate
1st place – R5,000 plus a certificate