The inaugural TEFMA conference theme, The New Frontiers: Evolutions & Revolutions, reflects TEFMA’s aspiration in presenting a forum for its members that is more focused on their core service function within tertiary education sector. Aligned with this, the conference program will attempt to address the following pertinent questions:
- Why do we do what we do?
- What is changing?
- How do we best respond / do things differently?, as well as…
- What are we doing well now?
TEFMA23 Sub-Themes
The sub-themes are influenced immensely and critically by sustainability, climate change and health, safety, and wellness factors. The initiatives and learnings that will be shared with the wider TEFMA community at TEFMA23 are anticipated to have the infusion of one or more of these factors covering one or few of the special interest areas.
- Planning & Development
The recent pandemic has influenced the strategic direction of the tertiary sector. The changes demanded an agile response from the universities’ enablers like us. Planning and development functions needed to adopt these new directions. - Engineering & Maintenance
Lifecycle management of each university’s built environment is a key in ensuring continuous delivery of teaching, learning and research activities and enriching the student experience on campus. Engineering & Maintenance sub-theme covers majority of the ‘cradle to grave’ looping activities of the buildings and its related services with infused technological elements. Has there been an impact on lifecycle and maintenance scheduling arising from the structural and staffing changes brought about by the Covid pandemic? How is this impact being managed? - Campus Services
Provision of beautiful, safe, secure and student centric campuses is a key component of facilities management. Enhancing this part of our services contribute greatly towards the staff as well as student experience. - Strategic Partnership and Initiatives
Universities are increasingly looking to partner with governments, other universities and tertiary institutions, research organisations and commercial organisations to deliver infrastructure and services in new and innovative ways. Abstracts that fall within this stream may cover topics, such as:- Precincts (health, education, innovation, community)
- Government City Deals
- Industry Partnerships
- University Alliances
- Commercial Sector Student Housing
- Retail Operations
Special Interest Groups
TEFMA23 aims to touch upon all TEFMA’s special interest areas that encompass the fundamental FM functions that acts as the enabler for the tertiary sector to achieve their teaching, learning and research strategic objectives.
Master Planning
Long-term planning an important aspect of campus management in which some members specialise, to address future growth and change.
Space Planning
Activities that range from space planning for future change to monitoring and timetabling of institutional space.
Project Delivery & Management
Design and construction of new facilities and upgrade of existing premises including specialist areas in project and program planning and controlling, as well as in project execution and construction management.
Asset Management
Asset planning, monitoring, upgrading, maintaining, disposal, cost management and general effectiveness of the asset base.
Commercial and Retail
Management of commercial and retail premises on campus is a growing discipline as institutions support an expanding range of activities. Leasing, contract management and master planning, as well as the campus retail offering and overall customer experience are covered under this campus operation.
Facilities Services Operations
Grounds Management
Security, Parking and Emergency Management
Benchmarking
TEFMA conducts a major annual benchmarking survey for its member institutions, reflecting operational and other facilities – related costs and statistics. Analysing and tracking this and related data to assist institutions in monitoring the progress of their organisations.
Business Continuity/Risk
Sustainability
Work on sustainability related activities e.g. energy, carbon, water and waste management, as well as environmental planning continues to expand for TEFMA members as institutions become more conscious of environmental responsibility and cost efficiency.