AACE International Joins ACCE as a Member Organization
Partnership expands opportunities to advance construction management education, strengthen industry connections, and support the next generation of professionals.
AACE International is pleased to announce that it has joined the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) as a member organization, marking an important step in strengthening the connection between the cost engineering profession and construction management education.
As part of this expanded relationship, AACE International Executive Director and CEO Mike Kobylka, CAE, has also been appointed to the ACCE Board of Trustees, providing AACE with an opportunity to contribute directly to the future of accredited construction management education.
The new membership creates a framework for collaboration between the two organizations as they work to introduce and expand cost engineering concepts within construction management curricula. Together, AACE and ACCE will explore opportunities to incorporate principles such as cost estimating, planning and scheduling, project controls, risk management, and Total Cost Management (TCM) into educational programs that prepare students for successful careers in the built environment.
“Construction projects are becoming increasingly complex, and employers are looking for graduates who understand not only how projects are built, but also how they are planned, estimated, controlled, and successfully delivered,” said Kobylka. “Joining ACCE as a member organization and serving on its Board gives AACE an opportunity to help strengthen construction management education while ensuring students are introduced to the principles and practices of cost engineering earlier in their academic careers.”
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of construction professionals by connecting academia with industry best practices. By bringing AACE’s technical expertise and body of knowledge into closer alignment with accredited construction management programs, both organizations aim to better equip graduates with the skills needed to lead increasingly complex capital projects.
“This relationship is about more than curriculum,” Kobylka added. “It is about building stronger connections between higher education and the profession, creating greater awareness of career opportunities in cost engineering and project controls, and helping develop the workforce our industry will need for decades to come.”
“We are excited to have AACE join our organization as a Sustaining Association,” said Steve Nellis, President and CEO of ACCE. “The timing is perfect, as ACCE has created a task force to explore creating a track of courses focused on pre-construction activities. With the expertise and knowledge from AACE, we will have a strong new curriculum for our industry.”
AACE looks forward to working alongside ACCE, its member institutions, faculty, and industry partners to advance construction management education and create new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and professional development.
Founded in 1956, AACE International is the leading professional association for cost engineering, Total Cost Management (TCM), project controls, and related disciplines. Serving more than 10,000 members and certificants in over 100 countries, AACE develops professional certifications, recommended practices, technical publications, and educational resources that improve project performance across industries worldwide. For more information, visit aacei.org.
The American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) is the leading accrediting body for construction management, construction science, and construction technology programs in higher education. ACCE also accredits skilled workforce training programs. Founded in 1974, ACCE is an accreditor dedicated to industry participation. Through accreditation, advocacy, and collaboration with industry, ACCE advances excellence in construction education and prepares graduates to meet the evolving needs of the construction profession.