The National Academy of Construction’s 2025 Symposia Series, Introducing and Embedding Safety Culture Concepts in Undergraduate Education, brought together faculty, students, and industry professionals to introduce undergraduate students to the concept of safety culture. The goal was to promote safety as a core professional value, equip future professionals to uphold ethical standards, and reinforce the importance of safety across the construction industry. In this episode of the Get the kNACk podcast, host Sue Steele is joined by NAC President and CEO Dr. Edd Gibson and Chair of the NAC Safety Committee Tony Leketa. Together, they discuss how the symposia was developed, key lessons learned, and the lasting impact of the program. 

The conversation discusses the importance of collaboration between academia and industry to advance safety culture, address critical industry challenges, and drive meaningful improvement. The symposia focused on practical elements that can be integrated into existing curricula, helping students develop a strong awareness of safety culture as part of their academic and professional training. The guests highlight how the symposia achieved measurable success, including the creation of new safety culture focused majors at top universities, equipping the next generation of construction leaders.

Proceedings of the 2025 NAC Symposia Series: Introducing and Embedding Safety Culture Concepts in Undergraduate Education