Real estate education in Europe: some perspectives on a decade of rapid change

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of the structure of real estate education provision in Europe, its key recent drivers and some ideas for its future development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an analysis of recent trends in provision based on the European course accreditation data provided by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The structure of provision is examined within the context of the significant changes which have taken place in the structure of European real estate markets as a means of identifying its key drivers. The analysis goes on to consider the opportunities presented for the future development of provision by two important initiatives the “Bologna Process” and the “European Real Estate Society Education Seminar”.

Findings

There has been considerable expansion in the provision of real estate education in Europe in recent years. The postgraduate level both full‐time and part‐time has been established as the dominant mode of provision with a business school setting as an increasingly important academic context. The two initiatives examined have the potential to contribute to the development of a truly pan‐European approach to real estate education.

Originality/value

The paper provides the first systematic review of real estate education provision in Europe directly related to changes in the structure of real estate markets. It provides educators which some ideas on how to shape future provision in particular though the development of key stakeholder relationships across Europe.

Citation

D'Arcy, É. and Taltavull, P. (2009), "Real estate education in Europe: some perspectives on a decade of rapid change", Journal of European Real Estate Research, Vol. 2 No. 1, pp. 69-78. https://doi.org/10.1108/17539260910959563