Elevating the Real Estate Profession

KUALA LUMPUR: The push to equip real estate negotiators and marketers with relevant paper qualifications and prepare them to be licensed real estate practitioners has gained traction with a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mark the strategic partnership to jointly develop the UCSI-Hartamas Executive Development Programmes.

This collaborative effort by UCSI Extension and Hartamas Academy – the training arm of Hartamas Real Estate Group – is expected to attract much interest from existing negotiators as well as those who wish to venture into the real estate industry.

The programmes, namely, an Executive Master and an Executive Diploma in Real Estate, prepare candidates for the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents Malaysia (BOVAEA)’s licensing exam. BOVAEA is the body that regulates the real estate practice.

 “The market is ready for these programmes as those who pass the BOVAEA exams will be on the final path towards obtaining the esteemed licence. Subsequently undergoing two years of practical experience attached with a registered real estate agency like Hartamas Real Estate Group, passing the test of proficiency and complying with BOVAEA’s other criteria will enable them to be licensed real estate practitioners,” said UCSI Extension CEO Stephen Corneilius.

“Qualifying for the licence will also enable them to set up their own agencies.”

The programmes were introduced at the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the two parties at UCSI University. The signing was preceded by Mr Eric Lim’s speech on “Professionalism in the Real Estate Industry”.

Corneilius said that the two programmes catered to the needs of different market segments.

The Executive Diploma seeks to equip SPM school leavers with a sound knowledge of industry practices, standards and legislation; while the Executive Master is designed for real estate professionals with tertiary qualification and/or relevant work experience.

Focusing on strategic and organisational management, the Master programme also includes elements of Blue Ocean Strategy.

The programmes are unique in that they combine the expertise of established and distinguished parties in both the academic and real estate industries via UCSI Extension and Hartamas Academy. This pioneering collaboration marks a major step in the training and education sector resulting in content that is highly relevant and practical to equip graduates with knowledge and skills that are specific to the real estate market.

Hartamas Academy leverages on Hartamas Real Estate Group’s long track record of excellence in the industry and its industry based input adds on-the-ground applicability to the curricula.

“The Group has always been interested in leading and improving the standards of the real estate industry in Malaysia,” said Hartamas founder and group managing director Eric Lim.

“We believe that the Executive Master and Diploma in Real Estate will contribute greatly to this aim.”

Recognised as one of Malaysia’s best real estate agencies, Hartamas has won numerous accolades including Real Estate Agency of the Year and Commercial Agency of the Year in 2011 and 2012, by the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA). The Group also offers Agency Services, Corporate Services, Project Marketing, International Properties, Valuation and Asset Management Services.

UCSI Extension is the professional training and consulting arm of UCSI Group, a Malaysian conglomerate with interests in six business clusters: Education, Consultancy, Healthcare, Communications, Properties and Technology.

The MoU signing was witnessed by Datuk Sr Haji Abd Hamid bin Abu Bakar, President of the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents Malaysia and Mr Wong Gon Khiang, Group Executive Officer of UCSI Group.