"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest," Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the US, once said. Indeed, those who have invested their time and money in education have received good returns.

At the Henley Business School (HBS) at University of Reading Malaysia, an education is not just an education; it goes beyond the syllabus and into the real world to ensure what is taught is relevant to the ever-changing landscapes of today.

Technology is disrupting the bricks-and-mortar property sector and dictating new ways of doing business. This means greater efficiency and transparency in the sector, which translates into new roles for the players.

Successful real estate players need to be adaptable and exposed to cutting-edge knowledge. That is why the newly established Centre for Global Business Enterprise and Cloud Analytics at HBS Malaysia is developing such knowledge.

Its Bachelor of Science in Real Estate programme gives students a solid foundation in real estate management and the tools to thrive in the new digital environment.

Historically, education in real estate has always been taught as a minor in business degrees, but because the industry has evolved over the last few decades, the need for a dedicated bachelor’s degree course is necessary.

HBS’s Bachelor of Science in Real Estate is proof that HBS is committed to ensuring its students get the focus they need to achieve their dreams. As technology continues to disrupt the way of doing business, HBS is also transforming the learning process to include these advances.

According to Dr Janice Lee, associate professor of real estate management, HBS’s Bachelor of Science in Real Estate will gain an upper hand in this quickly-changing environment.

“Among the technological disruptions in the real estate industry are information availability and management of properties. Technology is increasingly used by buyers and sellers of properties, thus reducing the reliance on real estate agencies,” she says.

“The property consultant’s role will evolve to be a more advisory one, to provide better quality market analysis and advice to clients.”

In fact, there are newer types of investment properties and requirements, and a new client base is emerging, she says.

“Our course still needs to be grounded in strong real estate fundamentals. In addition, we want to help students develop an agile business mindset and achieve good entrepreneurial adaptability to these changes.

“Students are exposed to these changes continuously through the Centre for Global Business Enterprise and Cloud Analytics and highly experienced academicians as well as frequent interactions with guest lecturers from the industry,” she adds.

When students choose to enrol in University of Reading, they should know that they are getting the best option.

The university’s Real Estate and Planning Department has developed a worldwide reputation for excellence. It is the largest and best institution in the UK for teaching and research in real estate and planning (Complete University Guide 2018). Its Bachelor of Science in Real Estate programme has full accreditation from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

“Students at HBS Malaysia have the option to study at University of Reading’s main campus in the UK during their second and third years, giving them a strong international dimension that will enable them to thrive in the increasingly globalised business of real estate,” says Dr Patrick Lecomte, an associate professor in HBS’s Real Estate and Planning Department.

For students looking to build a solid foundation in real estate management, they should ensure that the programme they enrol for offers one key element — versatility.

“I believe the university has the edge in enabling versatility in its students. It has the capacity to lay the foundation for its graduates to become effective managers and team leaders in the real estate industry, not to mention the wherewithal to play a role in promoting awareness of the industry needs and wants among them,” says visiting fellow and CBRE | WTW chairman Mohd Talhar Abdul Rahman.

The next intake for Henley Business School’s Bachelor of Science in Real Estate programme is in January next year. For more information on the course or the university, visit https://www.reading.edu.my/learn/bsc-real-estate.