IREM gives commercial property management a boost with launch of African chapter
US-based Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) has increased its global footprint to 15 with the recent launch of its first African chapter. IREM is responsible for determining global best practice, promoting superior management and maximising value of real estate investments through education and certification.
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Commercial property management (CPM) remains one of the few professions within the real estate sector that remains unregulated and unstandardised with limited options available for formal certification. Professor David Root, head of the University of Witwatersrand’s School of Construction Economics and Management, in his address noted the need to improve standards of education in the property management field stating that “property management doesn’t really have the best reputation in the industry” and highlighting the need to “design programmes that are internationally competitive”. The IREM CPM qualification introduces an internationally recognised standard for CPM while enabling increased international mobility for domestically educated commercial property managers as the qualification is globally recognised and accredited.
The IREM programme is supported by commercial property companies such as Pareto which has partnered with IREM and the South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP) to fund the 40 CPMs which have taken the course and qualified thus far. Vuyiswa Mutshekwane, SAIBPP CEO said: “It has been very encouraging to see how enthusiastically the industry has embraced IREM and pledged their support. Professionalising the property industry is important in ensuring sustainable transformation. We are proud to be partnered with IREM in driving this process.”
