MoU with REHDA Institute to establish MRED

Second from left: Prof Chuah and Dato’ Ng exchanging MoU while Prof Ewe (far left) and Datuk Haji Muztaza (far right) look on 

UTAR and REHDA Institute (RI) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Wisma REHDA, Kelana Jaya on 19 October 2018 to establish a master’s degree programme known as Master of Real Estate Development (MRED).

Signing the MoU were UTAR President Ir  Prof  Academician Dato’ Dr  Chuah Hean Teik and RI   Chairman  Dato’  Jeffrey  Ng, witnessed by UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat and RI Trustee Datuk Haji Muztaza Mohamad.

The 18 months post-graduate programme is catered for the needs of the property development industry with inputs and contents designed and delivered by the industry itself with the incorporation modules leaning towards industry practice and exposure, with input from subject matter experts and experienced industry players.

MRED aims to provide those who enrolled with knowledge at advanced level to the wide range of issues that reflect the principal areas of specialisation in the real estate profession and at the same time to equip students with leadership skills and in-depth understanding in decision making for a real estate development and investment. With MRED, students will be trained to analyse development situations and respond to particular development problems with derived solutions and assist them to assess the feasibility of a real estate development and investment

Through this MoU, both parties will work closely to shape the middle and senior management to become the real estate and property development future leaders through seminars, workshops and conferences relating to real estate development and investment.

In addition to the development and establishment of the master’s degree programme, both parties will also collaborate further in other areas of interests in the property and real estate sector including training and research initiatives by exchanging knowledge, expertise and resources.

Dato’ Ng during the press conference

“This  master’s programme  is  a  part of  our  contribution in  giving  back  to  the  industry through  education.  We  have  designed  it  to  prepare  the  industry’s  workforce  to  be property development industry leaders of the next generation. With UTAR’s long standing academic and professional excellence, coupled with industry invaluable experience and insights, the master’s degree programme will undoubtedly be the best option for industry players to enhance and build the capacity of their future senior management,” said Dato’ Ng during his welcome speech.

Prof Chuah delivering his speech

Prof Chuah said, “I believe that UTAR and REHDA Institute have a similar vision in the pursuit of educational excellence and the promotion of university-industry collaboration. Through our synergy, let us look forward to closer ties and greater achievements not just in the development of the programme but also in areas of research in the real estate industry.”

“It is a good opportunity that UTAR and RI can collaborate together through research to come up with valuable and reliable findings and data which might be useful in decision making as well as policy making and also for us to put up the position papers to the government,” said Datuk Chia.

Group photography session

Also present at the signing ceremony were UTAR Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM) Dean Dr Sia Bee Chuan, FAM Head of Programme for MBA in Building & Property Management Amalina binti Azmi, Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA) Malaysia President Dato’ Ir Soam Heng Choon, REHDA Malaysia National Council Member, Institute and Head of Master’s Programme UTAR-REHDA Institute Datuk Charlie Chia, RI staff, UTAR lecturers and staff.

Souvenir exchange ceremony between UTAR and REHDA Institute took place, followed by a photography session and refreshments before the event adjourned.