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An Analysis ofReal Estate Masters:

The Case of UPV and NTU

European Real Estate Society Seminar4th and 5th December 2009

Vienna, Austria.

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Presenters

• Dr Nati Guadalajara (UPV, Spain).• Dr Elena De la Poza (UPV, Spain).• Steven Tyler (NTU, UK).• Alistair Fleming (NTU, UK).

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Seminar Structure

• Objectives of the paper.• Introduction and background.• Accreditation and programme content.• Comparison of programmes.• Programme enrolment.• Observations/concluding comments.

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Objectives of the paper• To contrast the process of accreditation of Masters

programmes in Real Estate at UPV, Spain and NTU, UK.• To consider the nature of three Masters programmes; two

in Spain and one in the UK.• The programmes are accredited by:

• The official institution of a European country (Spain), from 2007/2008.

• The Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), Spain, from 2000/2001.

• Nottingham Trent University (NTU), UK, from 2001/2002.

• The last two of these programmes (those accredited by UPV and NTU) are also accredited by an independent professional body; the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

• To consider the success of graduates from these Masters programmes in obtaining employment in their vocational area.

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Introduction and background

• Bologna Agreement: European Universities are developing an important process of reform due to the Bologna Agreement.

• Measures adopted: to assure the quality of programme provision include the accreditation of:• degree programmes• the teaching staff• institutional faculties• Universities themselves.

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Introduction and background:The Position in Spain

In Spain• Prior to the Bologna reform process, it was

particular to the case of Spain, that only Universities accredited Masters programmes.

• Programmes were offered with the aim of offering a specialized education to the students, once they already held a bachelor degree.

• Since the reform, a new framework for Masters programme accreditation has developed.

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Introduction and background:The Position in the UK

In the UK:• Single approach to accreditation of Masters programmes.• No equivalent of the Spanish Ministry accreditation process.• Universities generally independent and self governing, albeit

government funded.• Possess authority to approve their own awards, adopting

procedures consistent with the guidelines, frameworks and codes of practice issued by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

• The QAA is an independent body funded by universities which provides checks on univerisities’ performance, identifies good practice and makes recommendations.

• QAA publishes guidelines to assist universities develop effective systems and structures to ensure a high quality student experience. (Ref QAA 318/10/09)

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Accreditation of masters degrees(in Spain)

• The outcome of the educational reform in Spain, is the coexistence of two types of Masters degree accreditation processes.

• Within Spanish universities masters degrees are accredited by:• The Spanish Ministry of Education, a national

institution, giving rise to ‘official masters’.• The University itself accredits others, sometimes

working in partnership with a professional body (a ‘professional masters’).

• Masters programmes accredited at national level, occupy an academic position part-way between first degree study at the Bachelor level, and Doctoral level study leading to the award of a PhD, which means a fundamental difference between the ‘professional’ Masters.

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Accreditation of masters degrees(in Spain)

• The Masters programmes (in Spain) accredited by the university, with input from a professional body, are designed to cater primarily for the needs of professional practice. These programmes endeavour to extend and develop knowledge, understanding and skills within a vocational context, and with less emphasis on pure research.

• Another relevant difference between these types of masters in Spain is the financing.

• Large proportion of teachers on official masters must hold a PhD.

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Official Masters (in Spain):Accreditation and Requirements

• The University Postgraduate Commission study the proposals and open a period of public exposition before passing it to the Governing Council to approve it, this will be the last internal step in the University.

• Every 6 years, the proposals of new degrees, once they have been approved and implemented will be reaccredited.

• To gain entry to an official master it is compulsory to have an official Bachelor degree from Spain or any other European country. Students with Bachelor Degrees out of European Education Space will have to prove an equivalent level of education than the Spanish Bachelor Degree means.

• The faculty staff that takes part on an official master has to be PhD, but also it can be consider some exceptional case, always authorized and justified by the Commission of Postgraduate. The researchers or professionals that are not faculty staff with more than 1 credit will have to work in coordination with a professor tutor of the University.

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Accreditation: Spanish Ministry

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The nature of proposals (in Spain)

• The masters will have between 60 and 120 credits (1 credit is equal to 10 hours), that will embrace the theoretical and practical education of the student (compulsory subjects, optional subjects, workshops, external training, oriented works, master thesis, evaluation activities, etc and any other activity necessary according to the characteristics of the degree.

• The master thesis will have between 6 and 30 credits.

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The nature of proposals (in Spain)

Programme proposal must contain:

• Description of the title.• Justification.• Objectives.• Access/admission of students.• Planning of learning.• Faculty staff.• Material and services sources.• Projected results.• System of warranty of quality.• Calendar of implementation.

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Content of the Masters (Spain)

• Masters accredited by Spanish Ministry of Education

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Accreditation: A Spanish University (UPV) in conjunction with the RICS

• The process to get the approval of a new title at the UPV, consists on the following steps: 1. A proposal from a UPV´s professor. The proposal will contain:

• Details of the organisers.• Objectives of the degree.• Access and admission requirements of the students.• Planning of the education degree.• Faculty staff.• Materials and services sources. • Budget.

2. The department commission has to pass it (those which have more than a 20% of the learning of the degree proposed).

3. Delivery of information to the Centre of Education. The Centre will review and will report publicly the proposed Degrees.

• If there are not allegations the Centre will submit a positive report to the Postgraduate Commission to its acceptance.

• Finally, after the approval by the Commission of Postgraduate, the proposal will pass the Government Commission of University and finally the Social Council.

• Consideration by RICS for accreditation.

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Content of Masters (UPV, Spain)

• Masters accredited by UPV and RICS

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Accreditation of Masters degrees(in NTU, UK)

• Single approach, accreditation by university.• Following guidance and codes of practice published by the

Quality Assurance Agency.• Must contain 180 credit points; equivalent of a minimum 1,800

hours of student study time.• Can be studied by full-time or part-time study; 1 or 2 years of

study.• Masters programmes are similar to ‘official’ masters in Spain,

and are academically positioned between first degree study and Doctoral level study.

• Real estate masters also cater for the needs of professional practice and seek to extend and develop knowledge, understanding and skills within a vocational context, whilst also developing pure and applied research skills.

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Accreditation: A UK University (NTU) in conjunction with the RICS

The process involves the following stages:

Development of initial programme proposals by an individual ‘champion’ or small team.

Consideration/approval of the business case to support the introduction of the proposed programme.

Drafting of formal programme documentation to include: Contextual Document. Programme Specification. Module Specifications.

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Accreditation: A UK University (NTU) in conjunction with the RICS

The process involves the following stages:

• Consideration of course proposals by an external peer group of academics/practitioners from the real estate and construction sector who provide feedback on the proposals and suggested enhancements.

Revision of proposals in light of feedback; consideration/approval of draft documents by the programme team for the new programme.

Consideration, and approval in principle (if applicable), of course proposals, by the RICS delegation at the University/RICS annual Partnership meeting.

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Accreditation: A UK University (NTU) in conjunction with the RICS

Consideration/approval of the programme proposals by the proposing School’s Programme Review and Development Committee, acting on behalf of the School’s Academic Review and Development Committee.

Consideration/approval of the programme proposals by the Universitiy’s Academic Review and Development Committee.

Submission of university approved proposals to RICS for formal approval (via Partnership arrangements).

Once approved and operating, the programme will be subject to periodic review, and the preparation of an annual Programme Standards and Quality Report, which critically evaluates the operation of the programme during the past year, and proposes an action plan for the ensuing year.

Annual meeting of RICS Partnership and consideration of RICS Thresholds.

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Programme Documentation (NTU)Contextual Document will include:

• Background to the proposal. Rationale, aims and market for the programme(s). Standards – Programme outcomes and level. Curriculum design and content. Teaching, learning and assessment strategy. Assessment regulations. Admissions requirements. Student support arrangements. Learning resources; this may include details of

physical asa well as staffing resources. Quality management process. Implementation.

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Programme Documentation (NTU)

Programme Specification will include: Basic programme information including awarding

institution, place of delivery, level of award, mode of study, duration of programme and programme code.

Overview and general educational aims of the programme.

Programme learning outcomes, expressed in terms of knowledge and understanding learning outcomes, and skills, qualities and attributes.

Teaching and learning methods, including module study time.

Assessment methods. Programme structure and currículum. Admission/entry arrangements.

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Programme Documentation (NTU)

Programme Specification will include: Support provided for student learning. Graduate destinations and employability; details

of likely emploment prospects for graduates. Programme standards and quality. Assessment regulations; usually these will be in

accordance with the Standard University assessment regulations for postgraduate programmes.

Additional information; which will include details of collaborative partners, fit with national benchmarks, external recognition/accreditation, date for implementation.

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Programme Documentation (NTU)

Module Specifications will include: Basic module information which will include module title,

module code, credit pointy weighting, duration, School, site of delivery, and date of specification.

Pre, post and co-requistites for study. Programmes containing the module. Overview and aims. Module content. Indicative reading. Learning outcomes, which will include details of

knowledge and understanding, and skills qualities and attributes.

Teaching and learning approach. Assessment methods. Diagnostic/formative assessment. Basic document management information.

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Content of Masters (NTU, UK)

• Masters accredited by NTU and RICS

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Comparison of ProgrammesEnglish Master Spanish Accredited

MasterUPV/RICS Master

Attendance Attendance is highly recommended but not compulsory other than for field activity.

Attendance to class, it’s not compulsory.

E-learning2 sessions/year of compulsory attendance.

Communication Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, and workshops, supported by materials on electronic learning platform,

Poliformat e-learning platform UPV.

e-learning platform UPV.

Assessment A mixture of examinations and coursework including some group based work.

Exercises (depends on each subject)Final exam.

30% Exercises, through the platform.70% Final exam.

Pass Level The minimum pass marking each module is 50%; students must pass all modules to achieve the masters award.

The student needs 5/10 in the final exam.

The student has to deliver all the exercises to attend the exam.The minimum mark of the exam in order to pass the subject is 4/10.

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Programme Enrolment (UPV, Spain)

• The Master of Real Estate accredited by the national institution (Spanish Ministry) in Spain has never recruited.

• Details of students enrolled to the Masters at UPV are as follows:

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Programme Enrolment (NTU, UK)

• The Masters of Real Estate accredited by NTU has recruited since 2001; annual student recruitment has varied between 10-25 students.

• On graduation, students have been highly successful in gaining employment in the real estate profession in both the public and private sector, and have obtained posts both home (in the UK) and abroad.

• Most of our graduates on gaining employment in the profession seek to embark on the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence, if they have not done so already as members of the part-time mode of study.

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Observations/Concluding Comments

• Difference in expected average study hours between programmes.

• Difference in level of academic attainment between programmes.

• Difference in vocational aspirations of the programmes.

• Difference in expectation of research skills development

• Different procedure for accreditation by RICS.

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• Thank you for listening!

• Any questions?

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An Analysis ofReal Estate Masters:

The Case of UPV and NTU

European Real Estate Society Seminar4th and 5th December 2009

Vienna, Austria.