Students’ perceptions of Education for Sustainable Real Estate Development in Brazil

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STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF EDUCATION FOR

SUSTAINABLE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN SUSTAINABLE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN BRAZILBRAZIL

Rogerio Santovito - [email protected] Politécnica, University of São PauloIRE|BS International Real Estate Business School, University of RegensburgKompetenzzentrum für Nachhaltigkeit in der Immobilienwirtschaft

Presentation prepared for the9th ERES Education Seminar

Bratislava – Slovak Republic | December 6th-7th, 2013



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Context of the research

Although the sustainability theme in general has been somehow incorporated into the curriculum of higher education courses, increasingly the real estate industry recognizes Sustainable Development as an issue of mandatory competence for future professionals.

The challenge of sustainability to real estate education: what employers will require. Sayce, Lewis and Ellison, 2005

RICS Sustainability as a mandatory competence for APC (2011)

RICS supporting UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) July 2013

This would favor the incorporation of sustainability aspects into curricula of higher education courses, either through specific self-contained modules, or by updating the course curricula and incorporating interdisciplinary sustainability issues.

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Context of the research

The concept of Sustainable Development is wide-ranging and lacks a theoretical consensus. Often, therefore, there is the adoption in courses of several complementary definitions, as well as environmental practices already established prior to the emergence of this discussion.

“…programme core knowledge and competencies must be defined with reference to market needs.” D’Arcy & Taltavull, 2009

The market for real estate graduates in Europe, the evolution of real estate education in business school and built environment contexts, accreditation issues, developing best practice, life-long learning, defining core real estate knowledge, minimum education requirements, new learning technologies and their application to real estate.

Real estate education in Europe: some perspectives on a decade of rapid changeJournal of European Real Estate Research Vol. 2 No. 1, 2009 pp. 69-78

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Research objectives

This research addresses the issue of Sustainable Development Education, in an effort to enable a better integration of sustainability topics into several MBA-level courses @EPUSP-Brazil.

To get evidence on students' perceptions of education for Sustainable Real Estate Development; how they see the involvement of real estate companies into Sustainable Development practices, and their opinions/preferences about the delivery formats of educational content.

Early step: pilot study finished, ready to proceed with the full survey.

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Survey methodology

Biasutti and Surian (2012), The Students’ Survey of Education for Sustainable Development Competencies: A Comparison Among Faculties.

Rieckmann (2011), Key Competencies for a Sustainable Development of the World Society.

Hayles (2010), can Greening the Curriculum Influence Student’s Perceptions and Awareness of Sustainability

Study of the documentation from the original researches

Questionnaire design

Pilot study conducted

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In general terms, the perceptions and opinions that would be captured by the questionnaire were ordered using:

Demographics about respondents;

Personal perceptions about SD and their professional practices;

Involvement of real estate companies and market influences over SD;

Competencies for Sustainable Development;

Educational content / delivery format


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Demographics about respondentsAge group (generations)> 65 y.45 ~ 64 y.o.35 ~ 44 y.o.25 ~ 34 y.o.< 25 y.o.

Which category best describes your company?(Construction Mgnt., Property Company - Shopping / Retail, Property company – Offices, Urban Planning, Engineering projectsArchitecting, facility Management, developer, etc (25 options).

What is the approximate % between domestic and multinational clients.

Your position level at current organization: S. T. O.


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Personal perceptions about SD and their professional practices

What is your definition for the concept of Sustainable Development?(open text)

To what extent the concept of Sustainable Development has affected your current professional activity? (Likert 5pt)

To what extent the concept of sustainable development has affected the business of the company for which you work, in terms of changes of the competencies needed for professional performance? (Likert 5pt)


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Involvement of real estate companies and market influences over Sustainable Development

In your opinion, to what extent medium and large real estate development companies have awareness of their ability to shape the urban landscape and to promote sustainable development? (Likert 5pt)

In your opinion, to what extent medium and large real estate development companies seek solutions to their real estate products taking into account aspects of sustainability? (Likert 5pt)

What do you consider to be the main drivers for your organization to take sustainability into consideration in the services you offer?Legislation Market transformationBetter informed clients Corporate Social responsibilityInvestor requirements Occupier requirementsOther (specify)


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Competencies for Sustainable DevelopmentTo what extent do you think the following competencies for Sustainable Development are relevant to your specific professional practice? (Likert 5pt)1. Competency for systemic thinking and handling of complexity2. Competency for anticipatory thinking3. Competency for critical thinking 4. Competency for acting fairly and ecologically5. Competency for cooperation in (heterogeneous) groups6. Competency for participation7. Competency for empathy and change of perspective8. Competency for interdisciplinary work9. Competency for communication and use of media10. Competency for planning and realizing innovative projects 11. Competency for evaluation12. Competency for ambiguity and frustration tolerance

In terms of professional requirements on graduates’ knowledge about sustainable development issues, to what extent do you expect this to change in next 2-5 years?


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Educational content / delivery formatSustainable Development is seen as interdisciplinary in nature. What is your preference about the way in which the topics of Sustainable Development should be discussed in MBA courses?

•Distributed across different disciplines, with a closing module at the end.•Distributed across the disciplines•As an independent discipline/module

If you could spend 2 weeks in an international field trip experiencing Sustainable Real Estate Development practices, which cities or countries you'd prefer to visit?


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Pilot Study

Total Students: 617

Cleaned list (excluded failed and dropouts):521

Pilot sample ~10% (53)

Distribution of studentsReal Estate - Economia Setorial e Mercados 171 32,8%

TGP-Tecnologia e Gestao na Producao de Edificios 79 15,2%Gestão e Tecnologia de Produção de Edifícios ROSSI Engenharia 96 18,4%

Método Engenharia 24 4,6%Gerenciamento de Facilidades 97 18,6%

Engenharia Acustica de Edificios e Ambiental 33 6,3%Gestao de Projetos na Construcao 21 4,0%

Total 521

TipoMBA 368 70,6%

In-company 153 29,4%Total 521

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Pilot Study

Year2009 84 24,4%2010 81 23,5%2011 51 14,8%2012 128 37,2%Total 0 0,0%

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StatusConcluído 222 42,6%

Em andamento 299 57,4%Total 521

Period analyzed: 5 years (2009-2013)

Pilot does not allows for generalization of the results, but validates the use of the resultant (adjusted) questionnaire.

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Final considerations

Comments for improving the questionnaire

International comparative research

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STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF EDUCATION FOR

SUSTAINABLE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN SUSTAINABLE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN BRAZILBRAZIL

Rogerio Santovito - [email protected] Politécnica, University of São PauloIRE|BS International Real Estate Business School, University of RegensburgKompetenzzentrum für Nachhaltigkeit in der Immobilienwirtschaft





Documents

Students’ perceptions of Education for Sustainable Real Estate Development in Brazil