Refocusing Real Estate Education In Uganda. A Challenging Experience

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the evolution of real estate degree programs since their inception in Uganda in 2005. It further assesses the relevance in regard to solving the land management challenges which they were intended to solve.DESIGN/METHODS/APPROACH: This study was mainly a case study research. Purposive sampling was vital in selection of relevant departments in universities where programs are taught and stratified techniques wereused in collecting data from the different stakeholders; in addition, there was a review of several documents to enhance knowledge obtained from the primary data.FINDINGS: The study established that, although real estate programs were introduced in Uganda more than a decade ago to cub the glaringly unguided property market and the challenges of the land management anddevelopment function, policy makers haven’t yet appreciated their existence. Relevance of the initial curricula designs weren’t sustainable, hence necessitating thorough reviews both on course content, weightings and even total replacements.RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: This research hasn’t made a comparative study of relevance of real estate programs with key states within the East African Community. The time period is also limited to since the inception of the programs and little focus has been put on the magnitude of the land challenges during the period before their inceptionPRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Results of this research can be instrumental in boosting the quality of real estate programs to become more relevant and sustainableORIGINALITY/VALUE OF WORK: Since their inception in Uganda, this study provides the first opportunity to ‘stoke take’ on the focus and relevance of the real estate programs to the Ugandan property industry.