Between tradition and innovation

A lot of tradition, but very much up to date - for 35 years now, TU Wien (Academy for Continuing Education) has been offering university courses in the field of real estate management, which qualify students for professions such as property developer, property manager or estate agent. The celebration of the 35th anniversary of these courses took place in the dignified setting of the neighbouring Vienna Museum.

Guests included Rector Jens Schneider, representatives of the Academy for Continuing Education, Dean Wolfang Güttel and course director of the real estate courses, Dean of Studies Bob Martens. Numerous well-known guests from the real estate industry, the faculty and, above all, many graduates were also able to toast our real estate courses over a flying dinner with a view over Vienna and a view of TU Wien.

However, there is no evidence of a midlife crisis for the property courses, as they are still in tune with the times in terms of content, which is also reflected in the number of participants every year. 

The speeches

In a review of the past 35 years, Dean Wolfang Güttel explained the reciprocal influence that global politics and the property industry have had on each other. In these years, lifelong training has become an increasingly important prerequisite for success in the property industry. Rector Jens Schneider emphasised the growing importance of continuing education for TU Wien over the past decades. The Rector called on the guests to focus on innovation in the property industry and to advocate for the appropriate framework conditions in this regard. Course Director and Dean of Studies Bob Martens, together with Nadja Hafez (Managing Director at ZEHA Real Estate) and Astrid Grantner-Fuchs (Managing Director at EHL), also looked to the future of the property industry and the requirements of property education. Finally, Petra Aigner (Head of Operations Management at the TU Wien Academy) and Manuel Plachner (Chairman of the ImmoABS Association) gave an overview of the alumni statistics and the planned activities of the alumni association.

Background to the study programme

Over the past 35 years, TU Wien has been able to establish itself as a pioneer in the field of real estate education and offers a 4-semester undergraduate university course as well as a Master's course in Real Estate Management and Valuation. Over the years, not only has a dedicated community developed, which is also organised in an alumni association ("ImmoAbs"), but many start-ups in the real estate industry have also emerged as a product of the partnerships and the established friendships. The property training programme at the TU Wien Academy for Continuing Education is the foundation stone for many success stories.

There was plenty to talk about and many shared memories for the guests, who reflected the diversity of the community. In addition to the nostalgia and a great event, we are still looking forward to the next anniversary, but there is still a little time until 2029.