"First in Canada - A Fully Online MBA with Specialty Track in Real Estate Leadership"

FREDERICTON, March 18, 2014 /CNW/ - The Sandermoen School of Business at the University of Fredericton (UFred) is pleased to announce the launch of Canada's first specialty track in Real Estate Leadership  for its fully online MBA and Executive MBA (EMBA) programs. Developed in collaboration with the Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC), the leader in advanced Real Estate education, the online program answers a need by leaders of organizations in the real estate industry for more specialized and convenient access to graduate level education.

According to data from Industry Canada, the residential, commercial and industrial real estate industry in Canada, including the total value of property and facilities sales and leases, and property management fees, is approximately $100 billion, supporting some 600,000 jobs. An industry of this magnitude, subject as it is to the influence of substantial swings in a region's economic and political influences, needs leaders with the vision and ever-developing competence to guide their organizations through these potentially turbulent waters, towards greater and more robust performance.

Commencing in June 2014, with several additional start dates per year, the programs will cover a spectrum of topics from corporate management essentials such as accounting, finance and operations, to a detailed examination of leadership within a network of complex organizational relationships, finishing with a series of specialty track courses and an Integration Project focused on building real estate leadership competence. With tuition fees of $19,000 for the MBA and $24,500 for the EMBA, each program will comprise thirteen fully online courses, each completed in a fixed-agenda format, with one "live" faculty led webinar a week, plus a capstone 14-week Integration Seminar. MBA courses are 11 weeks long, while EMBA courses are 7 weeks in duration.

Maura McLaren, REIC's Executive Director and CEO, has been REIC's champion for the development of this program. According to McLaren "the Canadian real estate industry is one of Canada's largest and most dynamic economic sectors. Providing real estate leaders specialized graduate-level education, positions them to be masters of their industry". Lesley Lucas, REIC's Director of Education and Business Development, adds that "all REIC members will find this new offering to be attractive not only because of its real estate specialty track and fully online format, but also because of its affordable tuition. Additionally, REIC's CLO, CPM, CRF or FRI designation holders will receive a one-course advanced standing by virtue of their experience and successful completion of their designation's educational program requirements." 

"This program is consistent with the mission of the Sandermoen School of Business to provide lifelong learning paths for upwardly mobile professionals", concludes Dr. David Large, Dean of the Sandermoen School of Business. "An MBA or EMBA with a specialty track in Real Estate Leadership will prove to be a valuable extension to a real estate professional's education plan, especially for those who are, or aspire to be, visionary leaders of their organizations in these ever-changing and unpredictable times."

Full information on the program and application process is available at www.ufred.ca/sandermoen

About the Sandermoen School of Business:

The Sandermoen School of Business at the University of Fredericton offers fully-online MBA and Executive MBA programs with specialty tracks in Global Leadership, Innovation Leadership, Social Enterprise Leadership, OHS Leadership and Real Estate Leadership. Its mission is aligned with the university's mission to provide fully online lifelong learning paths for upwardly mobile professionals. For more information, visit UFred.ca.

About the Real Estate Institute of Canada:

REIC is a leading provider of advanced education and designation programs in Canada. REIC's mission is to advance professionalism in the real estate industry, and to that end has been educating and certifying specialists in real estate since 1955.  REIC's unique programs cover all sectors of the real estate industry including Sales and Leasing, Property Management and Real Estate Finance and emphasize experience, education, high business ethics and a commitment for professional development.  For more information, visit reic.com.

SOURCE: University of Fredericton

Sandermoen School of Business, Sarah Chiasson, 1-506-454-4664, [email protected]; Real Estate Institute of Canada, Lesley Lucas, Director of Education and Business Development, 416-695-9000, [email protected]