Education and Training has always been a main pillar of INREV membership but it has never been easier for members to make use of this service, with increased access and a wider range of offerings from training courses to eLearning to online courses blending the two approaches, and not forgetting the only academically accredited certificate in the non-listed real estate industry, the INREV/Henley Certificate. The full training programme is for all levels of professionals and is delivered by top industry experts working at the forefront of the non-listed real estate industry.  

In-class and online courses

The INREV training programme runs throughout the year and covers all manner of subjects, from Portfolio Construction, to Advanced NAV, to Impact Investing – a course set to launch for the first time this October in response to the huge developments in this area. 

In light of the global shutdown and corporate travel bans, INREV rapidly moved its complete training programme online, enabling participants to engage and learn through Zoom in the safety of their own office (or homes for many). Course structures were redesigned to maximise engagement, switching from a day-long course to shorter bitesize sessions spread over 1-2 weeks. The online courses are designed to include various formats such as breakout session, case studies, and networking elements which is an important factor for many attendees. 

eLearning was introduced in April 2019 which has since played a huge role in increasing the accessibility of education and training for the industry community around the globe

‘INREV’s Training team has done an impressive job in switching the educational courses into a modern and interactive virtual setting – literally over-night, and the positive feedback from online-course participants underlines that. The Training & Education Committee has supported that effort with additional ideas and open debate and we will continue to ensure that all educational offerings live up to the highest standards.’ Shares Manuel Philippe Wormer, Chair of the INREV Training and Education Committee. 

On-demand, flexible eLearning

Complimenting the training courses that INREV holds throughout the year, an eLearning element was introduced in April 2019 which has since played a huge role in increasing the accessibility of education and training for the industry community around the globe. According to the membership survey conducted at the end of 2020, 83% of members attended an online event or briefing in 2020 and for a quarter of them it was their first INREV event.  

INREV eLearning is designed to offer flexible online education featuring pre-recorded segments, practical examples and real life case studies, as well as tasks to be completed to test the learning ability of the participant enabling those who take part to achieve many of the same learning outcomes as a traditional classroom course. A major benefit of INREV eLearning is that participants are not required to take time away from the office or accrue additional expenses that can often be a deal breaker for more junior members of the INREV community, or indeed our North American or Asia Pacific members for whom it is not always practical to travel to Europe for a one day course. The eLearning offering to date includes modules on Effective Due Diligence and INREV NAV with further modules in the pipeline. 

83% of members attended an online event or briefing in 2020 and for a quarter of them it was their first INREV event

The best of both worlds

Taking this one step further, INREV has now taken a blended approach with the INREV Online Foundation course eLearning which has been well received so far and there are further plans to introduce this approach to the upcoming INREV Guidelines course.

The INREV foundation course offers a great introduction to non-listed real estate investing

‘The INREV foundation course offers a great introduction to non-listed real estate investing. The course uses a combination of eLearning modules to cover the fundamentals of real estate with online discussions led by RE industry experts to discuss relevant issues facing real estate investors today.  As someone with years of asset management experience but relatively new to real estate, I appreciated the practical knowledge the course offered – along with the insightful perspectives shared by guest fund managers and advisors.’, Rosamond Price, Senior Vice President, Private Funds, Brookfield.

The only academically accredited certificate in non-listed real estate

The Foundation Course is also a stepping-stone to other INREV courses thanks to the broad understanding that participants can achieve, with many going on to complete the INREV / Henley Certificate in non-listed real estate. The certificate is a collaboration between INREV and the Henley Business School offering an academically accredited qualification in the non-listed real estate industry via a practical and hands-on route. ‘Having passed the “INREV / Henley Certificate” myself, I can only encourage our members, irrespective of age or seniority, to join INREV’s courses and enroll to this certificate.’ continues Manuel Philippe Wormer, Chair of the INREV Education and Training Committee.

As someone with years of asset management experience but relatively new to real estate, I appreciated the practical knowledge the course offered – along with the insightful perspectives shared by guest fund managers and advisors.’, Rosamond Price, Senior Vice President, Private Funds, Brookfield

At the moment, there are two education streams for participants to follow, either Portfolio Management or Corporate Finance, each requiring a number of courses to be completed over a three year period before going on to achieve the certification. To date, there are around 50 industry professionals who are working towards the certificate and 29 graduates who have already received their certification. The certificate is the only available academically accredited certificate in the non-listed real estate industry so offers a unique opportunity for industry members to stand out among their peers.

‘With the certificate, you can really show your knowledge and your added value in the subject. The courses are practical and then, in combination with the business school, you are able to add an academic dimension.’ Shares Robert Wagenaar, INREV/Henley Certificate alumni, Bouwinvest

While INREV hopes to revert back to some sort of normality in the near future, the overwhelming positive feedback on online courses means that the online offering will play a significant part of the overall INREV training offering, even when classroom courses can resume. 

Enrol on the next INREV Foundation Course eLearning taking place this September 

If you would like to learn more about INREV courses that are available or the INREV / Henley Certificate, head over to the INREV Training page or please contact training@inrev.org