College students to develop new strategies for the management of corporate real estate

Graduate and undergraduate college students around the world have a chance to win US$10,000 for their team, and another US$10,000 for their academic institution, by participating in an academic challenge to tackle key issues facing the corporate real estate profession.

CoreNet Global, the world’s leading professional association for corporate real estate executives, has announced the competition for students from all academic disciplines.

“We are looking for the next generation of ideas,” said Angela Cain, chief executive of CoreNet Global. “At the same time, we want graduate and undergraduate students to understand that corporate real estate is a profession unto itself, and a valid career path.”

Corporate real estate, the real property used by a company for its own operations, involves all classes of property, land and buildings including office facilities, data centres, manufacturing facilities, logistic bases, corporate headquarters, distribution facilities, retail stores, and even hotels. 

Corporate real estate executives, who may manage millions of dollars in real estate assets around the world, face challenges including site location, logistics, the workplace and technology.

To overcome those challenges they must work with and among virtually every corporate function, including finance, HR and information technology. As the function has become more strategically important, salaries for corporate real estate executives have been consistently rising, according to CoreNet Global’s annual compensation survey.