12 December 2001 Global look at real estate research

Real estate issues go under close international academic scrutiny in Christchurch in January when Lincoln University hosts the 7th annual conference of the Pacific Rim Real Estate Society.

Academics from 17 countries, representing all the major continents will be attending with the keynote speakers coming from England, Ireland and the United States of America.

One hundred and ten conference papers have been accepted for presentation over the three days of the gathering, 21-23 January, which takes place in Christchurch's Hotel Grand Chancellor.

The aim of the conference is to bring together international, cutting-edge research in a wide variety of areas pertaining to real estate, says Lincoln University's Professor of Property Studies, William McCluskey.

"What are the directions in real estate education and research that are going to be important over the next three to five years? What will be the main driving forces for change and development? These are the key issues the conference will address," says Professor McCluskey, "and we will be applying a truly global perspective to them."

Professor Alastair Adair from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, Carolyn Slater, from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, England, and Professor Elaine Worzala from Colorado State University, USA, are the keynote speakers and the contents of their addresses illustrate the conference's wide spectrum of interests.

With sessions on Valuation, Property Cycles, Property Markets, Land Tenure, Housing Markets, Ethics and Accreditation, Property Taxation, Corporate Real Estate, Residential Issues, Environmental Valuation, Investments, Rural Issues, Valuation Dynamics, Economic Issues and Legal Issues there will be something to suit most professionals, says Professor McCluskey.

The Pacific Rim Real Estate Society had its origins at Lincoln University 12 years ago in the inaugural Real Estate Educators Conference and this is the first time the conference has been hosted by Lincoln since then.

The University's foundation Professor of Real Estate, John Baen, who was also New Zealand's first full professor of real estate studies will attend, along with his successor Professor Terry Boyd and the present Professor of Property Studies, William McCluskey. Senior Lecturer in Property Studies Cedric Croft will chair the conference.

Full conference details are available from the Conference Administrator, Helen Shrewsbury, Professional Development Group, Lincoln University, phone   (03)    3252811    ext    8955, fax (03) 3253840, email shrewsbh@lincoln.ac.nz. On-line registration is available with single day registrations an option, and the full programme is available on http://events.lincoln.ac.nz/prres.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.