10 August 1992 Software Gift a Boost for Property Studies at Lincoln

Property management studies at Lincoln University have received a $20,000 electronic boost from Christchurch computer software developers Mark Cawston and Associates.

The company's gift to Lincoln is a property management package written in New Zealand specifically for New Zealand conditions. Currently it ranks as the number one programme in the country, being used more widely than any other.

Leonie Freeman of Lincoln's Property Group says that having the software package as a teaching and research resource is an investment in the future.

"It will help keep our students up to date with the latest software on the market, and after all, they are the University's future graduates and the country's future property professionals.

"We thank Mark Cawston and Associates for their generosity in gifting this package to Lincoln University."

Features of Property Management System (PMS) include the integration of property management and accounting systems, something which Mark Cawston describes as "fairly radical when we first did it".

Another feature is that development is led by the users.

"We are continually upgrading the programme based on customer suggestions," says Mr Cawston. "The programme is very 'user friendly' and in terms of receptiveness to user suggestions the company is too."

PMS was originally written in 1988 for MFL Mutual Funds but has undergone considerable change since then. Today it is used by property managers throughout New Zealand.

Receipt of the software gift was among the last public actions of Professor John Baen who has now relinquished his position as head of Real Estate, Valuation and Property Management studies at Lincoln to return home to the United States.

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