The new institute will focus on cultivating leadership and innovation amid major industry shifts
A new hub for teaching and research on commercial and residential real estate has opened at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business.
Touted as the first of its kind in Canada, the Jonathan Wener Centre for Real Estate will be particularly relevant amid the sea changes in the real estate space, according to Michel Deslauriers, the centre’s director and a Concordia finance lecturer.
Among these shifts are demographic trends, technological advancements, environmental concerns, and the omnipresent influence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Given these changes, there has never been a greater need for industry leaders, teachers and innovators to work together,” Deslauriers said. “The Jonathan Wener Centre for Real Estate is going to allow our students to enter the industry with a great deal of the knowledge they need to start adding value to their profession right away.”
The centre outlined its main goals as follows:
- Train the next generation of real estate professionals by providing students with the cutting-edge knowledge and real-world experience they need to succeed in the field
- Drive innovation through knowledge creation and provide real estate leaders with insights into an evolving market and industry
- Provide industry players and employees with training and tools to adapt and excel
“Real estate is a very sophisticated industry, requiring an awful lot of talent and knowledge from the people who enter the workforce,” said Jonathan Wener, Concordia chancellor and the centre’s namesake. “My hope is that our centre will provide the education and backing that our students need in a very demanding world.”
