media releases - Phasing out NDiploma in Real Estate and the BTech in Real Estate

The University of South Africa is phasing out the National Diploma in Real Estate and the BTech in Real Estate. No new registrations for these qualifications will be allowed from January 2009. Pipeline students will be allowed to finish, but they have only until 2011 to complete these qualifications.

The National Diploma in Real Estate (NDREE) and the BTech in Real Estate (BTRLS) were inherited from the TSA and were offered from the Florida campus by four lecturers.

Unisa discovered during a peer review of the study material that the material was dated and needed urgent revision. This was conveyed to the lecturers responsible for these qualifications. All the lecturers concerned have since left Unisa and taken up positions elsewhere. The vacancies have been advertised but no response has been received.

Since these qualifications are to be phased out, contractors will have to be used over the next four years to do most of the academic work.

Contractors have been engaged to mark the assignments and exam scripts. These contractors are busy marking the assignments which Unisa received since January 2008. A lecturer who is also a valuer will be employed from 1 July to handle academic queries from students.

All the property marketing modules were transferred from the Department of Finance and Risk Management and Banking to the Marketing Management department, effective 1 January 2008.

All four (4) the property law modules are being transferred to the College of Law.

Unisa and the SA Council of Property Valuer Professionals (SACPVP) have had two meetings to discuss the matter. Unisa is preparing a proposal to perhaps offer a Higher Certificate in Property Valuation or a BCom in Real Estate. However, the introduction of such qualifications will depend on approval by the Department of Education (during 2009) and the ability to attract and retain suitable academic staff to offer these qualifications.