Is land economics marketable?
Jul 14, 2007
CAREER GUIDANCE<br><br>Dear Jamesa,<br>Please enlighten me on the Bachelor of Science in Land Economics course. What are the career opportunities? I am ignorant about the course yet I have been admitted to study it at Makerere University. <br>Ropez
CAREER GUIDANCE
Dear Jamesa,
Please enlighten me on the Bachelor of Science in Land Economics course. What are the career opportunities? I am ignorant about the course yet I have been admitted to study it at Makerere University.
Ropez
Dear Ropez,
The Bachelor of Science in Land Economics degree is one of the new programmes offered by the Faculty of Technology, Makerere University. Until recently, the university was not offering undergraduate training in Land Economics. The few qualified land economists in the country were trained abroad. The discipline is, therefore, still virgin and is highly marketable.
About the programme
Land Economics is a professional programme that emphasises valuation and management of property. The programme gives you specialised skills in land use and valuation, financing, development, marketing and management of real estate.
Skills
The programme offers the following training and much more:
- Mathematics for surveyors
- Elements of structural analysis
- Construction technology
- Real property law
- Land economics
- Real estate valuation and development
- Property economics
- Investment appraisal
- Entrepreneurship
- Urban and regional planning
- Development economics
- Property investment analysis
Requirements
The core subjects for this four-year programme are Mathematics, Physics, Economics and Geography. Relevant subjects are Technical Drawing, Fine Art and Chemistry.
Qualities of a good land
economist
- Land economics involves working with different people. You must have the social skills of handling clients and managing people.
- You need to be interested in the development of the environment.
- Valuation of property requires good knowledge of and interest in figures. You should have a passion for Mathematics.
Career opportunities
The construction industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of Uganda’s economy. Land economists are required to carry out valuation of land and property.
They assess the open market value of property and calculate the property’s present and future value. There are career opportunities in both private and public sectors.
The following are major areas of employment:
- Property valuer
This is a professional who provides specialist advice to clients on the value of properties. In appraising the present or future value of property, the valuer takes into consideration many market forces that affect the property values.
- Real Estate development
A real estate development consultant provides consultancy services to developers on the feasibility and implementation of their projects. The consultant also advises the developer on the best method of financing the project to maximise the rates of return. A Land Economics graduate can team up with architects and quantity surveyors to form a construction service company that provides development consultancy services. This is a good avenue for self-employment.
- Urban economist and planner
These are professionals involved in the planning and optimisation of land use. Urban planners play a leading role in ensuring that the development of land does not destroy the environment. The graduates can be absorbed in the Ministry of Lands, where they can work as valuers and urban planners. They can also work as real estate property valuers in banks and real estate property agencies.
Compiled by Jamesa Wagwau
Send your questions to
Education Vision, P.O. BOX 9815, Kampala
OR jwagwau@newvision.co.ug
Dear Jamesa,
Please enlighten me on the Bachelor of Science in Land Economics course. What are the career opportunities? I am ignorant about the course yet I have been admitted to study it at Makerere University.
Ropez
Dear Ropez,
The Bachelor of Science in Land Economics degree is one of the new programmes offered by the Faculty of Technology, Makerere University. Until recently, the university was not offering undergraduate training in Land Economics. The few qualified land economists in the country were trained abroad. The discipline is, therefore, still virgin and is highly marketable.
About the programme
Land Economics is a professional programme that emphasises valuation and management of property. The programme gives you specialised skills in land use and valuation, financing, development, marketing and management of real estate.
Skills
The programme offers the following training and much more:
- Mathematics for surveyors
- Elements of structural analysis
- Construction technology
- Real property law
- Land economics
- Real estate valuation and development
- Property economics
- Investment appraisal
- Entrepreneurship
- Urban and regional planning
- Development economics
- Property investment analysis
Requirements
The core subjects for this four-year programme are Mathematics, Physics, Economics and Geography. Relevant subjects are Technical Drawing, Fine Art and Chemistry.
Qualities of a good land
economist
- Land economics involves working with different people. You must have the social skills of handling clients and managing people.
- You need to be interested in the development of the environment.
- Valuation of property requires good knowledge of and interest in figures. You should have a passion for Mathematics.
Career opportunities
The construction industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of Uganda’s economy. Land economists are required to carry out valuation of land and property.
They assess the open market value of property and calculate the property’s present and future value. There are career opportunities in both private and public sectors.
The following are major areas of employment:
- Property valuer
This is a professional who provides specialist advice to clients on the value of properties. In appraising the present or future value of property, the valuer takes into consideration many market forces that affect the property values.
- Real Estate development
A real estate development consultant provides consultancy services to developers on the feasibility and implementation of their projects. The consultant also advises the developer on the best method of financing the project to maximise the rates of return. A Land Economics graduate can team up with architects and quantity surveyors to form a construction service company that provides development consultancy services. This is a good avenue for self-employment.
- Urban economist and planner
These are professionals involved in the planning and optimisation of land use. Urban planners play a leading role in ensuring that the development of land does not destroy the environment. The graduates can be absorbed in the Ministry of Lands, where they can work as valuers and urban planners. They can also work as real estate property valuers in banks and real estate property agencies.
Compiled by Jamesa Wagwau
Send your questions to
Education Vision, P.O. BOX 9815, Kampala
OR jwagwau@newvision.co.ug