RICS European Education Forum 2026: Advancing Built Environment Education in Europe

The second annual RICS European Education Forum took place in January 2026 at Politecnico di Milano, bringing together academic leaders, industry professionals, and RICS representatives to reflect on the future of education in the built environment across Europe. Hosted by Jill Behrens and Anna Galiano from the RICS EQS International Accreditation team, the event benefited from strong local support provided by Roberto Calamandrei of RICS Italia and Prof. Dr. Marzia Morena FRICS from Politecnico di Milano.

The Forum brought together 15 programme leaders from 12 universities representing nine European nationalities, reinforcing its role as a continental platform for dialogue and collaboration among RICS-accredited education providers. Discussions focused on how surveying and real estate education must evolve to remain relevant in a rapidly changing professional landscape.

The Forum brought together 15 programme leaders from 12 universities representing nine European nationalities, reinforcing its role as a continental platform for dialogue and collaboration among RICS-accredited education providers. Discussions focused on how surveying and real estate education must evolve to remain relevant in a rapidly changing professional landscape.

Key sessions addressed emerging challenges and opportunities that are shaping education. Our University Engagement manager, Anna Banyasz spoke about resources available to RICS accredited programmes. Then, Bob Martens FRICS from TU Wien led a discussion on managing the use of artificial intelligence in academic theses, highlighting the need for clear academic guidance and ethical frameworks. A panel discussion on the future needs of surveying education, moderated by Anna Galiano, featured contributions from Jaime Luque (ESCP Business School), Stephen Coticoni MRICS (BNP Paribas Real Estate), and Andrea Mele MRICS (PRAXI), offering insights from both academic and employer perspectives. Jaime Luque also presented an overview of the Tech Barometer, exploring innovation trends and their implications for graduates and the wider real estate sector. The day concluded with a session on the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership, led by Paola Clerici Maestosi, linking education to broader European policy and sustainability agendas.

Running alongside the Forum, the International Real Estate Challenge (IREC) – organised by Prof. Dr. Marzia Morena FRICS -  further illustrated the value of experiential learning. Bringing together students from universities across Europe, IREC enables participants to work in international teams on real-world real estate challenges, strengthening practical skills, cross-cultural collaboration, and industry readiness.

The European Education Forum is designed to strengthen engagement with RICS-accredited programme leaders, providing a space to exchange insights, discuss education trends, and foster collaboration across institutions. Strong engagement on LinkedIn following the event highlighted the value placed on this dialogue and the growing visibility of RICS’ education initiatives.

RICS accreditation remains central to these discussions. By accrediting programmes aligned with its global education standards and pathways, RICS supports universities in delivering high-quality education and offers students a clear route towards RICS professional qualification. The Forum reaffirmed the importance of education that not only keeps pace with industry change, but actively anticipates it—ensuring the next generation of professionals is well prepared for the future of the built environment.