Citation
Olawore, A. (2014), "Guest editorial", Journal of European Real Estate Research, Vol. 7 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/JERER-01-2014-0001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Guest editorial
Article Type: Guest editorial From: Journal of European Real Estate Research, Volume 7, Issue 1
As the outgoing President of the International Real Estate Society (IRES), this guest editorial first seeks to reflect on the activities of IRES and second to explore the contribution of the African Real Estate (AfRES) and the significant role that AfRES is playing in developing the research base. IRES, as the Federation of all seven regional bodies (American Real Estate Society, European Real Estate Society, Pacific Rim Real Estate Society, Asian Real Estate Society, Latin American Real Estate Society, African Real Estate Society and Middle East and North African Real Estate Society), has a mission to:
Encourage communication, co-operation, and co-ordination regarding real estate research and education on a world-wide basis.
Encourage and assist in establishment of real estate education and research programs on a world-wide basis.
Encourage research on international real estate topics.
Encourage and facilitate faculty exchanges.
IRES is distinct in not having individuals as members but works through individual volunteers that variously belong to the respective sister societies. These individuals constitute the committee structure of IRES and a Board of Directors is elected each year. Each regional society has a minimum of three representatives on the Board. The visibility of IRES at regional conferences is apparent through organizing panels that are international in nature and which seek to debate global issues through participation and representation by members of regional societies. Indeed, IRES panels are becoming a key feature of conferences by regional societies. During 2013, IRES embarked on several areas of innovation notably enhancement of student activities, the development of a global database of real estate programs and a common platform for gathering information from all societies in relation to conference papers, authors, titles and abstracts. The organisation of an electronic monograph to acknowledge IRES 20-year anniversary and a ranking of international real estate journals are further initiatives that are being delivered on.
Through these activities, IRES provides opportunities for collaboration in research and teaching across the continents and particularly exciting is the development of the global database of real estate programs. In undertaking such initiatives, IRES wishes to acknowledge the individual dedication of colleagues who volunteer their time in advancing these activities and likewise the goodwill of industry and research institutions partners. The opportunities that are represented in the IRES network are truly global and more volunteers are required to promote the various projects and disseminate information to their society members. Updates on conferences round the year by the sister societies as well journals ranking and other useful information on IRES can be obtained on the web site http://www.iresnet.net
The African Real Estate Society, as an integral member of IRES, is focusing its research efforts and that of its members towards the contemporary needs of the African continent. The opportunities for real estate development and investment are substantial and indeed Africa has been widely described as the next destination of global finance and investment. However, at the same time, market transparency has been labeled more opaque than clear and although a number of African countries are rising in the league table of global transparency there remains much work to be undertaken. Hence, research is increasingly focussing on topics concerned with market maturity, market transparency, measurement and valuation. Issues of land tenure and reforms have taken on a new dimension necessitated by the requirements of FDI with potentially far reaching implications on land use, land rights of indigenous owners and human development. This is a truly exciting period in the development of the real estate discipline in Africa. In encapsulating this AfRES, as a body, is working on a property market information project on selected cities that will provide data for researchers as well as investors across the continent as Africa seeks to compete on the global stage and be a destination for international investment.
Akinola Olawore
Guest Editor