Real Estate News
PropTech PRODA Tours Universities to Encourage Young Talent in STEM Careers
PRODA, a proptech automating the entire rent roll data process, saving analysts up to 90% of their time, has been touring some of its employees' old universities in a bid to encourage young talent and diversity in the real estate technology sector.
The move has been applauded by universities including Cambridge, Nottingham Trent and Oxford Brookes who support their students in pursuing non-traditional STEM careers.
Co-Founder of PRODA, Charles Williams speaks on the initiative:
"We're really passionate about showcasing proptech as a viable long term career. This is why we have been encouraging members of our business to go back to their respective universities and give a flavour of what working in the real estate technology industry is like. It's a strong belief of mine that the real estate industry ought to change its ways and encourage young talent and diversity. Often this starts at university."
Colin Lizieri, Grosvenor Professor of Real Estate Finance at the University of Cambridge commented:
"The property industry is being transformed by new digital technologies which are disrupting traditional market practices. Charles Williams's (co-founder of PRODA and ex-student at Cambridge) excellent presentation to our students was a great opportunity for them to see the impact of these changes in action and the possibilities that big data, machine learning and the application of IT to practical problems can bring. As a Department, we are determined to produce students with the flexible skills to benefit and use these new technologies and to recruit the best applicants from all parts of society who can benefit from and use those skills going forward to make a positive contribution to the built and natural environment."
Paul Royston, Senior Lecturer in Real Estate at Nottingham Trent University added:
"PRODA's presentation proved to be a useful session for our students, raising awareness on 'non-traditional' employment opportunities within the field of surveying and real estate. Having an ex-student speak was rather aspirational in terms of showcasing a first-hand personal journey since graduating with one of our real estate courses and entering the ever-evolving world of proptech."
