Global Real Estate Leaders Programme

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is collaborating with Maastricht University Center for Real Estate and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Center for Real Estate on the new Global Real Estate Leaders programme, a world-class education programme aimed at developing the next generation of industry leaders.

What does it take to be a leader in the real estate industry?

The programme offers executives with a minimum of ten year’s industry experience of real estate, asset management, finance and/or the built environment the opportunity to earn a professional education certificate covering the key skills and knowledge required to lead an active real estate organisation, including nationally and globally.

Leading academics and real estate industry leaders will provide in-depth insights into investment, and leadership and management skills, and address current and future industry challenges such as sustainability and climate risk, property technology, inflation, increased interest rates, talent shortages, and technological change

The leadership skills addressed by the programme include negotiation, entrepreneurship, high performing team design and management,diversity and inclusion, ethics, and cultural leadership and influencing.

Who should attend?

This programme is aimed at individuals with considerable real estate industry experience holding / pursuing executive positions, including:

• Real estate owners and private real estate developers
• Asset managers, fund managers working for pension funds, sovereign funds or
• Lending officers, investors, REIT officers, and fund managers and advisors
• Real estate industry service providers, such as financial analysts, lawyers, architects, urban planners, and brokers

A Global Cohort of Industry Leaders

The cohort is highly international, with participants joining from Europe (Netherlands, UK, Germany, Poland), the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Turkey), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Hong Kong, Australia), Africa (South Africa), and North America (New York, California, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Florida). Most participants bring over 15 years of industry experience—many with 20 to 30+ years—and hold senior leadership roles such as CEO, Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Real Estate, and Senior Fund Manager.

They represent the full spectrum of the real estate value chain, including investment and asset management (LaSalle Investment Management, AEW, CBRE),  REITs (Vukile), development and capital markets (Sit Riyadh Development Company, Pembroke, SAB Invest, Oxford Properties), institutional and pension funds (APG), corporate real estate and ESG (Google REWs, GRESB), architecture and urban design (UNStudio, Foster + Partners), and the public sector (New York City Housing Authority).

Collectively, the cohort brings deep expertise in fund and portfolio management, development, design, sustainability, and innovation across global real estate markets.

What is the format?

The programme runs over two years and consists of four one-week modules held between spring 2026 and fall 2027. Each year includes one week in the Netherlands (spring) and one week in Boston, Massachusetts (fall).

It combines faculty presentations, debates, case studies, interactive exercises, small-group discussions, panel sessions, and guest lectures from leaders in the global real estate industry. Each module also features site visits to some of the most innovative and advanced buildings and ongoing development projects in Europe and North America.

Meet the Academic Directors

When and where is it taking place?

• Spring Module: Maastricht and London – April 12-17, 2026
• Fall Module: MIT, Boston & New York City – October, 2026

Discount for ULI members 

As part of the collaboration with ULI Europe, all ULI members will receive a 20% discount on the cost of the Global Real Estate Leaders programme.

When is the application deadline? 

Applications are now open. Prospective participants can apply for individual modules or the full programme. The application deadline is March 1, 2025.

Further information

For further information on fees, timelines, teaching team and course content visit Global Real Estate Leaders or download the  brochure.

Contact details 

For any questions, please feel free to contact program director, Juan Palacios at: [email protected]