Offered: NVM Agricultural & Rural
HBO study Rural Real Estate and Brokerage
When the full-time bachelor's degree program started last year National Real Estate & Brokerage at Aeres Hogeschool in Dronten for the first time in ten years, Daan Hulsmeijers was one of the students who registered. "I know the agricultural sector well because I come from a dairy farm myself. However, I do not want to become a farmer. But the real estate sector does appeal to me. In this study I can combine both sectors. I am now in my second year and I am really enjoying it. I especially like the alternation between theory and practice."
With the current task in the rural area, the sector is eager for new real estate experts. "Nitrogen, buyout schemes and land exchanges provide a lot of work in the countryside. In order to guide this redevelopment in the right direction, we need people who are experts in the field of agricultural and rural real estate and who can apply all the rules well. The study therefore focuses on three activities: mediation, valuation and stewardship", says Fenny Frens-Mooiweer, lecturer in Financial Management and Business Administration at the agricultural college. "We previously offered this field as a minor (optional subject), but you only start specialising in the fourth year. With this study, you are immediately on track to become an agricultural broker-valuer. In addition, students of the study also receive a broadly applicable business administration bachelor's degree."
Real estate related subjects
At the time of speaking, student Daan has just completed a Business Administration test. The next test, Civil Engineering, is just around the corner. "These were the subjects we focused on in the past period. In addition to theory, both subjects also involve a project. We went to a secondary company where we saw in practice how it is organized and managed. For Civil Engineering, we followed a construction project for six months."
However, Daan likes the real estate-related subjects the most. "Subjects such as Soil Science and Sector Orientation really appeal to me. We also went out with a valuer to learn what he looks for. We examined our own stable at the practical location of the college, but also went to an arable farmer and an estate to see how valuations are done."
Internship at the province
In addition to taking courses and the practical excursions that go with them, the students also do an internship every year. Daan was allowed to gain experience at the province of Overijssel, department of land affairs. "In the beginning, I didn't really know what to expect," the student admits. "The department of land affairs manages the provincial land and deals with leases and such matters. We sometimes have prejudices about the people who work there on the farm because the decisions they make are not always to the advantage of the farmer. However, I am glad that I did an internship there. I learned a lot from the people there and was able to see how and why decisions are made at the province."
Daan still has to study for a little over two years before he can call himself a national broker and appraiser. He is not looking forward to that. "I am in a class with a nice group of fellow students. Aeres is a relatively small university of applied sciences, everyone knows each other and you are not a number to the teachers either. You make contact quickly and can easily talk to each other. In addition, I like the study and the future prospects. There will be enough work in the countryside in the coming years, so I am guaranteed to find a job."
Friday November 15th there is a Open day at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Dronten. You can also get more information about this study!
