Haphazard regional development and unbalanced growth in post-Soviet Ukraine were already significant challenges before the war. Post-war realities will only exacerbate social and economic developments that were lacking clear, coherent solutions.
As a direct response, Fordham’s Real Estate Institute and the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) will launch a series of virtual symposia to examine the foundation and future of residential, commercial, and industrial real estate activities in the aftermath of the conflict in Ukraine. The partnership seeks to build an intellectual foundation for a strong and innovative economy of Ukraine as well as develop the real estate services, public policy, and governance needed for a thriving and viable real estate ecosystem.
“Well-trained urban economists and real estate specialists are a fundamental requirement to build a socially inclusive and economically sustainable system of Ukrainian cities. We look forward to welcoming our colleagues from the Fordham University Real Estate Institute and The Counselors of Real Estate in launching new educational initiatives at KSE,” said Mihnea Constantinescu, Ph.D., head of research at the National Bank of Ukraine and visiting scholar and academic director of Kyiv School of Economics’ urban development program.
The first symposium will take place on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. Eastern European Standard Time (12 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time) on Zoom and will feature a presentation by The Counselors of Real Estate, an international consortium of credentialed real estate problem solvers that has advised towns and cities in the aftermath of destruction.
“This reflects the commitment to cutting-edge thinking and applied knowledge characteristic of these three organizations: Fordham University Real Estate Institute, the Kyiv School of Economics, and The Counselors of Real Estate,” said Neil B. Madsen, CRE, who is a founding principal of Madsen Advisors, LLC; board member of The Counselors of Real Estate’s New York Metropolitan chapter; an adjunct professor at Fordham’s Real Estate Institute; and head of thought leadership on its REI Executive Advisory Council.
The partnership between REI and KSE seeks to build an intellectual foundation for a strong and innovative Ukrainian economy and to develop the real estate services, public policy, and governance needed for a thriving and viable real estate ecosystem. The series aims to work toward solutions to long-standing problems in post-Soviet Ukraine, such as haphazard regional development and unbalanced growth, which will only be exacerbated by the war.
“This collaboration between Fordham REI and the KSE comes at a critical juncture,” said Ryan O’Connor, REI Executive Advisory Council chair and CEO of Clinton Management. “Fordham REI students routinely study the risks inherent to developing the built world. However, black swan events throughout history, such as the war in Ukraine, present unforeseen threats and challenges to those tasked with rebuilding the built world through public policy and governance. This symposium offers a truly unique conversation and is yet another example of the cutting-edge education Fordham REI students can expect.”
“We are thrilled to support KSE in providing their students with knowledge of global best practices in commercial real estate,” said Dr. Anthony R. Davidson, dean of Fordham’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies. “There is great potential in this Fordham REI partnership, and doing our part to ensure Ukraine’s future workforce is prepared to build a robust, post-war real estate market is just the beginning.”
Media Contact: Whitney Bowers, Co-Communications Inc. wbowers@cocommunications.com
