The Department of Real Estate, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying (RECMQS) is looking to broaden its international footprint following a consultative meeting with New York University (NYU). The discussions, held on Wednesday, January 7, at the Dean’s Office in the Faculty of the Built Environment and Design (FBED), centered on creating a sustainable academic and research bridge between Nairobi and New York.

The meeting was led by Arch. Peter Njeru, Chairman of the Department, alongside Dr. Raphael Kieti and Nicky Nzioki, an Adjunct Senior Lecturer who also serves as the current President of the African Real Estate Society (AfRES). They met with Prof. Kwatinetz, Director of the NYU Urban Lab, who was accompanied by a delegation of both undergraduate and postgraduate students from NYU.

While the partnership is global in scale, the focus remains grounded in local realities. A primary objective of the collaboration is to tackle real estate challenges specific to African markets, with a particular emphasis on affordable housing—a critical pillar in Kenya’s current economic agenda.

The proposed framework goes beyond theory. It envisions a hands-on exchange where students from both institutions can engage in short-term academic exposure, research attachments, and experiential learning. For the faculty, the partnership opens doors for visiting scholar arrangements and joint supervision of postgraduate research.

Prof. Kwatinetz and the UoN team explored ways to promote joint seminars and conferences that will utilize real estate case studies relevant to the African context. The goal is to ensure that research coming out of the FBED isn't just stored in libraries but addresses the practical gaps in urban policy and property development.

Looking Ahead: Kampala 2026

The meeting also served as a platform to align the two institutions with the broader African real estate community. Nicky Nzioki invited the NYU team to participate in the upcoming 25th Annual Conference of the African Real Estate Society (AfRES), scheduled to take place in Kampala, Uganda, from September 8 to 11, 2026.

This conference is expected to be a major milestone for the partnership, providing a venue for the first sets of joint research findings to be presented to a continental audience.

For the students and staff at RECMQS, this collaboration signals a shift toward a more outward-looking academic approach. By pairing UoN’s regional expertise with NYU’s international research tools, the faculty is positioning itself at the center of the conversation on the future of African cities.