The rapid growth, development and increasing competition of the retail market have led to a high demand for talent in shopping mall management. Currently, there are few programmes that cater to this demand. In light of this, The Link Management Limited (“LML”), a key employer of shopping mall management talent, together with the Institute of Advanced Executive Education of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (“Poly U”), are launching a postgraduate programme called “The Link Executive Development Programme in Shopping Mall Management”.        

 

George Hongchoy, CEO of LML, said, “To further improve the quality and service level of our shopping malls, we must ensure that our management talent receives professional training and development. With a portfolio of 180 properties and over 11 million square feet of internal floor area servicing millions of Hong Kong people, we must seek continuous improvement in our service and management quality. We are very pleased to partner with Poly U to launch a development programme that focuses on both the theory and practice of shopping mall management, and in so doing, benefits our internal talent as well as the Hong Kong public.”
 

Professor Judy Tsui, PolyU’s Vice President (International and Executive Education) said, “The LINK Executive Development Programme in Shopping Mall Management aims at providing executive education at the management level to professionals. The Programme has brought together the expertise in the areas of property management, accounting, finance and asset management from PolyU’s Department of Building and Real Estate, and School of Accounting and Finance. Upon completion of this programme, students will be able to further develop potentials of the shopping malls managed by their company.”
 

Scheduled to commence in January of 2013, this programme is the product of an innovative corporate-academia partnership taught by esteemed faculty members from Poly U. The programme covers financial, operational, legal and managerial aspects of managing a shopping mall, incorporating both theory and practice. Due to LML’s unique position as a REIT (“Real Estate Investment Trust”), the programme emphasises corporate finance, managerial accounting and real estate valuation.

 

The programme is designed to cater to working professionals who are busily engaged in their daily lives. Participants may enrol and get credit for individual courses or modules instead of completing the full two-year programme. Professionals with qualifications in surveying, housing or property management may enrol in particular courses in which they need development. Classes are held only on Saturdays, thus minimising work disruptions during the week.

 

 

The programme consists of eight subjects to be taught over a two-year period, which include Property Law, Corporate Real Estate Asset Management, Real Estate Valuation, Accounting for Management Decision Making, Principles of Corporate Finance, Property Management, Maintenance Management and Operation, and Project Studio for the Construction and Real Estate. The subjects combines classroom learning and real-life applications, will be taught in English and are held every other Saturdays throughout the two-year period. 

 

The Institute of Advanced Executive Education
 
The Institute of Advanced Executive Education (IAEE) at PolyU is established to develop the University’s advanced executive education and provide interdisciplinary courses. IAEE emphasizes the elements of “Interdisciplinary, Innovative and International”. Through IAEE Programmes, students could generate innovative and meaningful solutions to issues arising in the context of their organizations. Besides experienced IAEE teaching professors and staff, IAEE also invites international professors and experts to teach in the programmes. 
 

For details, please contact Mr Andrew Cheung, Corporate Communications Manager of The Link Management Limited on 9685 5187 / andrew.t.cheung@thelinkreit.com or Ms Janice Shu, Assistant Officer of The Institute of Advanced Executive Education on 3400 8474 or janice.shu@polyu.edu.hk.