Cooperation with Academic Institutions

Aareal Bank AG collaborates with academic institutions as a partner. When selecting its partners, Aareal Bank AG emphasizes a balance between theory and practice in the educational programmes offered.

EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht

The EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht is the oldest private university in Germany. Since its foundation in 1971, EBS has continuously set new standards with its mix of innovation and tradition and has established itself as one of the most renowned universities in Germany with an international orientation, not only in the field of real estate management. Hence, EBS perfectly matches the sphere of activities and aspirations of Aareal Bank.

Aareal Bank is one of the companies providing crucial support to EBS amongst other things, by financing the "Aareal Endowed Chair of Real Estate Investment & Finance" at the Real Estate Management Institute (REMI). In doing so, Aareal Bank represents the interface between research and practice.

As part of its collaboration with EBS, Aareal Bank participates in various events that promote the dialogue between science and economy. A second main focus for this collaboration lies in the area of recruiting.

FWI Management Academy for the Housing and Real Estate Industry

Aareal Bank has committed itself to supporting the FWI for several years now.  In its role as a partner of the housing industry, Aareal Bank sponsors the prize for future-oriented and path-breaking final papers at the academy. The most sophisticated theses are awarded this prize. 

Studies at the FWI Academy of Management at the European Training Centre for Real Estate and Housing Management (EBZ)

The programme of study offered by the FWI Academy of Management at the European Educational Centre for Real Estate and Housing Management (EBZ) is a specific course that is orientated to the rising demand for highly qualified leaders in these industries. The mission of the FWI Academy of Management is to train the highly qualified managers of tomorrow and to offer today’s managers the opportunity to regularly update their knowledge and skills.

Academy of Management honours graduates and awards prize to students graduated at the top of their class

In 2008, a total of 68 students who come from all over Germany graduated from the FWI at  EBZ. Dr. Peter Schaffner, Managing Director of the Housing Industry Business Division at Aareal Bank, awarded the prizes sponsored by Aareal Bank for future-oriented and path-breaking diploma theses during the graduation ceremony. Hilmar Loy, MRICS (a law firm specializing in the property valuation in Cologne/Düsseldorf, Germany) won first prize which was endowed with 4000 euros for his thesis on "Non-Performing Loans: Trade in Non-Performing Real Estate Loans". Another prize went to Birgit Schmidt (Wohnbund-Beratung Dessau, a housing consultancy) with her thesis on "Economic Function and Impact of Selected Civic Projects on Urban Redevelopment".  Third prize was awarded to Anne Bartlings (Aachener Grundvermögen GmbH) for her thesis on "The development of the ‘Neuer Wall’ Business Improvement District (BID) in Hamburg compared with the prospects for the 'Ehrenstrasse' in Cologne".

Nürtingen-Geislingen University (HfWU)

The Nürtingen-Geislingen University, with its strong core competencies in business, economics and environmental studies, has one of the largest faculties of economics in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Practice-relevant teaching and applications-oriented research determine the concepts for the degree courses.

In the rankings, this university is among the leaders of universities and universities of applied sciences offering economics. Research and practice-related competencies shape the profile of this university.

Aareal Bank AG has supported this university since 2002 by financing a professorship in the degree course on Real Estate Management.

Leicester De Montfort University

Leicester De Montfort University in Great Britain has an outstanding reputation as a leading institution for professional, creative and vocational education, underpinned by research excellence. Leicester De Montfort University was honoured as the best of those universities opened after 1992 as part of the government’s Research Assessment Exercise.

De Montfort excels in high-quality task-oriented programmes, where research expertise is combined with entrepreneurial interests.

Aareal Bank AG has supported the De Montfort University with its "De Montfort UK Commercial Property Survey" for ten years. This study is the most important survey on this subject in Great Britain and examines the commercial property lending market.

HFF Film and Television Academy in Potsdam

Currently, Aareal Bank is collaborating with the “Konrad Wolf” Film and Television Academy (HFF) in Potsdam-Babelsberg. HFF is the oldest and largest of five media colleges in Germany with an educational emphasis on film and television. New media technologies are also an integral component of this training as well as the orientation to the cultural roots of these media and to the scientific reflection of their historical and current manifestations.