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Specialists in property valuation, managers of residential, office, industrial, or hospital buildings, and entrepreneurs in real estate development – this is how the eleven graduates of the Building Operations and Management specialization in the Master’s program Civil Engineering – Modern Buildings have applied their skills so far. The collaboration between the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and the InterCora Foundation was initiated in 2020 by company executives Günther Zembsch and Ivan Hlaváček. With the signing of an addendum to the cooperation agreement, their support will continue until 2031.

One of the motivations for creating this specialized master’s program was the shortage of property management experts on the labor market. “In Bavaria, it is common for the private sector to fund education, not just rely on state money. This is what we wanted to bring to the Czech Republic,” said Günther Zembsch. At the start of the cooperation, the InterCora Stiftung Foundation provided contacts with colleagues at Leipzig University, who have long-standing experience in teaching facility management.

“What we focus on is the direct link between the program and practice. Students complete at least six weeks of professional internships in companies across a wide range of fields, and these contacts often lead to employment,” said Jan Pašek, the program guarantor. This year, 19 students are enrolled in the Building Operations and Management specialization.

Students learn to communicate across roles – between future specialists who design and construct buildings and those who will manage them and their users. Together, they seek optimal building solutions. “Graduates trained in this comprehensive way take on high-level positions in design studios, construction companies, development firms, facility management companies, or banks. Over the past five years, the entire Modern Buildings program in both specializations has produced 50 professionals,” added Jan Pašek.

The program's quality is also reflected in its recognition as Project of the Year 2025 by the Czech branch of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA CZ). Prospective students interested in property management or construction can now apply, as the admission process is open. According to the program's guarantors, it is suitable for graduates of bachelor’s programs in civil engineering, economics, or law.