Inside Investment Process: Competency Development Program for Students

The program aims to develop students’ competencies by highlighting the practical aspects of investment project management.

Call to Action

The basis of the program is the belief that, to be a good investment project manager, it is not enough to know project management methods and techniques; it is also important to understand the nature of the investment process. This requires knowledge from different disciplines, including economics, management, law, and construction.

Further, students need more than just theoretical knowledge; they should also have an opportunity to learn from the experience of those who are directly involved in investment processes: project managers, construction managers, legal advisors, architects, and marketing and sales managers. Therefore, in cooperation with local enterprises, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń’s Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management created a program to develop students’ competencies in investment project management.

Innovation Description

The competency development program starts with an investment management workshop conducted by the managers of two well-known local developers that operate in the residential real estate market, APRO Construction and APRO Investment. Both have received multiple awards for their development work. In 2023, they were named Forbes Diamonds, and they have received additional awards from the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Chamber of Construction and the mayor of the city of Toruń for their projects.

The first portion of the workshop focuses on three issues: (1) investment project management, based on experiences in the construction industry, (2) legal aspects of the investment process, and (3) the marketing strategies of residential real estate developers. This portion ends with a summary meeting, during which students have an opportunity to ask questions. Students receive certificates confirming their participation in the workshop and acknowledging the skills they have gained in managing the investment processes of development companies.

In the second part of the workshop, students participate in a training visit to a construction zone. During this experience, students witness residential buildings at different stages of the investment process cycle. The training visit is hosted by a project manager, a construction manager, and marketing and sales managers.

In the workshop’s third portion, our program partner APRO Investment offers four-week paid internships to four or five students, who are selected based on their course performance. These internships expose students to various aspects of the investment project management business, including sales, marketing, commercial investment, and accounting. The workshop will be continued as part of the competency development program.

Innovation Impact

This program provides students with extensive and up-to-date knowledge of investment project management, incorporating the expertise of development companies. It offers an opportunity to create open discussions and acts as a space in which students, faculty, and industry representatives can collaborate. In addition to experiencing the management and legal aspects of investment projects, students also learn about sustainable construction solutions.

Furthermore, the program demonstrates that investment projects, while traditionally dominated by men, can be attractive workplaces for women. Although similar numbers of men and women have taken part in our workshops and training visits, more women have participated in the internships (in the 2022–23 academic year, women accounted for 75 percent of participants). Importantly, our industry partners have also shown that people of varying levels of ability can participate in investment projects. Adaptations can be made to ensure accessibility, such as for wheelchair use.

Students have responded positively in assessing the program, noting in particular its educational value and the real-world experience it provides through connecting lessons with training in the construction industry. Students have also shared their appreciation for the welcoming atmosphere created by the partner companies’ employees. Equally high assessment was given to the internships, which students felt were valuable and effectively organized. This program will allow students to gain new knowledge and new perspectives, strengthening their future career prospects.

Reference Links

• Apro Construction Facebook post
• “Investment Workshops Under the Guidance of Practitioners,” Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń