Co-designing strategies to future-proof property workforces

Purpose The property industry has been experiencing massive transformation due to rapid technological advancement in the last decade. A large body of literature has attempted to identify the challenges confronting property professionals, with some examining the impact brought by Property Industry 4.0 on the future workforce. To effectively address the challenges, however, we need participation from diverse stakeholders, as previously proposed strategies have often only considered perspectives from specific cohorts and lacked broader engagement. Hence, this study aims to formulate comprehensive strategies to address the challenges facing our future workforce in the age of Property Industry 4.0. Design/methodology/approach For the first time, we invited a unique lineup of stakeholders to our co-design workshops. These include property leaders, property professionals, recent property graduates, property students, property academics, program directors, as well as university leadership executives, to make sure the outcomes are relevant, effective and user-oriented. Findings Four strategies were recommended to future-proof our property graduates: (1) enhancing AI-focused content in universities and collaborating with industry stakeholders, (2) regulating AI adoption by bodies like the Australian Property Institute (API), (3) introducing industry certifications to address ethical concerns and (4) developing students' soft skills via internships and networking events in collaboration with professional bodies. Originality/value This study is the first to employ a co-design workshop, incorporating the perspectives of all stakeholders in crafting potential solutions. These include property leaders, property practitioners, recent property graduates, property academics, property students and senior school executives (e.g. deputy dean and deputy head of education).