Advancing global standards in land,property and construction

rics.org

The world of property

The property sector represents some 70% of globalwealth. Land, property and construction issues affecteveryone, everywhere. They have a profound impactat all levels – on individuals and communities, smallenterprises, global corporations and governments.

RICS members around the world understand thewhole lifecycle of property – from land managementand measurement, through planning, environmentalimpact assessment, and investment appraisal tomanaging the construction process and advisingon the most efficient use of buildings.

A modern profession with ancient roots

Surveyors have been in demand since the days ofancient Egyptians, who honoured their royal surveyorswith ornate tombs. The Romans employed finitores(surveyors) and agrimensores (land surveyors).

With the rapid industrialisation and urbanisationof the 19th and 20th centuries, the diverse strandsof the profession were drawn together.

RICS: The mark of propertyprofessionalism worldwide

Overview

With around 100 000 qualified members and over 50 000trainees and students in some 140 countries, RICS providesthe world’s leading professional qualification in land, property,construction and associated environmental issues.

An independent, not-for-profit organisation, RICS acts in thepublic interest: setting and regulating the highest standards ofcompetence and integrity among our members and regulatedfirms, and providing impartial, authoritative advice on keyissues for business, society and governments worldwide.

Serving the public interest

RICS was founded in London in 1868, and granted a RoyalCharter by Queen Victoria in 1881. The Charter requires theInstitution “To maintain and promote the usefulness of theprofession for the public advantage.” This commitment toact in the interests of society in everything we do continuesto be our guiding principle.

Key roles

Knowledge and best practice

• Setting the highest standards of academic achievement,practical training and continuing professional development

• Accrediting over 600 courses at leading universities worldwide

• Setting and promoting international best practice in professionalism.

Regulation

• Regulating the profession through a principles-based state-of-the-art regulatory framework that works with the grainof modern business life

• Providing a workable and robust framework of protectionand redress for clients.

Public affairs

• Advising governments and NGOs on legislation and otherpublic policy issues

• Leading debate on major global issues affecting businessand society, from sustainability in the built environmentto international development.

Research and economic analysis

• Leading-edge research into key issues in the builtand natural environments

• Analysing property and construction markets and theirimpact on economies.

Setting global standards

Education, training, qualifications andcontinuing professional development

RICS sets international qualification standards for entryinto the profession and for CPD. Working in partnershipwith leading universities around the world, RICSaccredits over 600 courses, many at postgraduatelevel. We also work with employers on trainingand development.

Routes of entry to the profession are diverse, reflectingthe wide scope of the profession. All are subject torigorous academic standards, professional trainingand assessment.

Qualified RICS members are recognised bydesignatory letters:

• FRICS (Fellow)

• MRICS (Member)

• AssocRICS (Associate).

RICS members are required to keep abreast ofcurrent practice through a programme of CPD.

• Be open and transparent in your dealings

• Be accountable for all your actions

• Know and act within your limitations

• Be objective at all times

• Never discriminate against others

• Set a good example

• Have the courage to make a stand

• Comply with relevant laws and regulations

• Avoid conflicts of interest

• Respect confidentiality.

Regulation

RICS regulates individual members andregulated firms through a principles and risk-based regulatory regime. The regime isoverseen by the Regulatory Board which hasa majority of independent members, ensuringthe highest standards of integrity andcompetence among RICS members.

Best practice

From asset management to building codes RICSis the primary source of professional standards,guidance and information on the professionalmanagement of land, property and construction.

Ethical values

RICS members must abide by a code of coreethical values:

• Act with integrity

• Always be honest

Public policy

Thought leadership and impartial advice

Governments around the world seek RICS’ advice on thefeasibility of legislation covering some of the biggest issuesfor business and society, such as climate change, housingprovision, asset valuation and property investment vehicles.

Global organisations such as The World Economic Forum,United Nations and World Bank look to RICS for advice andguidance on a wide range of topics, including internationalguidelines for land tenure, disaster management andpublic-private partnerships.

Market and economic analysis

RICS’ team of economists track the markets in construction,commercial property, residential property and rural land, andcomment authoritatively on the implications for businesses,individuals and economies.

Research and information

RICS’ research programme reflects the breadth of theprofession, ranging from issues such as the accuracy ofcommercial property valuation, to housing in developingnations and the challenges of rapid urbanisation.

RICS’ Library and Information Service is the foremostsource of information in the sector, drawing on a vastdatabase of material.

Global reach

A growing profession

39 surveyors founded RICS in London in 1868; today there are some 100 000 qualified RICS members in more than 140 countries. The growthof the profession is accelerating, and there are more than 50 000 studentsand trainees working towards professional status.

World regional structure

RICS’ head office is based on Parliament Square, London, with regionsoutside the UK leading the global development of the profession.

• RICS Americas (HQ: New York)

• RICS Asia (HQ: Hong Kong)

• RICS Europe (HQ: Brussels)

• RICS India (HQ: New Delhi)

• RICS Middle East, Near East and Africa (HQ: Dubai)

• RICS Oceania (HQ: Sydney).

National and local associations

RICS has locally organised national associations or groups of membersin over 50 countries. An international Governing Council is the overallpolicy-making forum for the profession, with national associationsaddressing domestic issues.

Staff

Over 500 staff in 30 locations lead, manage and support the Institution’swork in partnership with RICS members. RICS is a substantial “businessin the public interest” with an annual turnover exceeding £50m.

RICS UK

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Over 80% of RICS members are based in the UK, reflecting the roots of themodern profession. They are integral to the land, property and construction markets,operating across the private and public sectors in the profession’s full range of some200 specialisms.

The profession is recognised for its major contribution to the overwhelminglyservice-based UK economy. Chartered surveyors provide holistic advice on the wholelife-cycle of property, managing a process which includes: site assembly, investmentappraisal, planning, environmental impact assessment, funding, constructionprocurement, project management, cost and build quality control, valuation,marketing, strategic asset management and dispute resolution.

RICS is widely recognised in the UK for its market and economic analysis, and itsinput to policymakers on issues ranging from planning to housing, asset valuationto energy efficiency, taxation to social mobility.

RICS Americas

Canada, Caribbean, Central America, South America and USA

Anchored by its headquarters in New York, RICS Americas has a significantpresence throughout North and South America, as well as the Caribbean.

RICS Americas’ members work at the heart of the real estate and constructionsectors, providing strategic management and expert analysis in construction,valuation, land management, commercial and residential brokerage, planningand development and dispute resolution.

RICS Americas is demonstrating thought leadership in the field of sustainability,for example, by pioneering the concept of “green value” and market-to-marketinformation in financial reporting as an aid to greater global economic stability.

RICS Asia

China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives,Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

The opportunities for RICS members in China's booming construction and real estatemarkets continue to grow dramatically. RICS members are at the heart of expansion

in Shanghai with construction work intensifying as the city builds 260 new Metrostations; while in Chengdu, chartered surveyors provided advice on master-planningreconstruction following the Sichuan earthquake of 2008.

Mature markets are being joined by rapidly developing economies such as Vietnam,where accession to World Trade Organisation membership has required professionaldevelopment and international standards in the property sector. Some 6000 qualifiedprofessionals are meeting the growing demand for services in the region, with asimilar number in education and training.

RICS MENEA and RICS India

Dubai, Johannesburg and New Delhi

RICS is rapidly expanding in the Middle East, Near East and Africa. Charteredsurveyors’ skills are sought-after in the region on issues ranging from land surveyingto construction project management.

RICS established a formal presence in India in 2008, with the inauguration of anational association based in New Delhi. RICS Fellowship diplomas were presented

to some 100 of India’s leading real estate professionals. Working with the Indian

Government, universities, employers and business organisations, RICS India is

helping to establish the professional development and standards in construction and

real estate that will be key to sustaining India’s growth as an economic powerhouse.

RICS members are playing a significant role in managing the unprecedented scale

of development in the Gulf Co-operative Countries region, and Dubai in particular.

Iconic projects include the spectacular Palm trilogy off the coast of Dubai – artificial

islands in the shape of palm trees – and developments competing to become the

world’s tallest building.

RICS Europe

Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland,Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland

RICS offices across Europe serve a large and diverse membership group and aresupported by a regional headquarters in Brussels. RICS members have led the way

in promoting consistent and accurate asset valuations in the region. The RICS“Red Book” valuation standards have been translated into several Europeanlanguages. This has helped investors, banks and governments to approach propertyacross Europe in a more rigorous and transparent way.

RICS’ contribution to the public affairs agenda is particularly strong in Europe, andthe organisation enjoys a close working relationship with a number of Directorates-General of the European Commission. For example, RICS Europe is a key partnerof the Commission in promoting the European Energy Performance in BuildingsDirective to consumers, business, industry and governments.

RICS Oceania

Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea

From overseeing developments such as shopping malls and leisure centres and thedesign and construction of airports, railways, tunnels, industrial parks and officebuildings, to providing financial services and managing urban and rural regenerationprojects, the influence of chartered surveyors across the region is far-reaching.

Members are trained to enhance and maximise the performance of a site orbuilding within its environment. RICS Oceania’s own offices in Sydney set anexample, having been awarded a four green star rating by the Green BuildingCouncil of Australia.

RICS accredits over 20 degree courses at leading universities across Australia.Demand for membership is strong with some 4000 students and trainees in additionto around 1700 qualified professionals across the region.

rics.org

Advancing standards in land, property and construction.

RICS is the world’s leading qualification when it comes to professional standards in land, property and construction.

In a world where more and more people, governments, banksand commercial organisations demand greater certainty ofprofessional standards and ethics, attaining RICS statusis the recognised mark of property professionalism.

Over 100 000 property professionals working in the majorestablished and emerging economies of the world havealready recognised the importance of securing RICS statusby becoming members.

RICS is an independent professional body originallyestablished in the UK by Royal Charter. Since 1868, RICShas been committed to setting and upholding the higheststandards of excellence and integrity – providing impartial,authoritative advice on key issues affecting businessesand society.

RICS is a regulator of both its individual members and firmsenabling it to maintain the highest standards and providingthe basis for unparalleled client confidence in the sector.

RICS has a worldwide network. For further informationsimply contact the relevant RICS office or our Contact Centre.

Europe(excludingUnited Kingdom)ricseurope@rics.org

United Kingdomcontactrics@rics.org

Asiaricsasia@rics.org

Africaricsafrica@rics.org

Americasricsamericas@rics.org

Middle Eastricsmiddleeast@rics.org

Oceaniainfo@rics.org.au

Indiaricsindia@rics.org

RICS HQ

Parliament SquareLondon SW1P 3ADUnited Kingdom

Worldwide mediaenquiries:E pressoffice@rics.org

Contact Centre:

E contactrics@rics.orgT +44 (0)870 333 1600F +44 (0)20 7334 3811