Northumbria Estate Management student wins a place in China

Shona McLean, a second year BSc Estate Management student, has beaten fierce competition to win a place working for CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), the world's leading commercial real estate advisor’s Greater China office. “When I applied for this summer placement I really didn’t think I’d get an interview, never mind be accepted to go to China”, She told us.

Shona’s hard work certainly paid off as it secured her a place on this prestigious scheme which only offers five positions a year.

The five year-long, collaborative exchange programme (jointly promoted by CBRE and The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) ), began in 2007 and aims to offer students a fantastic opportunity to work in a CBRE office, gaining experience in a fast growing and dynamic part of the world, as well as promoting the Greater China region throughout the United Kingdom.

Shona will spend eight to ten weeks in Beijing, working with the CB Richard Ellis Group, gaining excellent work experience and will submit a short research paper at the end of her placement.  She will then return to Newcastle to embark on her year long work placement with UK based company, Sanderson Weatherall, this September. Needless to say, she has a lot to look forward to, “This is an amazing opportunity and I am privileged to be promoting Northumbria University in such a positive way – I would never have applied if it wasn’t for the encouragement I received from my lecturers”.

Shona is the third Northumbria student to enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity, following the success of Ben Ridgway and Clive Nichol; who have both now graduated from the BSc Estate Management degree. They were selected by the RICS/CBRE collaboration to gain this invaluable work experience in the summer of 2007.