Rehda Institute kicks off RIYI mentorship programme on April 25

PETALING JAYA (April 24): The Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) Institute will hold the first mentorship session under its Rehda Institute Youth Initiative (RIYI) tomorrow (April 25), marking the rollout of a structured programme aimed at preparing students for careers in the built environment sector.

The session, which will take place at Wisma REHDA in Kelana Jaya, forms part of a multi-day mentorship programme running throughout 2026, pairing students with industry professionals across the property and real estate ecosystem.

Rehda Institute chairman Datuk Jeffrey Ng Tiong Lip (pictured) said RIYI is more than a mentorship programme, describing it as a strategic response to Malaysia's skills challenge.

“Through formal industry–academia partnerships with over 15 universities, RIYI gives students direct access to decades of senior management experience from a highly credible panel of mentors.

“By combining structured mentorship with practical, industry led exposure, we will close critical skills gaps in key areas, boost graduate employability, accelerate career progression, and safeguard Malaysia’s competitiveness and project delivery for the decade ahead,” he told EdgeProp Malaysia.

Rehda Institute chief operating officer David S Chong said that with strong support from its board and industry partners, Rehda Institute will expand its role through RIYI, engaging students from 15 universities nationwide in its inaugural year.

“Through collaboration with TalentCorp and HR teams across companies, we’ve identified a major gap: graduates often lack a commercial problem solving mindset and a clear understanding of how company and industry ecosystems operate,” he added.

Chong said RIYI addresses this gap by combining practical industry exposure with mentorship, enabling new graduates to contribute more effectively and add immediate value to employers.

The RIYI programme was first introduced during the institute’s CEO Series 2026, where it was positioned as a platform to bridge the gap between academic training and industry expectations.

The first workshop will focus on “entering the job market”, with participants undergoing a full-day programme covering career exposure, employer expectations and practical job readiness skills.

Rehda president Datuk Ho Hon Sang said RIYI creates a direct pathway from campus to career.

“By pairing students with seasoned industry mentors we accelerate their capabilities and confidence, building a steady talent pipeline for Malaysia’s property and construction sector.

“We also hope to attract graduates from diverse fields such as engineering, finance, planning and more into rewarding careers in property development,” he added.

About 50 participants will be grouped into mentorship “pods”, each consisting of students and multiple industry mentors to facilitate small-group discussions and personalised feedback.

Rehda Institute trustee and Fairview Development Group group managing director Datuk Haji Muztaza Haji Mohamad said that as a developer of four decades and a CIMA fellow, he sees graduates struggling to master the many components of property development quickly, from technical design and site delivery to finance, procurement and sustainability reporting.

“RIYI addresses this by giving students direct access to senior industry leaders, including CEOs, C-suite mentors and specialist practitioners.

“This blended exposure of technical coaching, commercial insight and real project experience will accelerate graduates’ ability to add value on day one and help the industry deliver sustainable, commercially viable developments,” he said.

The programme will feature a mix of keynote sharing, panel discussions and small-group career clinics, including sessions on “day in the life” industry insights, salary expectations and career progression.

Rehda Institute trustee Datuk Ng Seing Liong said RIYI converts academic potential into measurable industry performance.

“By pairing classroom learning with hands-on project mentorship from senior leaders and corporate captains, the programme builds technical skills and commercial awareness.

“Through structured sessions and industry exposure, and direct access to a network of mentors and partner universities, RIYI shortens the learning curve, increases hire readiness, and strengthens Malaysia’s local talent pools for the built environment,” he added.

Participants will also take part in hands-on elevator pitch training and first-impression clinics, where each student receives direct mentor feedback.

EdgeProp Malaysia is a media partner for the initiative, with its managing director Alvin Ong among the mentors participating in the programme.

The RIYI forms part of Rehda Institute’s broader efforts to strengthen talent development pipelines for the property industry, in line with themes highlighted during the CEO Series, which included human capital development and long-term industry resilience.

..........

EdgeProp's monthly print edition is out! Free delivery is available for selected regions. Subscribe now.