Global Showcase of Excellence in Valuation Education
The IVSC Academic Forum invites valuation educators worldwide to be recognised for their outstanding contributions to curriculum innovation, teaching excellence and technology-led assessment.
Recognising the Educators Shaping the Future of the Profession
Valuation education is evolving rapidly. New asset classes, international standards, digital tools and global practice are reshaping what future professionals need to know, and how they are taught. Around the world, educators are meeting this challenge with outstanding and innovative work.
The IVSC Academic Forum’s Global Showcase of Excellence in Valuation Education identifies and commends best practice in valuation education.
The Aims of the Showcase
Six things this initiative sets out to do for valuation education, its educators, and the profession they serve.
Celebrate Excellence
Shine a spotlight on academics and educators raising the bar through innovative curricula, inspiring teaching and technology-forward assessment.
Build a Global Community
Connect educators across jurisdictions and share transferable best practice that transcends borders, breaking down silos between academia, professional bodies and industry.
Align with International Standards
Recognise work that integrates International Valuation Standards (IVS) into academic programmes, actively bridging the gap between the classroom and professional practice.
Inspire Continuous Improvement
Winning entries are showcased globally, creating a repository of transferable ideas that inspire other educators to adapt and adopt proven approaches, wherever they are in the world.
Elevate the Educator
Increase the visibility and professional standing of valuation academics on a truly international stage. Winners are celebrated before hundreds of professionals, policymakers and peers.
Link Education to Practice
Foster deeper engagement between universities, Valuation Professional Organisations (VPOs), regulators and the broader profession, for the long-term benefit of graduates and the discipline.
Open to Educators Everywhere
The Global Showcase of Excellence is open to individual academics and educators involved in valuation education, or related programmes, at higher education institutions worldwide — including universities, colleges and other recognised academic institutions.
Whether you teach at a world-ranked university or a growing regional institution, if you are doing outstanding work in valuation education, you are encouraged to enter.
Lecturers and Module Leaders
Teaching valuation of any asset class (real estate, business, plant and equipment, financial instruments, intellectual property), or finance, economics and built-environment modules at any level.
Programme Directors
Responsible for designing or managing valuation or related undergraduate or postgraduate programmes.
Academic Heads and Curriculum Planners
Leading educational innovation within a department, faculty or institution.
Educational Researchers
Whose work advances pedagogical practice in valuation and related disciplines.
EdTech Innovators in Academia
Educators using technology to transform learning, teaching and assessment practice in valuation education.
Educators from Any Jurisdiction
From any accredited or recognised valuation programme. Global participation is highly encouraged.
Eligibility
Your work must relate to teaching and learning within an accredited or recognised valuation programme delivered at a higher education institution — a university, college or other academic institution. Submissions from related disciplines (including law, economics, construction, finance, planning, business and the digital built environment) are welcome where the work contributes meaningfully to valuation education.
The Three Award Categories
Each category targets a distinct dimension of educational excellence: how programmes are designed, how teaching is delivered, and how student learning is assessed. Select a category to explore its focus and judging criteria.
Category 1
Award for Development of Innovative Curriculum for Valuation Programmes
Award for Development of Innovative Curriculum for Valuation Programmes
This award recognises educators who demonstrate high-quality, innovative and transferable curriculum development within valuation education and related disciplines. These educators have moved beyond the traditional syllabus-based approach to develop curricula genuinely fit for the demands of contemporary valuation practice: learner-centred, grounded in higher-order learning pedagogies, and designed in an outcome-based format that is coherent, professionally relevant, standards-aware and responsive to change.
Examples of Relevant Submissions
- A new or redesigned valuation programme, pathway, module sequence or curriculum map.
- A curriculum combining deep learning of theoretical knowledge with the basic skills and competences needed for practice.
- Integration of international valuation standards, ethics, ESG, data analytics, AI, AVMs or professional competencies across a curriculum.
- An interdisciplinary approach linking valuation to finance, law, planning, construction, economics, sustainability or the digital built environment.
- A curriculum redesign developed with professional bodies, industry partners or accreditation requirements.
Judging Criteria
- Coherence and Overall Quality of Design — clear, coherent and well-structured, with learning outcomes, content, progression and assessment strongly aligned.
- Alignment with the Profession and Standards — strong alignment with valuation competencies, standards, ethics and practice expectations, with contribution clearly evidenced.
- Innovation and Responsiveness to Change — a forward-looking response to changes in practice, markets, standards, data, technology and sustainability.
- Student Progression and Learning Experience — strongly supports progression, inclusivity, employability and professional formation across levels of learning.
- Implementation, Impact and Transferability — convincing evidence of successful implementation and impact, with strong potential for adaptation elsewhere.
Who Should Apply
Individual educators and academic leaders involved in academic planning and curriculum development for valuation and related disciplines.
Category 2
Award for Innovation in Teaching and Pedagogy
Award for Innovation in Teaching and Pedagogy
This award recognises educators who demonstrate high-quality, innovative and transferable teaching and pedagogical practice. Such educators move beyond traditional lecture-based instruction to design engaging, active, student-centred and practice-relevant learning experiences that strengthen understanding, professional competence and confidence in applying valuation principles, connecting academic learning to professional judgement, standards, ethics and real-world valuation contexts.
Examples of Relevant Submissions
- Case-based, problem-based or simulation-based teaching using real-world valuation briefs, live projects or studio-style fieldwork.
- Industry-integrated teaching, including guest practitioners, partnership modules or workplace-simulated assessments.
- Module design incorporating active learning, flipped-classroom methods or blended/HyFlex delivery.
- Interdisciplinary or collaborative teaching linking valuation to law, finance, economics, sustainability, construction or the digital built environment.
- Inclusive, accessible teaching that supports diverse learners, including international students and those with different learning needs.
- Student engagement strategies such as peer learning, collaborative projects, student-led inquiry or reflective learning.
- Use of emerging educational technologies (AI tools, digital platforms, interactive resources) to enhance engagement, feedback or learning.
Judging Criteria
- Clarity of Pedagogical Approach — clear, coherent and well aligned with learning outcomes, student needs and the valuation education context.
- Relevance to Profession and Standards — a strong connection between teaching activities and real-world practice, professional judgement, standards and ethics.
- Innovation in Teaching and Engagement — highly innovative, purposeful and engaging practice that moves beyond conventional delivery.
- Student-Centred Learning and Inclusion — actively supports inclusive, accessible and student-centred learning, with clear attention to diverse learners.
- Implementation, Impact and Transferability — convincing evidence of impact on learning, engagement or professional formation, with potential to be adapted.
Who Should Apply
Educators teaching both core valuation modules and related disciplines, provided the work contributes meaningfully to valuation education and is delivered within an accredited valuation programme.
Category 3
Award for Innovation in Learning Assessment
Award for Innovation in Learning Assessment
This award recognises educators who demonstrate innovative, effective and transferable assessment strategies that strengthen the quality, authenticity and professional relevance of learning assessment. Assessment is one of the most powerful drivers of learning, yet often the least innovated. Strong submissions reimagine assessment to be more authentic and aligned with valuation practice: reflecting real-world tasks, supporting professional judgement, integrating technology purposefully and providing high-quality feedback that enhances learning.
Examples of Relevant Submissions
- Use of AI tools to provide personalised formative feedback, support adaptive assessment and automate grading.
- Integration of learning analytics to monitor student progress or inform assessment design.
- Digital simulations that assess professional judgement, including oral defence or viva formats.
- Introduction of e-portfolios to track competency development over time.
- Online platforms designed for competency-based, adaptive or proctored assessment.
- Technology-enhanced improvements to traditional formats (quizzes, exams, research papers, final projects) that strengthen feedback or authenticity.
- Case-study assessments using real or simulated market data and client-style valuation reports.
- Video and multimedia assessment, including presentations, recorded demonstrations or reflective journals.
- Peer or group assessments designed to support professional formation and fair contribution.
Judging Criteria
- Clarity, Quality and Design of Strategy — clear, coherent and aligned with learning outcomes and valuation education goals.
- Innovation and Educational Purpose — technology or new methods used purposefully to enhance learning, feedback, authenticity or quality.
- Authenticity and Relevance to Practice — reflects real-world valuation tasks, professional judgement, standards, ethics or analytical capability.
- Student Engagement, Learning and Feedback — evidence that the assessment improves learning insight, engagement, feedback quality or performance.
- Impact, Transferability and Reflection — convincing evidence of impact and thoughtful reflection, with strong potential for adaptation.
Who Should Apply
Educators involved in assessment design in valuation education and related disciplines, whose work strengthens learning, feedback and professional competency development.
A Note on Multiple Entries
In future cycles, applicants may enter more than one category where their work spans several areas. Each submission is judged separately, and should be tailored to the criteria of the category being entered.
Reviewed by an International Panel of Experts
Submissions are assessed by a distinguished panel drawn from the international valuation, financial reporting and higher education communities, spanning standard-setting, academic leadership and professional practice.
Mary E. Barth
Joan E. Horngren Professor of Accounting, Emerita · Stanford Graduate School of Business
Mary E. Barth
Joan E. Horngren Professor of Accounting, Emerita · Stanford Graduate School of Business
Mary is one of the most influential figures in global financial reporting. She served on the International Accounting Standards Board from its inception in 2001 until 2009, and subsequently as its Academic Advisor. Her wider standard-setting roles have included Vice Chair of the Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation, President of the American Accounting Association, and Chair of the International Monetary Fund’s External Audit Committee. Her research centres on fair value measurement and the concerns of standard setters. She was inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame in 2018 and holds honorary doctorates from Lancaster University, London Business School, the University of Pretoria and Tilburg University. Mary is a Trustee of the IVSC.
Mauro Bini
Full Professor of Corporate Finance · Bocconi University, Milan
Mauro Bini
Full Professor of Corporate Finance · Bocconi University, Milan
Mauro is Vice-Director of the CREA “Furio Cicogna” Center for Research on Business Economics and Entrepreneurship at Bocconi. He chairs the Management Board of the Organismo Italiano di Valutazione (OIV), Italy’s national valuation standard setter, and played a central role in the introduction of Italy’s Principles of Valuation (PIV). He sits on the IVSC Standards Review Board and on the Consultative Advisory Group of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, and is editor-in-chief of the Business Valuation OIV Journal. His research focuses on corporate finance, business valuation and fair value measurement under IAS/IFRS.
Ben Elder
Former Global Valuation Director · RICS
Ben Elder
Former Global Valuation Director · RICS
Ben recently retired as Global Valuation Director at RICS, where he led delivery of the RICS Global Valuation Strategy and its role in supporting global financial stability through the development and application of International Valuation Standards. An economist and chartered surveyor, he was both a practising valuer and a respected academic, holding senior positions at Nottingham Trent University and The College of Estate Management. He chairs the IVSC Tangible Assets Standards Board and served on the overarching IVSC Standards Board. In 2018 he was appointed Chair of Commission 9 (Valuation) of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG).
Dr Catherine Deegan
Faculty Head of Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment · Technological University Dublin
Dr Catherine Deegan
Faculty Head of Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment · Technological University Dublin
Catherine holds a PhD in Applied Physics from Dublin City University and an MA in Higher Education from TU Dublin. Her scholarship and leadership centre on Universal Design for Learning, learner diversity, technology-enhanced learning, digital capacity development and the integration of assistive technologies within higher education. She was seconded to Ireland’s National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education in 2016–17, where she led a national review of digital capacity across the Irish education sector. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Professor Iyenemi Ibimina (Ibby) Kakulu
Professor of Land Management and Valuation · Rivers State University, Nigeria
Professor Iyenemi Ibimina (Ibby) Kakulu
Professor of Land Management and Valuation · Rivers State University, Nigeria
Ibby has more than 35 years of teaching and research experience in land appraisal, development and management. A Nigeria-based consultant and land management expert with extensive collaboration within the UN system, she works at the nexus of land degradation, compensation and livelihoods, gender and land use, and currently serves as a Senior Project Advisor to UNEP. A Professional Estate Surveyor and Valuer, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, she holds a PhD in Real Estate and Planning and an MSc in Urban Land Appraisal from the University of Reading.
Recognising Our Winners in Cologne
Key dates for the 2026 cycle, from submission through to the awards ceremony.
The Submission Window Opens
Submit via the official online entry form. Entry requirements: a short narrative (300–500 word summary) of what was done, why, and the outcome or impact; a module or programme descriptor; and evidence of impact, any two relevant to your chosen category. Optional supporting materials are welcome.
Deadline for Initial Submissions
Late entries cannot be accepted. Please ensure all required fields are complete before submitting.
An Expert International Panel Reviews All Entries
The judging panel reviews all submissions and selects shortlisted entries in each category to proceed to the final stage.
Shortlisted Candidates Invited to Submit Evidence
Shortlisted candidates are invited to provide additional information and supporting evidence to the judging panel.
Winners and Highly Commended Entries Selected
Judges complete their final review and select three winners (one per category) and six highly commended entries (two per category), subject to meeting the standard.
Winners and Highly Commended Entrants Notified
Selected participants are invited to present at the IVSC Advisory Forum in Cologne.
Awards Ceremony in Cologne, Germany
A live showcase at the IVSC AGM and Conference, featuring presentations, a panel discussion on the future of valuation education, and the awards ceremony.
Submissions for the 2026 Cycle Are Now Closed
Thank You to Everyone Who Entered
The submission window for the 2026 cycle closed on 31 August 2026. Entries are now with the judging panel, and winners and highly commended entrants will be announced at the IVSC AGM and Conference in Cologne on 17 November 2026.
The submission portal for the 2027 cycle will open in due course. Details of the next cycle — including the timetable and any updates to categories or criteria — will be shared through the IVSC’s monthly eNews. Please watch there for further updates, or subscribe below to be notified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you enter. Still unsure? The Academic Forum Working Group is happy to help.
Is There a Fee to Enter?
No. Participation in the IVSC Global Showcase of Excellence in Valuation Education is completely free of charge.
Can I Enter More Than One Category?
Yes. If your initiative spans multiple award areas, you are encouraged to enter the most relevant categories. Please ensure each submission is clearly tailored to the criteria of the specific category you are entering.
How Long Should My Submission Be?
The core summary should be 300–500 words. Supporting materials are optional. Year 1 has been kept deliberately light-touch: concise, well-evidenced submissions are preferred over lengthy documents.
My University Is Not a Member of the IVSC Academic Forum — Can I Still Apply?
Yes. The award is open to educators delivering recognised valuation programmes at any higher education institution globally — including universities, colleges and other academic institutions. Membership of the IVSC Academic Forum is not a prerequisite.
Are Valuation Professional Organisations (VPOs) or Professional Bodies Eligible to Enter?
The Global Showcase of Excellence recognises the work of academic educators delivered at higher education institutions such as universities and colleges. VPOs and other professional bodies play a distinct and important role in delivering training and continuing professional development to the valuation community, and their contribution is recognised through the IVSC’s wider work with its members rather than through this award.
What Languages Can I Submit In?
Submissions should be made in English to ensure consistent evaluation by the international judging panel. The Academic Forum is committed to exploring ways to reduce language barriers in future editions.
Who Are the Judges?
Submissions are reviewed by an international expert panel drawn from the valuation, financial reporting and higher education communities. The panel for 2026 comprises Mary E. Barth (Stanford GSB / IVSC Trustee), Mauro Bini (Bocconi University / OIV), Ben Elder (Chair, IVSC Tangible Assets Standards Board), Dr Catherine Deegan (Technological University Dublin) and Professor Ibby Kakulu (Rivers State University). See the Judging Panel section for full biographies.
Do I Need to Attend the Ceremony in Cologne?
No. There is no obligation to attend the awards ceremony in person, and attendance is not a prerequisite of entering the awards. For those invited to attend, the ticket to the IVSC AGM and Conference and the AGM Gala Dinner will be covered. Any additional costs of in-person participation in the awards ceremony will not be met by the IVSC.
The IVSC Academic Forum
The International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC) is the independent global standard-setter for the valuation profession. Its mission is to develop and maintain consistent, transparent and universally accepted International Valuation Standards (IVS) that support trust and confidence in valuations performed worldwide, spanning real estate, business, financial instruments and intangible assets.
The IVSC Academic Forum brings together universities, researchers, educators and academic programme leaders committed to advancing the quality, consistency and professional relevance of valuation education worldwide. Through collaboration with Valuation Professional Organisations (VPOs), regulators and industry, the Forum works to bridge the gap between academic training and professional practice.
Through the Global Showcase of Excellence in Valuation Education, the Forum celebrates and amplifies the work of educators who are at the forefront of this mission.