Assessment of the Influence of Industrial Training on Estate Management Students’ Perception of Real Estate Profession

This study examined the impact of Industrial Training (IT) on Estate Management students’ perception of the real estate profession, using students from Kwara State Polytechnic and the University of Ilorin as the study population. The research explored the nature of experience gained during IT, identified challenges encountered, and determined how these factors influence students’ professional outlook. A structured questionnaire was administered to 213 students across HND I, HND II, and 500-level students. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, and correlation analysis. The findings revealed that most students underwent IT for 3–6 months in private real estate firms, with major exposure in report writing, estate agency, and property management with mean scores of 4.08, 4.02 and 3.89 respectively. Over 81% rated their experience as good or excellent, and a significant improvement was observed in their perception of the profession post-training. Additionally, 78.9% reported a positive influence of IT on their career outlook. While some challenges such as transportation difficulties and understanding technical documentation were reported, these had only a moderate negative correlation with perception improvement. The hypothesis testing showed a statistically significant relationship between IT experience and students’ perception, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The study concluded that Industrial Training is a critical component of professional development in Estate Management education. It reinforces theoretical knowledge, sharpens practical skills, and enhances students’ motivation and clarity regarding career goals. The research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on experiential learning and offers useful recommendations for institutions, professional bodies, and industry stakeholders.