By Nicole Paseka

For the Post

An organization that calls itself the "home of property professionals worldwide" has found a new home in the Czech Republic.

The Czech chapter of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors was launched April 11 in Prague. RICS is a leading international source of land, property, construction and environmental knowledge. Since its birth in London more than a century ago, the professional society has spread around the globe and now claims more than 110,000 members in about 120 countries.

"RICS members are part of a global community," says Anna Orcsik, 26, the RICS coordinator for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). "They have a code of ethics and follow a code of conduct that is highly recognized on a global level. This provides them with a very broad networking opportunity."

The stated mission of RICS is to promote ethical practices, represent consumer interests and provide impartial advice to society, business, government and global organizations. That's a lot of responsibility, but Leon Van Leersum, chairman of RICS Czech Republic, is excited about the future.

"There are many tasks to do," says Van Leersum, 32, an associate director at Jones Lang LaSalle. "We've got big plans."

RICS officials are actively recruiting more Czechs to join the local chapter, which boasts a total membership of 74, though only seven members are Czech. The majority consists of expatriates from the United Kingdom, although Van Leersum is Dutch. "Most [members] are from the UK, simply because it has been a British organization that has existed for over 100 years," Van Leersum says.

Education is also a factor. "The Czech Republic still doesn't have an accredited real estate course," Van Leersum notes, adding that RICS has plans to develop and support real estate education in this country. The organization offers continuing professional development events, training and conferences.

"We would like to make sure that we have a sufficient number of locally educated professionals in the organization," says Orcsik.

Members come from a diversity of property-based professions, including surveying, transactions, valuation, auctions, management and more.

"[The organization] actually covers all people who have something to do with property," says Jana Vlková, 30, commercial manager for PBW Czech Republic and a board member of the new RICS chapter.

To become a member, a candidate must have an "appropriate education" (typically a university degree with accredited coursework) and a certain number of years of professional experience, according to Vlková. A panel of three RICS members interviews the candidate for final approval.

Among the numerous goals RICS has in the Czech Republic, the most recent country it has set up shop in in CEE, is to develop a stronger local presence.

"Certainly one aim of the organization is to promote itself, to be more known on the market," Vlková says. "We also want to be more known and respected locally by banks, financial institutions and investors."

Van Leersum says having RICS in the Czech Republic won't just benefit its members. "At the end of the day, the consumer will benefit from a better-developing real estate market."