ISK Unveils Internship Portal to Bridge Gap Between Students and Industry

By Michael Nyamai -

Nairobi, Kenya, October 1, 2026 — The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) has called for stronger collaboration between industry and academia to prepare students for a rapidly changing geospatial, surveying and real estate sector driven by technology, data and evolving market demands.

ISK President Eric Nyadimo, Deputy President Nelly Mbugua, OGW, and other officials during a media briefing during the inaugural ISK Students’ Conference at the University of Nairobi on October 1, 2026.//PHOTO COURTESY:

Speaking during the inaugural ISK Students’ Conference at the University of Nairobi, ISK President Eric Nyadimo, said the conference marks the beginning of a new annual initiative aimed at bridging the gap between classroom learning and the realities of the workplace.

Held under the theme “Beyond the Classroom: Preparing Students for the Future of Geospatial and Real Estate,” the conference brings together students, academic lecturers, public sector officials and technology providers to examine the future of the industry.

“The forum marks the beginning of a new annual tradition dedicated to bridging the critical gap between classroom instruction and the rapidly evolving marketplace,” Nyadimo said.

He said rapid urbanisation, changing client demands and the growing importance of data in corporate and civic decision-making are transforming professional practice, with technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and PropTech changing how land, property and spatial data are collected, analysed and managed.

“Advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Twins, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and PropTech are completely rewriting how land, property, and spatial data are collected, analysed, and managed,” added Nyadimo.

A major highlight of the conference is the launch of the ISK Internship Portal, which the institution says will establish a direct link between academia and employment by allowing students to showcase their specialised skills and apply for opportunities while enabling recruiters, technology firms and real estate companies to identify emerging talent.

ISK Deputy President Nelly Mbugua, OGW, said the portal is intended to address the challenge of graduates gaining the practical experience required before transitioning into formal professional practice and licensing.

“Through the portal, students can showcase their specialized skills and apply for active opportunities, while recruiters, tech firms, and real estate corporations gain an efficient tool to scout and secure top-tier emerging talent,” Mbugua said.

She said the initiative targets one of the persistent challenges facing recent graduates obtaining structured and meaningful workplace experience.

“By standardizing this vital pathway, ISK directly targets one of the most persistent hurdles confronting recent graduates: gaining the structured, meaningful workplace experience required to transition into formal licensing and professional practice,” she said.

Mbugua further called for collective responsibility among universities, professional bodies, private firms and government institutions in preparing the next generation of professionals, warning that technical expertise alone will no longer be enough in an increasingly digital industry.

“Technical expertise alone is no longer sufficient to guarantee career longevity; future surveyors and real estate specialists must actively blend technical skills with digital literacy, communication, complex problem-solving, and a deep sense of professional ethics,” Mbugua added.

She challenged students to take charge of their careers before graduation and urged them to move beyond seeing themselves simply as job seekers.

“Rather than entering the workforce simply as job seekers, students are being challenged to become innovators, critical thinkers, and active contributors capable of advancing Kenya's smart cities and modern spatial frameworks,” she said.

The inaugural conference is part of ISK’s broader effort to strengthen engagement between students, academia and industry as Kenya’s land and built environment sectors undergo rapid technological transformation. The institution represents professionals across eight disciplines, including land surveying, valuation, building surveying, land administration and management, engineering surveying, geospatial information management, estate agency and property management.