The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Northern Ireland director has expressed her concern at plans to discontinue the Housing Management degree at The Ulster University - the only one of its kind in Ireland.
The university is facing cuts to the funding it receives from Stormont and plans to cut more than 50 undergraduate courses were reported last week.
The degree, which has been in place for 27 years, is practical in nature and focuses on getting students ready for employment in the sector.
CIH Northern Ireland director, Nicola McCrudden said: "We are struggling to understand why the University would decide to end what is a very viable undergraduate degree. It has a very high success rate with around 90 per cent of graduates securing full time employment."
Meanwhile with the social housing reform programme underway, she adds that the degree is needed now more than ever. "Graduates of this degree go on to fulfil vitally important jobs, helping people who are often vulnerable to find and maintain affordable homes. Right now the housing sector is diversifying with new and exciting challenges lying ahead. It is crucial that we have a stream of high performing housing graduates to help shape these changes and meet future demand. "Northern Ireland should be encouraging new talent in housing, not cutting it off - but this decision by the University of Ulster would leave us without an undergraduate degree in housing, which affects our competitiveness as a region. CIH will be seeking a meeting with the Vice Chancellor to discuss this matter further."