Rohit Group partners with University of Alberta to advance city building

A transformative gift to shape the cities of tomorrow 

Rohit Group is proud to announce a milestone $5 million philanthropic gift to the University of Alberta, establishing the Radhe Krishna Gupta Executive Chair in Cities and Communities in an investment in shaping the future of urban development and real estate education in Canada. 

Named in honour of our founders, Radhe and Krishna Gupta, this Chair will be housed within the Alberta School of Business and serve as the cornerstone of the Cities Institute, a first-of-its-kind platform in Canada that unites industry, academia, and policy. This transformative initiative supports the University of Alberta’s role as a world-class institution and positions it as the national leader in applied real estate research and education. 

A powerful driver of interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world impact 

The Radhe Krishna Gupta Chair is more than an academic title, it is a driving force for reimagining how cities are built, how talent is cultivated, and how real-world problems are solved. Its purpose is to unite disciplines, drive innovation, and deliver data-driven solutions for smarter, more inclusive cities. 

We are also pleased to share the appointment of Murtaza Haider as the inaugural chair, who will lead the development of the Cities Institute. The Chair’s far-reaching impact looks to include a Master’s in Real Estate Development, offering micro-credentials that upskill professionals in real time, and delivering interdisciplinary courses that bridge public policy and private-sector development. 

With an emphasis on the creation of high-quality, data-informed research, the Executive Chair aims to guide better decision-making across industry and explore a range of pressing urban challenges. For example, researchers might examine how housing shortages affect productivity-enhancing sectors, analyze the socioeconomic outcomes of major transit investments, and consider the ethical and social implications of digital transformation in urban spaces. 

Beyond those immediate priorities, future academic and industry exploration could extend to innovations in construction technologies and materials, investigations of labour markets,  the lifecycle sustainability of infrastructure, among other topics.  

A world-class institution and a long-standing partnership 

The University of Alberta is a Top 5 Canadian university, globally recognized for its research excellence, interdisciplinary innovation, and commitment to preparing future leaders. Over the years, Rohit Group has maintained a strong connection with the university as a valued source of emerging talent and thought leadership in our sector. 

Our connection to the University of Alberta runs deep. Rohit Gupta, President of Rohit Group and a U of A alumnus, has supported student learning as a keynote speaker at events like the 12th Annual Real Estate Industry Night. At Rohit, we’ve always emphasized continued education and a culture of learning, making this initiative a natural fit. Notably, we previously collaborated with the university to design a customized 8-day leadership development program tailored for our existing and emerging leaders through our own Rohit University initiative.

This Chair strengthens that relationship and helps position the University as the national leader in applied real estate and interdisciplinary city-building education. 

Celebrating a vision for the future 

To mark this milestone, the University of Alberta hosted an exclusive ceremony on June 5 to officially recognize the creation of the Executive Chair and honour Radhe and Krishna Gupta for their visionary leadership. The event brought together Alberta’s top business, civic, and academic leaders to celebrate this bold initiative and hear how it will fuel economic growth, support talent development, and strengthen the foundations of Canadian city-building for generations to come. 

A lasting legacy of impact 

The Gupta family’s deep roots in real estate, development, and community building make them ideal leaders for this forward-looking initiative. By connecting industry expertise with academic excellence and public policy, the Executive Chair for Cities and Communities is set to make a lasting impact, not only in Alberta but across Canada. 

With this gift, Rohit Group is helping shape a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for Canadian cities, and honouring the legacy of two visionary leaders who have always believed in the power of purpose-driven progress. 

Together, we’re shaping the future of Canadian city-building boldly and with real long-lasting results. 

About Rohit Group:

Rohit Group is a privately owned national real estate company operating in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. The company’s subsidiaries enrich communities by providing land development, home building, commercial real estate, residential rentals, and health, as well as social, infrastructure. Since being established as a humble Edmonton builder in 1986, Rohit Group has grown to hold $1.3B in assets under management with an interest to expand across North America.