(a) The department of business regulation is authorized to conduct, hold, or assist in conducting or holding, real estate clinics, meetings, courses, or institutes, and to incur the necessary expenses limited by connection therewith, which are open to all licensees.
(b) The department is authorized to assist educational institutions within this state in sponsoring studies, research, and programs for the purpose of raising the standards of professional practice in real estate and the competence of licensees in the public interest.