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International Conference
Global Event Educators Symposium
21-24 May 2014, Indianapolis, USA
Event management is
increasingly becoming recognised globally as a distinct occupation
though the level of recognition varies between countries. Practitioners
and their representative associations routinely
talk about ‘professionalism’ and the importance of a ‘professional
workforce’, but these terms are rarely defined clearly. There is an
associated set of techniques advocated by professional associations and
large event companies that are becoming sophisticated
and designed to ensure that returns on investment accrue to those
organising meetings and other planned events. Moreover, several
organisations have mapped the competencies required to be effective as
an event manager and offer training programs to develop
the skills base. Little of this has been informed by academic
research, grounded in theory, or influenced by the thinking of
academics.
Educators have also
experienced an explosion of interest from potential students who are
keen to gain qualifications to enter this occupation (or profession).
There has been a corresponding expansion of events
courses as well as the development of a community of scholars who
define themselves wholly or partly in relation to their teaching and/or
research on planned events. In spite of an overt vocational focus,
there has been little engagement with practitioners
on what might represent a research agenda for the field or how industry
might articulate with events educators in other ways. For many, such
conversations would open new avenues of research and strengthen the
value of programs. Others would consider such
developments intrusive. Discussions about the strategic development of
the field of study has also been limited; questions about where events
should be located within universities, the extent to which new or
existing subject associations might better represent
the interests of events scholars have not been prominent. This
international conference provides an opportunity to explore these and
related matters.
The conference will
focus on issues associated with event management education, business
engagement and the professionalization of event management in an
international context. Topics will include, but not be
limited to, the following:
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Critical perspectives on professionalism and the professionalization of event management
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Engaging with industry: perspectives and practices
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Event management education
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The politics of the events curriculum and its position within universities
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The skills agenda
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Finding a voice for events scholars: strategies and tactics
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Issues of distinctiveness: sports events, cultural events, meetings and exhibitions
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Examining the relationship between event studies and event management |
