PolyU gears up to support further development of MICE industry

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been working in close collaboration with the industry to develop relevant programs to groom the ne

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been working in close collaboration with the industry to develop relevant programs to groom the next generation of convention and event managers for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) industry.

Introducing this development, SHTM director Professor Kaye Chon said the school is mindful of Hong Kongโ€™s push to strengthen its leading position in the market. He said, โ€œWith the spread of convention and event management as a specialist field in Asia, there is a pressing need to train the right people to satisfy industry demand.โ€

To develop an innovative programmof direct relevance to the MICE industry, SHTM has set up a dedicated taskforce with industry leaders to work on the curriculum development of Hong Kongโ€™s first Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Convention and Event Management conversion program to be launched in 2009/2010.

A distinct feature of this new program is that it has responded to industry needs from inception. Program director Dr. David Jones described the process as โ€œunique and progressive,โ€ with industry involvement to ensure the curriculum mirrors the realities of the changing business climate to meet the needs of the industry. It will offer sub-degree holders the opportunity to upgrade their qualifications to the degree level.

โ€œThe industry members of the taskforce were asked to outline โ€˜what competencies the industry would want from a student graduating from PolyU with a degree in this field.โ€™ Their recommendations were then developed into subject proposals, which were taken back for further input until our faculty members could produce a series of new subjects,โ€ added Dr. Jones.

The newly-developed subjects would cover the broad areas of meeting planning, exhibition management, venue management, and convention sales and service. One of the new subjects has already been incorporated into the schoolโ€™s most popular BSc (Honors) programs in Hotel Management and Tourism Management.

SHTM students enrolled on the elective of Meeting Planning are also given the challenging opportunity of practicing their skills in real life settings. They are now actively involved in organizing the International Convention and Expo Summit 2009 to be held from May 18-20 this year. With its theme โ€œConnect Asia Today,โ€ the summit would provide delegates with an inter-disciplinary forum for fruitful exchanges.

The two-year BSc (Honors) in Convention and Event Management program is a self-financed conversion program, which is targeted for holders of Higher Diplomas and Associate Degrees, and others who want to complete their bachelor degrees in the convention and event management area. For registration and further details, please click on the Study@PolyU website www.polyu.edu.hk/study .

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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