The AIPC Academy 2010: February 7-12

Year Four of the Definitive Congress Centre Professional Development Program

From its first session only a little over three years ago, the AIPC Academy has already become the pre-eminent professional development experience for international convention centre management training, with a full curriculum designed to provide a comprehensive industry overview and update in all key areas of centre management, operations, finances and marketing. Graduates have consistently rated the learning experience highly and with each successive year the program has become even more refined and targeted.

Now, the 2010 edition has been booked and AIPC is accepting registrations for what will once again be a restricted number of places available in the program. As in the previous session, the overall program will consist of a full five day curriculum ranging over all key topics as well as a series of guest presenters who will represent the interface of our industry with key suppliers and clients. Subject areas will include facility operations, sales and marketing, industry economics, human resources, event management, and community relations along with areas of special interest such as facility design and development, sustainability and security.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to distinguish themselves through the design of facility programs in the 2010 Academy Challenge, a team-based exercise set as part of the curriculum.

This year's program will also include a day session in the recently completed Square Brussels Meeting Centre, a new facility with many features that are directly relevant to many subject areas in the Academy curriculum.

Academy Objectives:

The Academy is a survey course intended primarily to accomplish two things:

• Provide a broad overview of the Meetings Industry and the management , operation and marketing of congress centres for staff who are new to the industry
• Provide a skills and knowledge upgrade for staff who are moving from a specific operational area into a broader management role

Academy Attendance:

The content of the program is designed to focus on topics that are unique to the management of congress centres rather than on general management skills that are already widely available through existing local management training programs. Staff who will benefit the most from this program are those who have been identified as having potential to take on a wider management role within a centre and need to expand their industry knowledge so that they have a broader understanding of all aspects of both congress centre management and the industry in which centres operate.
A further benefit will be the opportunity for students to interact with a truly international group of industry representatives, and to build industry networks that will benefit the throughout their careers.

The Academy Philosophy:

The overall philosophy of the Academy is based on a recognition of the importance that member centres place on professional development and the need to maximize the benefits to be derived from staff participation in the program. As a result, the AIPC Academy is a rigorous program that utilizes as much of the available course time as possible. Students should understand that they will be expected to participate fully in the program, contributing from their own experiences and representing the views of their own centres in group discussions. The sessions will be scheduled throughout the available time period, including evenings, and students will also be expected to use their free time for completion of assignments. 

Academy Format:

In order to be as accommodating as possible of different levels of student knowledge and experience, the program will be a combination of presentations and practical workshops.
Each topic area will be addressed by both written and lecture materials, followed by participant exercises in which students will be required to demonstrate their understanding of the topic by creating practical applications of the subject content (i.e., design marketing, operational or security plans given hypothetical situations).

2010 Course content:

Academy logistics:

The AIPC Academy will be offered at Dolce La Hulpe Brussels; a purpose built corporate training centre located 15 miles Southeast of Brussels that has recently been converted into a hotel and conference complex. This location offers all the required facilities along with an attractive learning environment for students.
Students will be accommodated on site in the accommodation of Dolce La Hulpe.
The 2010 course will take place from Sunday, February 7 at 17:00 hrs and end on Friday, February 12 at 12:00 hrs.

The fee for the five day program is € 2.495 for the five day program (early registration up to November 15, 2009) and € 2.695 for registration on/after December 1, 2009 onwards.

Fees include

• Course attendance and materials
• Full board and lodging at the Dolce La Hulpe* from February 7 before dinner through February 12, breakfast included. No extra costs will be charged during your stay at Dolce La Hulpe except for expenses of a purely private nature such as telephone calls, laundry, extra drinks, etc.
• One day session at the Square Brussels Meeting Centre followed by dinner in town (transport by bus included)
• A certificate of attendance.

Social activities: There will be a welcome reception the first evening and an evening out in Brussels Old Town. Evening presentations will be presented in more of a social atmosphere with dinner discussions in a private dining area.

The Academy Scholarship:
Again this year a scholarship will be available to a member nominated student; full details are in the Scholarship section of this site.
Registration: contact Marianne.de.raay@aipc.org

AIPC Academy 2010 Course Program