The Singapore University of Social Sciences signed an agreement with the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers to build stronger capabilities for event management practitioners
SINGAPORE – The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) signed an agreement with the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) to build stronger capabilities for event management practitioners through the joint development of training courses. The partnership is a shot in the arm for the meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE) industry, which has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agreement was inked by Professor Attallah Samir, Dean of School of Science and Technology, SUSS, and Mr Aloysius Arlando, President of SACEOS. SACEOS will contribute to the overall curriculum and develop five new modules such as financial and risk management for events, trends and technologies for events, event ideation and conceptualisation for SUSS’s BSc events management with minor programme. These new modules will prepare our students with practical skills and insights of real challenges emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic such as risk impact resulting from event cancellation and postponements, and effective systems thinking capabilities to solve complex problems.
This partnership aligns with the Event Industry Resilience Roadmap recently launched by SACEOS together with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG). It is the world’s first roadmap for the MICE and Event industry whereby a key pillar is to build capabilities for the future to support livelihoods and enterprise resilience in the sector.
Dr Jonathan Leong, Head of Event Management Programme, School of Science and Technology, SUSS said, “There is opportunity in every crisis. The MICE industry has now become a borderless business. True to our applied learning approach, our students who are working adults will learn first-hand from our industry experts in the classroom. This collaboration will contribute towards a more creative and resilient MICE industry as our student learn to adapt and pivot as the pandemic evolves.”
Mr Arlando said: “This degree will be the first for the MICE industry conferred by a Singapore university, taking lessons learnt in managing COVID-19 and its riskmitigating best practices. SACEOS look forward to curating and contributing to the rigor of the curriculum, injecting best-in-class global practices, adding practical casestudies so that a pipeline of future-ready professionals can be trained and better contribute to our industry of tomorrow.”
SUSS’s Bsc Events Management with Minor programme
The programme equips students with interdisciplinary skills and keep them up to speed on latest industry trends through SUSS’s extensive network of partners. For instance, students will be able to redesign events into a virtual or hybrid model, and implement latest safe management measures to run events effectively.
To keep up with digital transformation, the programme also weaves in online channel creation and management, virtual and augmented reality courses. In addition, the programme imbues versatile and portable skillset such as marketing, communication, critical and creative thinking as well as financial planning, which helps our students pursue successful and resilient career paths in the events or even adjacent industries.
Dr Leong said, “With this current pandemic, there is a greater need for collaboration, upskilling and upgrading. Our Events Management Programme adopts a digital pivot and multidisciplinary approach, providing students with a wide spectrum of skills and knowledge, which they can implement at their workplaces.”
SUSS’s Bsc Events Management with Minor programme will start in July 2021.
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