I’ll be 72 next year and I am planning on going back to school. I have actually already made up my mind. Why on earth would I want to go back to school, you may wonder? Well, I have two good reasons. Number one: what better way to rekindle the fire and keep your mind and spirit in shape than through closer contact with the younger generations. Number two: in my opinion there is not enough knowledge in the meetings industry about management styles and professional training. I have set myself the challenge to find out how different it is to run an association compared to managing a company. I want to find out whether to lead one or the other requires different management styles or not. And also, I am curious to learn more about whether a manager of one or the other needs a different set of talents or again maybe not.
My objective is to obtain a second Master’s degree. This time around my aim is the Executive Master in International Association Management degree. I am of course rather privileged in that I only live 40 km away from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management (part of the Université Libre de Bruxelles). Solvay is among the top business schools in the world and has recently developed a programme with seven different modules specifically designed around association management. If anyone would like to join me on this journey back to school just let me know. It might be fun to go shopping together for a new school satchel or perhaps even a uniform.
For the reader here’s an overview of the curriculum for 2018:
MODULE 1
LEADERSHIP AND CHANGE
25-26-27 JANUARY 2018
MODULE 2
FINANCE& PERFORMANCE
22-23-24 FEBRUARY 2018
MODULE 3
STRATEGY I: CREATING AND CAPTURING VALUE
16-17 MARCH 2018
MODULE 4
STRATEGY II: A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE
20-21 APRIL 2018
MODULE 5& 6
VALUE-FOCUSED MARKETING
4-5 MAY 2018 - 25-26 MAY 2018
MODULE 7
PROJECT& EVENT MANAGEMENT
14-15-16 JUNE 2018
Like any good student would do you can count on me to keep you informed about my progress in class. So please, follow me in HQ magazine in the section titled ‘I’m going back to school!’
I feel like I’m already a student again.
Marcel A.M. Vissers
Editor-in-Chief
HeadQuarters & MIM Europe magazine
Supported by the Union of International Associations (UIA), the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) and the Interel Group, the global public affairs and association management consultancy, Headquarters Magazines serve the needs of international associations organising worldwide congresses.