ICCA Announces New Programmes and Educational Offerings at IMEX

ICCA has announced at IMEX several new educational offerings and initiatives, including new ICCA Masterclasses, the launch of ICCA's new partnership with colleges and universities, ICCAUni, and the expansion of certification programme ICCASkills.

The newest ICCA Masterclasses include sessions focused on Association Impacts, AI-Empowered Event Professionals, and Regenerative Event Management. The Association Impacts Masterclass, a two-day immersive programme, was co-created with #Meet4Impact and GainingEdge. Designed to amplify associations' societal impact and boost destinations' global and local influence, this Masterclass offers an unparalleled opportunity for destinations to gain international recognition while empowering local associations.

The second ICCA Masterclass, AI-Empowered Event Professionals, was developed in collaboration with Gevme and Dahlia+Agency as a comprehensive programme structured around five modules focused on enhancing efficiency, improving attendee engagement, and ensuring event success with the integration of AI into the event industry.

The Regenerative Event Management Masterclass aims to equip industry and association professionals with the skills to host and organise events that minimise environmental impact and actively contribute to environmental and societal regeneration.  

ICCAUni, the newest addition to ICCA’s education portfolio, will foster collaboration between academia and the events industry, cultivating new talent and engaging colleges and universities in the development of the next generation of meetings and events professionals. The programme is based on three foundations: Data Sharing, Mentorship and Education, and Networking and Collaboration. These areas are critical for the development of burgeoning industry leaders, and ICCA is poised to propel ICCAUni participants into the forefront of the meetings and events space.  

“ICCA is thrilled to announce ICCAUni, a unique and much-needed programme that aims to help the next generation of meetings and events professionals access the industry in a way we’ve never seen before — by providing a pathway for success,” said Senthil Gopinath, ICCA CEO.“ICCAUni is a standout addition to our already robust portfolio of educational offerings, and we’re so excited to welcome the first group of participants to the programme.” 

ICCAUni offers participating universities two full scholarships for students to attend the ICCA Congress, including registration fee, economy class travel and accommodation, as well as exclusive access to ICCA's extensive database, resources, white papers, and reports. Scholarship students also have the opportunity to take part in post-Congress mentorship programmes, participate in research projects, and gain access to potential internship and job opportunities. Participants also have the opportunity to attend ICCA events and activities at special rates for professors and students.  

Finally, ICCA is pleased to announce significant enhancements to the groundbreaking ICCASkills certification programmes, including the transition of the online classes into self-paced formats, which increases global accessibility and convenience, and enables participants to engage from anywhere at any time. Additionally, in-person classes will be expanded, with the establishment of hubs in Beijing and Luxembourg offering multiple sessions throughout the year. ICCA will also offer an executive-level class this September in New Zealand, supported by Tourism New Zealand, with scholarships for local learners.

These developments further demonstrate ICCA's commitment to developing skilled professionals across the globe through the ICCA portfolio of educational programmes and events, Masterclasses, podcasts, and certification programmes.