News
19.10.2007KEA Korean Exhibition Academy
First course successfully completed in October 2007
From 10 to 12 October 2007 the first Korean Exhibition Academy, a course program for young Korean exhibition managers, was held by KME Consulting Group, an international consultancy for the exhibition industry, headquartered in Berlin, Germany.
During the three days’ course program a total of 34 participants was given a deep field oriented insight into facts and figures of the international exhibition industry as well as theoretical and practical know how concerning exhibition management. KME had been commissioned by MOCIE Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Energy and AKEI the Association of Korean Exhibition Industries.
ITP International Trade Fair Professional
The course program is ambitious and comprises ten course modules and specific case studies. The topics reach from “Basic conditions for international exhibition management” via “Exhibition marketing”, “Exhibition space management”, “Services & project management”, “Brand & media cooperation management” and “Trade fair evaluation” to the necessary know how for successful “Venue development”.
The aim of the participants is to pass a test at the end of the course to be awarded the certification as ITP International Trade Fair Professional. The best three graduates of the first course will be given there certificate during the 4th Korea International Exhibition Forum in November 2007.
The course modules were developed in accordance with AKEI and MOCIE in order to enhance the field oriented skills of junior Korean exhibition experts according to the standards of the leading German and the European exhibition industry. The program and the modular course structure were very well accepted by the participants.
As responsible coordinator and senior lecturer AKEI had commissioned Dr. Hermann Kresse, CEO KME Consulting Group and former General Manager of AUMA The Association of the German Exhibition Industry. He was backed by Mrs. Karla Juegel, Trade Fair & Event Management, Munich. Both lecturers have many years of experience in the international exhibition industry with an international expertise background.
Perspectives for 2008
KEA 2007 was only the starting point for an intended yearly course program for young Korean exhibition experts. After the successful first edition of KEA, AKEI Chairman Soo-Ik Kim expressed his wish to continue this important initiative in 2008.
Soo-Ik Kim: “The Korean exhibition industry being an important branch of the country’s economy, AKEI wants to strengthen the further education of exhibition experts in the years to come.”
Winter and summer academy
Taking into account the experience made in October 2007 and in accordance with MOCIE and AKEI, KME as an organiser has proposed to position the next course during times of the year which are not busy exhibition periods. In addition KME suggested splitting KEA into a winter academy in January or February and a summer academy in July or August.
Since trade fairs and exhibitions are an important marketing tool for the Korean economy and there is a substantial need for further education for young professionals working for exhibition organisers, venue owners and exhibition related service providers, two courses per year are to be considered as appropriate and necessary.
For 2008 it is intended to integrate two new course modules concerning “Congress & convention management” as well as “International exhibition markets & cooperation”. Next year the courses should have a total duration of four days integrating a half day field excursion, giving practical insight into the day-to-day work of an exhibition or event venue, an organising company or a service provider.
KEA enjoys the endorsement of IUES International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef - Bonn and ita international trade fair academy, Berlin, Germany.
