Events Students Attend Engaging Hybrid Excursion

Events students currently studying a Master of Event Management degree were treated to their very first hybrid excursion at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour, Sydney.

This was a fantastic hands-on experience for postgraduate events students of EVT805 and EVT601 to take a tour of the ICC spaces and learn more about the combination of in-person and virtual event management technology during this hybrid excursion.

Students also gained an insight into COVID-19 hospitality and event operations; undertook an analysis of Tourism Australia’s largest annual conference set up; and were introduced to ICC Business Development Staff, forming valued connections and industry contacts.

What made this excursion extra special was that events students could attend both face-to-face and virtually at the same time. This allowed ICMS students based in Europe and Asia, who couldn’t be there in person, to attend the hybrid excursion via Zoom as virtual tour participants. ICMS Lecturer Katrina Denoux, who delivered the class, regularly checked in with the online attendees to ensure visual and sound quality was working well on their end.

Virtual postgraduate events students could send through questions on the Zoom live chat, which would be passed on to the tour director. They had the opportunity to open their microphones on Zoom and ask questions in real time throughout the tour. The hybrid excursion concept was well received by events students, with one student dialing in from Asia later telling the lecturer, “The live stream at ICC was amazing! I wish I could be there with you and all my classmates!”

This was an excellent way for the events students both in person and virtually to apply the knowledge and skills learnt from their subjects to a real world organisation. Some of the subjects offered with the Master of Event Management degree include Business Events and Association Management, Tourism and Hospitality Marketing, as well as Sustainable Best Practice for Events.

At ICMS, students receive a career focused education, with a combination of engaging lectures taught by industry leaders, and practical experience to prepare them for a successful career in their chosen field. A hybrid excursion such as this is a key example of the many hands-on experiences and overall career focused learning students receive while studying at ICMS.

With the practical work experience component of an ICMS degree, students will graduate not only with a degree, but with valuable connections from networking opportunities and industry skills that have been learnt outside the classroom, much like the hybrid excursion held last week.

Katrina Denoux is an experienced lecturer at ICMS with past experience in tourism, business leadership and well being. Her academic career has seen her develop, co-ordinate and deliver as senior lecturer, a new postgraduate degree at a London university; and the curation of undergraduate / postgraduate subject development and lecturing of new degrees in Australia.

Ms Denoux is an engaging speaker and lecturer – her natural, entertaining, yet professional style delivering maximum impact on virtual and hybrid platforms, as well as in person.

Overall, the hybrid excursion at ICC Sydney was an incredible success, and was greatly beneficial for  events students in gaining practical experienced and making valued connections with individuals in the events and tourism industry.

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About the Master of Event Management

From business and social events to mega events, concerts and festivals, a professional event manager ensures the success of any event.

The ICMS Master of Event Management is designed for working professionals seeking formal qualifications, as well as students seeking exposure to best practice within the event sector. It is a postgraduate degree that aims to develop strategic thinking and conceptual, analytics and current, practical skills.

Successful events can result in sustainable social, economic and infrastructure outcomes and are emerging as a key strategy for communities coping with globalisation and the new economy.

Underpinning a strong emphasis on the international event sector, the Master of Event Management is designed to develop strategic management skills and knowledge that may be applied to the delivery of events in a range of local, national and global settings.

Read more here

Subjects studied by Events Students

• Business Events and Association Management
• Impacts and Strategic Planning of International Events
• Media Management
• Tourism and Hospitality Marketing
• Risk Management and Law for Event Managers 
• Sustainable Best Practice for Events 
• Foundations of Management Thought