YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

SAACI launches youth competition

The national board of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) has undertaken to create a youth platform within SAACI; specifically targeted to young students studying towards a career in the broader business events and tourism industry.

This platform will aim to empower students and new entrants into the industry and bridge the knowledge and skills gap between academia and industry. The vision is to enhance relevant skills and employment opportunities in the industry. SAACI is challenging students to come up with a brand name inclusive of an identity (logo, vision, mission and tagline) for the SAACI Youth Initiative.

Glenton De Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI, said: “Many professionals in the business events industry acknowledge the challenges we are facing due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As SAACI, we are concerned about the students and graduates that will be entering the world of work soon. We all agree that there is no substitute for learning about the world of work, than being in the world of work. As an association, we view this competition as a building block for young professionals and students within our industry to understand the current ecosystem of the business events industry.”

Criteria:

Students from the same institution will be allowed to work in groups of four to six – or individually – in order to develop a SAACI Youth brand name, logo, vision statement, mission statement and tagline as part of this initiative to drive youth participation in the association.

Students would need to submit a written document in PDF format. The top three per institution are to be submitted to the SAACI Board on the contact details provided below.

The SAACI Board/Youth Sub Committee will evaluate the submissions received based on the following:

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of what SAACI entails, including its mandate and objectives and how the SAACI Youth Brand will align to this.

• Design a SAACI Youth Brand identity with a suitable brand name, brand logo and tagline aligned to the SAACI main brand.

• Provide reasons for the way the brand identity was designed and explain how it fits into the main SAACI brand identity.

• Propose a purpose for the SAACI

Youth Brand with relevant objectives, recommendations and possible strategies to reinforce the brand identity.

Who may enter?

Entry is only available to students who are registered with a tertiary institution in South Africa.

Entry is not available to:

• Members of the SAACI board or any of their family members.

• Students who are not registered with a tertiary institution in South Africa.

How to enter

1.Entrants must have attended the virtual SAACI Congress 2021, that took place in May 2021.

2.Proposal Submissions will be due on 17 September 2021, and be submitted to the SAACI Board/Sub Committee.

Submissions to be sent to members@saaci.org in pdf format, inclusive of proof of studentship at a registered tertiary institution in South Africa.

3.Proposals will be evaluated from 20 September to 1 October 2021.

4.Winners will be selected and contacted by 8 October 2021.

Link to the full brief:

https://www.saaci.org/wp-content/ uploads/2021/07/SAACI-YouthInitiative_final_date-extended.pdf