Growing the next event professional

The recently held IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum at Meetings Africa, which was a dedicated youth-focused business events forum, had several members of the SAACI Youth Council with a selection of top students from various South Africa and African academic institutions. The sessions aimed to educate students, as well an entice them towards careers opportunities in the business events industry.

As an association, SAACI with its members are experiencing the challenge in finding skilled event professionals to deliver meetings and events, while we know that the training and skills transfer to the next generation is much needed.

The balance of getting both done simultaneously is one that we all a seeking a workable solution.

Saaci Helps To Develop Workplace Readiness

Hence, the SAACI Youth Council, which is working with the tertiary institutions in South Africa in preparing the final-year students that have shown great interest and promise to build a career within the meetings and events industry.

Ensuring workplace readiness has always been a matter of concern once students reach the time for workplace training. Often the actual training is not fully completed or even started, as the students with the placement company battle to find that balance of delivery while learning in motion on a meeting or event.

As such, we are calling on all experienced professionals to consider reaching out to SAACI to be part of the solution-building process with the tertiary institutions and students in how best we can prepare the students for workplace absorption.

As an association, we know this is a big ask from members and the industry, with financial and practical challenges still felt in nearly every industry and organisation, no matter how big or small – but clearly, the future of the events industry needs to include a game plan to engage and attract nextgeneration participants.