Following the third edition of the sold-out Venue Management School (VMS) China program, the Venue Management Association (VMA) and The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) announced these two industry-leading associations would jointly launch their second venue education program for exhibition venues in the Asia-Pacific region.
Specifically targeting exhibition venue managers across Asia, the program commences 28 June 2020 in Macau, offering three days of face-to-face instruction. This English language version follows the 2017 launch of the well-received VMS China Mandarin-language version in Shanghai.
Since the launch of the VMS China program, nearly 100 students from exhibition centres in China have completed the program delivered by industry-leading Mandarin speaking instructors.
Beginning in 2016, UFI and VMA partnered to adapt VMA’s sector-leading Venue Management School, to offer Chinese exhibition venue managers, the opportunity to improve their operational and managerial skill-sets. The VMS China and VMS Macau versions will provide mid to senior-level venue managers, an outstanding learning environment and invaluable networking opportunities.
The Mandarin-language program covers a wide-range of capabilities, including, leadership skills, strategic planning, marketing and people management in addition to problem-solving and decision-making skills. The content of the 2020 VMS Macau version will be based on the Mandarin-language edition.
The VMS China program was created after the VMA and UFI recognised a need for education programs supporting the development of the Chinese exhibition industry and continuously raise the overall standard of venue operations in the Asia-Pacific region.
In announcing both the launch of the VMS Macau program and a new extended five year partnership between VMA and UFI, Michael Brierley, CEO of VMA, stated: “The VMA’s renowned Venue Management School in Australia, has been teaching venue management professionals for over 26 years and are delighted that the partnership with UFI has gone from strength to strength. The VMS China, and soon to be launched VMS Macau are key building blocks in ensuring that we can educate the next generation of venue professionals to become better venue managers and leaders.”
As was the case in Shanghai, Mr Cliff Wallace, a past UFI President and long-time supporter of VMA’s educational programs has agreed to act as Senior Advisor, overseeing the development of the Macau programme.
Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director/CEO of UFI, commented: “Following the sold-out success of our Mandarin-language edition, UFI is pleased to once again partner with VMA to launch an English-language version of the Venue Management School. Exhibition venue capacity in the Asia-Pacific region has grown enormously in the past decade and with this program UFI aims to support this expansion with high-quality training for senior management. UFI is, once again, proud to partner with VMA to bring its widely respected Venue Management School to new markets.”
Chris Wallace CVE, Presenting at the 2019 VMS China Program.