International Congresses (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

Lectures twice a week, two learning assignments with specific deadlines (Assignment 1: Destination analysis, Assignment 2: Project work) and the exam at the end of course. Assignment 2 Project work: the event and the timing of the event will be announced by the end of December 2025.

Objective

The purpose of this course is to deepen your understanding in event industry and business travel by focusing on international congresses and meetings. You will understand the special features of scientific congresses and learn the planning and implementation process of international congresses both in theory and in practice. By identifying the international structure of meetings industry, and different operators both in the field, it is easier for you to make career plans within meetings industry.

Competences:
Tourism business, Proactive development

Learning objectives:
You understand the role of international congresses as part of meetings industry, business travel and event industry. You identify the terminology used in meetings industry. You identify operators and service providers within meetings industry. You know the phases of planning and managing international congresses and apply them in practice.

Content

- Meetings industry as part of tourism
- Terminology within meetings industry
- Operators and service providers within meetings industry
- International congress planning and management process
- Special features of scientific congresses
- Critical success factors of international congresses

Materials

Rogers, T. 2013. Conferences and conventions. A Global industry. London; New York: Routledge.
Fenich, G. 2012. Meetings, expositions, events, and conventions : an introduction to the industry. Boston: Pearson cop.

Teaching methods

In this course project learning is utilized as a primary learning method. You will first learn about the content through theory and company visits and visitors. Then you will apply the knowledge into practise by participating to the planning and implementation of an event together with your collegues and stakeholders of the event.

Employer connections

Course includes various visiting industry specialists supporting student's knowhow about the meetings industry development and future aspects.

Students' building of local networks and industry knowledge is supported with visits to local meetings venues.

Students are practically participating in the organization of an event. The event and the date will be confirmed by the end of December 2025.

Exam schedules

Exam at the end of the course. Two re-sit opportunities are given.

International connections

Internationalisation aspect is accommodated to this implementation using international examples and material of Congress and meeting management.

Student workload

Orientation to the course (2 hours): Familiarizing yourself with learning objectives, contents, assignments; organizing your time and the own goals for learning.

Theoretical knowledge (60 hours): You will attend to the theory lectures, visits to the companies and workshops of this course, you will collect meetings industry information about the chosen destination together with your team and share the information with your collegues, and in addition you will study materials independently for the exam.

Practical learning: Project work (70 hours): You will participate into planning and implementation of an event together with your collegues and stakeholders of the event.

Self-assessment (3 hours): You will do the self- and peer evaluation in the end of the course.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1 (Sufficient)
You understand the role of international congresses as part of meetings industry, business travel and event industry. You identify the terminology used in meetings industry. You identify operators and service providers within meetings industry. You know the phases of planning and managing international congresses and apply them in practice.

2 (Satisfactory)
You understand the role of international congresses as part of meetings industry, business travel and event industry. You can explain the terminology used in meetings industry. You identify operators and service providers within meetings industry. You know the special features of scientific congresses. You know the phases of planning and managing international congresses and apply them in practice.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3 (Good 3)
You understand the role of international congresses as part of meetings industry, business travel and event industry. You can explain the terminology used in meetings industry. You can describe operators and service providers within meetings industry and understand their roles. You know the special features of scientific congresses. You can illustrate the phases of planning and managing international congresses, their critical success factors and apply them in practice.

4 (Very good 4)
You understand the role of international congresses as part of meetings industry, business travel and event industry. You can explain the terminology used in meetings industry. You can compare operators and service providers within meetings industry and understand their roles. You can describe the special features of scientific congresses. You can analyze the phases of planning and managing international congresses, their critical success factors and are able to apply them in practice.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5 (Excellent)
You can analyze the role of international congresses as part of meetings industry, business travel and event industry. You can explain the terminology used in meetings industry. You can analyze operators and service providers and their roles within meetings industry. You are able to analyze the special features of scientific congresses. You can analyze the phases of planning and managing international congresses, their critical success factors and are able to implement them in practice. You show critical thinking in evaluation of the international congress event production process issues and important management factors.

Qualifications

You understand the concepts related to service operations and has basic customer competence. You understand the general concepts and phenomena related to tourism.

Further information

The teacher of this course will evaluate the assignments of the course, based on course evaluation criteria, and you will evaluate your own learning during the course. For passing the course you need to complete all the required assignments and actively attend to the sessions (80 % attendance requirement).

Studying in this course requires that you will participate to the first lecture (Jamk Degree Regulations).