INVENT - developing new approaches to strengthen the education and training paths of vocational educators and aspiring event managers

October 2017 has seen the start of a new Key Action 2 (KA2) European project for Gecko. Named “InVent”, the project aims to develop a new approach to strengthen the education and training paths of vocational educators and aspiring event managers, in the event management sector.

The rationale behind this project grew from a needs analysis conducted by Gecko, in which we examined the profiles of successful cultural events manager already prominent in the industry. The needs analysis found that despite many Higher Education and Vocational Education Training institutions delivering courses in Event management, many successful professionals in this field did not necessarily acquire their skills and competencies through any kind of formal training. In contrast, once established, these professionals had managed to stay successful by continuing to add and update their skills through short training courses delivered by sector- led organisations such as EVCOM, the Institute of Event Management, and the Television and Radio Club in the UK. This is what is known in the UK as Continuing Professional Development.

With this in mind, the Invent project aims to develop the learner centred skills and competences for educators and professionals who develop new-entrants and recently appointed event managers. It will do this through a process of identifying current skills and skills gaps (the identification of prior learning), the expression of an Individual Development Plan, the coaching of individuals, and facilitation of group learning. By doing so we aim to build capacity of educators in the sector, and in turn contribute towards bridging the skill gaps of new entrants to, as well as those economically active in, the sector of events management.

The project will welcome joint efforts from 10 partners within 5 EU partner countries (UK, Spain, Germany, Latvia, and Slovenia). With each country being represented by an organisation in the teaching sector and an organisation in the events management sector, we will be able to draw on the expertise, best practices, of industry and teaching professionals across differing national standards to ensure a dynamic and quality outcome.
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We look forward to welcoming representatives of all partners to the projects Kick-Off meeting in Wolverhampton on the 27th and 28th November 2017.