The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) announced a new programme offering student membership free of charge to the top 25 UK Events Management students, as a legacy of the Association’s 25th anniversary in 2012.
The new scheme has been developed in conjunction with the Association for Event Management Education (AEME) and will be led by recently appointed ABPCO Executive Committee member Rhodri Thomas who is an active supporter of AEME. ABPCO are inviting AEME members to nominate students that they feel are top performers in Events Management courses. The nominations will be reviewed by the ABPCO Executive Committee and each successful entry will be awarded free membership for an academic year, beginning in September 2013. They will also be given a profile on the ABPCO website and the opportunity to network with the conference and event organisers that make up the ABPCO membership.
Rhodri Thomas, ABPCO Executive Committee Academic Representative and Professor of Tourism and Events Policy at Leeds Metropolitan University, commented: “This is an excellent offer from ABPCO and I’m sure it will prove popular. It provides students with an early opportunity to develop their networks which will stand them in good stead. I’m hoping it’s the first of many initiatives that will strengthen collaboration between universities and senior PCOs.”
ABPCO Chair Jennifer Jenkins commented: “In 2012 ABPCO celebrated its 25th year with a number of activities, including opening up 25 free student membership places for the first time. I am delighted that we can now announce that this will continue annually as a legacy of the 25th year.
“The student body is of course the future of the events industry and we have recognised this by facilitating a platform for students to network with the individuals that will ultimately become their peers. I am also very pleased that we can welcome Rhodri Thomas to our Executive Committee and look forward to working with him to develop more student initiatives in the future.”
