Certificate in Event Management is awarded based on the total grades received from each assignment. For those who have difficulty with assignments, an optional final examination can be taken at an additional charge.

Enrolment requirements:
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and with Leaving Certificate standard education. Applicants are not required to have any previous academic qualifications, however the course director will review information relating to the applicants work experience and reasons for applying. Distance learning students must indicate their willingness and motivation to complete their programme before starting their chosen course.

About the Course:
Ready for a challenge? The Certificate in Event Management is a highly successful distance learning programme which can be started at a time that suits you. The programme is run over twelve weeks and during that time you will learn the theory and practical skills required to manage successful events. The key to success in the event management business is knowledge and experience and that’s why we have incorporated into our assessment an opportunity for you to put together your own proposal and costing for a real event of your choice.

The Institute awards the Certificate in Event Management only upon satisfactory completion of course assignments and a project by distance learning. All course work submitted is assessed by external examiners with years of professional and academic experience in this area. You are also assigned a tutor who works in Event Management and is available to support and provide feedback on each of your assignments. All participants on the programme will gain full membership of CMI for a year and have access to CMI’s online educational resources.

The event management course is designed for individuals who want to learn about the skills and practice of event management. Also suitable for those interested in making a career move into event management or for event managers already working in the industry who want a broader perspective of this growing profession. It is especially suited for executives who have event management as part of their job or who wish to gain the additional skills to organise a special event, celebration party, media launch, exhibition or conference.

Course Aims & Objectives:
The objective of the course is to provide participants with the skills they need to work in Event Management. The course will explore how to prepare winning proposals, effectively negotiate with suppliers, manage finances and the budget, locate suitable venues and schedule staff. Tips will be explored as to how to design and implement a successful event. You will have an opportunity to put together your own event proposal for a real event of your choice. You will also have the opportunity to make a presentation and pitch for event business.

Course Content:
Event Management Planning, Testing Ideas
Client Consultation, Preparing the proposal
Selling and Presentation Skills, Developing creative and innovative elements to your event, Locating a venue, Contracts and Agreements, Finding staff and professional help for an event, Managing Schedules,
Record Keeping, Co-ordinating speakers, staff, contractors & volunteers
Marketing the Event, Formulating a PR Strategy, Publicising the Event,
Corporate Image, Press and Broadcast Media
Public relations, News Releases, Writing Feature Articles for the press
Designers & Suppliers, Invitations, Merchandising, Packaging
Guest Arrival, Registration & Admission Process,
Event Risk Management, Security & Safety,
Corporate Hospitality, Catering, Managing costs,
Financial and Budget Management, Corporate Event Management –local and global
Identifying Legal Requirements, Contracts, Systems set-up and ticketing,
The event itself, Organisational effectiveness, Organising conferences, choosing sites and working to a budget, Case Study Analysis, Evaluation of the Event
Event Sponsorship, Planning Award Ceremonies
Presentation skills, Speech content, Exhibition Management

Course Breakdown:
CMI is delighted to provide you with more detailed information on one of our most successful courses. The most important areas of event management are covered in the supplied textbook and an outline of each section is covered in this document. Please note that additional notes from the institute will be supplied and you will have access to CMIs online educational resources:

I.    The Events Business

• An introduction to events
• Categories and characteristics of events
• The market demand for events
• Size and scope of the event
• The events business: supply and suppliers, private, public and voluntary sectors
• Social, economic, political and development implications

II.  Managing Events

• Making a start, Finding and testing an idea, the screening process, 
• progressing the idea , Events planning process, operational planning
• Financial planning, Financial Management and the budget
• Creating a budget, who spends what, Identifying vendors appropriate to your event, Food & beverage requirements, Printers & Graphic Designers
• Risk Management, Legal Contracts & Insurance, Systems set-up and ticketing,
• Sponsorship and public funding, The event: venue-finding, logistics and ambience

III. Public Relations & Marketing of an event

Introduction to Public Relations, Writing News Releases & Preparing a PR programme, Marketing the Event, Marketing planning and design, Relationships between Marketing & Promotion, Segmenting, Targeting & Positioning the Event, Branding the Event, Logos, Online Marketing: Setting up an Event Website, Online/Cyber Marketing, Sponsorship, Direct Marketing, E-Commerce, Advertising

IV. Managing the event as a project

The event itself, Co-ordinating different elements to your event, Guest Speakers, Catering, Food & Beverage, Sound & Lighting systems, Organisational effectiveness, Monitoring event elements, Involving guests and participants, Achieving Interaction & Ambience, Security, Health & Safety, Corporate Hospitality, Catering, Marquees, Electricity, Hygiene, Room capacity, Local Authorities, Evaluation, Assessing the impact and success of the event.

Sample forms to get you started in the event business are included:
They are as follows:  A pilot questionnaire for proposed events, screening forms, budget forms for quotations, general budget forms, doing the job forms, event marketing budget forms, outline of cover letters and event proposals. Risk assessment and contact record forms are also supplied.                                          

Assessment
Four Assignments must be undertaken during the duration of your 12 week distance learning programme. You are required to demonstrate in each assignment that you have a good understanding of the material in the textbook and that you can apply what your read to real world situations.

One assignment actually involves putting together a proposal for an event of your choice including costing and preparing a budget for the same event. This is an excellent opportunity for you to gain practical experience in the event management business. From this assignment a high proportion of student’s gain further work from their initial contact with the client. So start looking for a potential client today, whether it is a local community or parish event or something much bigger. For the purposes of the distance learning programme, it is always recommended that you do not pursue an event that is too large, as you will not have the time to complete the other modules. The sections in the certificate in Event Management are:

Part I: The Event Management Business

Part II: Managing Events

Part III: Public Relations and Marketing of an event

Part IV: Managing the event as a project

Assignments will be forwarded to you on each of the above areas and must be returned to the institute within a specified time period. Failure to return an assignment will prevent you from moving on to the next section and from completing the programme.

Tutors
Tutors guide you along your journey of learning so feel free to ask him/her any questions or share any difficulties or anxieties you have with them. Email is perhaps the best way to communicate with your tutor as it focuses you on exactly the questions you need to ask. Please remember that your tutor is a person who works and lectures in their specialist area so be patient and allow up to two/three days for him/her to respond to your request.

Methodology: 
The principal method of learning is through course notes, assignments and  a project. Students are expected to read recommended texts to complement course materials. Successful candidates will be awarded the Certificate in Event Management. 

What is the next step?
You need to complete and return the enrolment form and pre-registration questionnaire which are available on this website. The next step is to set a date to commence your distance learning course. Once this date has been set and agreed with the institute, a payment of 750.00 Euro plus 200 euro assessment fees must be forwarded to the CMI and received at least two weeks before the start date. Within a week of receiving full payment a receipt will be forwarded to you with your Distance Learning Pack. Your Distance Learning pack includes the following:  

• Course textbook with sample event forms and over 30 event case studies for your benefit
• First Assignment so that you can start straight away
• Outline of deadlines to return assignments so that you can pre-plan your time in advance and be organised
• Study Guidelines so that you can make the best use of your time
• Recommended reading list should you wish to add to the core textbook
• Extensive handouts as a supplement to your reading
• Access to CMI’s online educational resources
• Membership of the Communications & Management Institute and access to educational events held throughout the year

                  CMI looks forward to formally welcoming you
                on this challenging distance learning programme