Course Aims & Objectives

What makes the Advanced Diploma unique from other courses is its unique focus on three key areas: Financial Mgmt of Event Budgets, Risk Management essential to all events and Event Project Management which is the project worldview required to streamline an event. If you are serious about entering the Event Profession, the Advanced Diploma should be considered over and above any other Event Management course. The comprehensive nature of the Advanced Diploma in Event Management prepares participants for the exciting range of Events that will attract thousands and millions of people over the coming years.

To help you on your way, over 30 event examples will be explored during the course from Concerts, Festivals and Outdoor events to Indoor Events such as Private Functions, Conferences, Weddings and Product Launches.  Exploring the key elements required to plan and organise different types of events, will help you decide what category of event you will work with in the future.

Lecturers and guest lecturers who have organised events in North America and Europe will offer you unique insights to this growing profession. The Advanced Diploma in Event Management course will provide you with the range of skills necessary to work in Outdoor Events, as well as provide job opportunities in the Conference, Hotel, Travel, Tourism and Hospitality sectors.

Diploma in Event Management – 9 Core Subjects

There are 9 core modules to study:

1. Event Management Fundamentals
2. Human Resource Management of Events
3. Quality Assurance, Risk Planning & Post-Event Evaluation
4. The Event Itself – Event Operational Management
5. Special Events – Indoor & Outdoor Events
6. Marketing & Public Relations of Events
7. The Events Business & Financial Management
8. Project Management of Events
9. Event Risk Management

Course Overview

Module 1: Event Fundamentals
The purposed of this module is to cover the basic fundamentals of organising an event from start to finish. It is designed to broaden the learners understanding of event management.

Learners who successfully complete this module will be able to:

Areas such as: Role of Event Planner, the qualities & Skills of an Event Manager, what are your event skills? The important areas of Pre- Event Planning: What suppliers will you deal with to make your event successful? Identifying vendors appropriate to your event, identifying food & beverage requirements, Printers & Graphic Designers, Invitations, Booklets, Sound & Lighting, Entertainment, Photographers, Cake specialists, Caterers, Designers & Suppliers, Catering Requirements, Merchandising, Packaging, Stage Plans.

• Brainstorm and come up with innovative/creative event ideas and concepts
• Source clients and test ideas
• Structure an event proposal to event industry format
• Make presentations & win customers
• Co-ordinate and document all aspects of an event as part of a Quality Assured Proposal
• Examine different event proposals and what is the key distinguishing factors
• Understand the basic fundamentals of event planning
• Understand various categories and types of events and context.
• Put together a number of unique event ideas
• Prepare a list of all the basic elements that contribute to an event and identify the essential parts of an event proposal
• Start the Planning Phase of an event
• Carry out research for an event proposal
• Plan a draft event plan on one event concept
• Identify a client and their needs and objectives
• Agree client needs and requirements
• Set clear objectives, concept and purpose of an Event
• Prepare the preliminary budget for an event, including projected costs, cashflow and sources of revenue
• Document full event proposal/project according to required industry format
• Integrate PR or Marketing Plan into proposal.
• Demonstrate excellent presentation skills

Module 2: Human Resource Management of Events
The purpose of this unit is to give students an appreciation of the Human Resource Management side of events. Students are expected to become familiar with relevant employment legislation and HR schedules and planning. Learners who successfully complete this module should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of employment legislation
• Prepare a job description and contract of temporary employment
• Select staff, volunteers and suppliers
• Plan induction and training for staff and volunteers
• Draft a work breakdown schedule (WBS) with delegated duties and clear deadlines
• Demonstrate excellent time management, conflict resolution and negotiation skills
• Co-ordinate all stakeholders, staff, volunteers, contractors

Module 3: Quality Assurance, Risk Planning & Post-Event Evaluation
The purpose of this unit is to give students an understanding of event documentation that satisfies a quality assurance standard and event industry format. Students will get a basic understanding of risk planning and it is recommended that students complete Module 9 – Risk Management to build on the basic introductory risk assessment skills covered in this unit. Event evaluation will play a significant part of this module which will help advance an event planners understanding of feedback to improve event quality and delivery. Learners who successfully complete this module should be able to:

• Design Client Contracts – agreements and legalities - Identifying Legal Requirements - e.g. planning permission, electricity, hygiene, room capacity, insurance, local authorities, health and safety.
• Prepare Health & safety Statements
• Be introduced to risk assessment
• Carry out risk assessment plan
• Demonstrate a knowledge of quality assurance and event risk management
• Insurance requirements
• Draft sample contracts for a special event
• Address security concerns of a special event
• Keep records and documentation
• Payment of suppliers and Feedback meetings
• Plan a post event evaluation based on primary research, attendance and guest feedback, questionnaires and surveys.
• Evaluation and assessment of the Event, Primary research, Assessing the impact of the Event, Attendance Feedback, Case study analysis, Paying suppliers, Feedback meetings, Questionnaires, Surveys, Introducing revisions to future Event programmes.

Module 4: The Event Itself – Event Operational Management
 

The purpose of this unit is to give learners an appreciation of event production and the logistics of implementing an event.

      Learners who successfully complete this module should be able to:

• Understand roles and manage each member of production/ event team through recognising different phases: Concept and proposal Phase, Co-ordination phase, Execution Phase- working with the team, Follow-up Phase
• Co-ordinate various elements; visitor management, registration and admissions
• Plan logistics for the event and a logistics checklist for the event, made up of all operational activities.
• Supply Chain Management
• Site Inspection/Venue Layout and CADD
• Production Schedules/Running orders and scripts
• Describe the organisational/logistics part of an event, time lines etc
• Achieve interaction and ambience; ice breakers, music, themed nights & entertainment.
• Co-ordinate the running order, implement schedule, guest speakers and performers, contigency, sound and lighting systems.
• Demonstrate organisational effectiveness and effective management of staff.
• Demonstrate health and safety, hygiene requirements e,g. first aid, catering, toilets.

Module 5: Special Types of Events: Indoor & Outdoor Events
The purpose of this unit is to give students an understanding of the planning and implementation of various types of indoor and outdoor events. What kinds of events can you manage? Over 20 Different types of real case studies will be examined in Ireland and throughout Europe. The outdoor events section is designed to provide the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to plan, manage and implement outdoor festivals, community and arts events. The indoor Events Management section is designed to provide practical knowledge on all areas of indoor event production such as Exhibitions, Conferences, small and large scale indoor events. It will provide students with inside knowledge and technical skills to organise and produce an indoor event from start to finish. The following events are examined;

Private parties, Personal Events, Leisure Events, Cultural Events, Community Arts Events, Organisational Events, Festivals, Themed Events, Corporate and Business Events, Exhibition & Conference Management, Sporting Events, Celebrity events, Weddings, Fund-Raising Events, Children’s parties, Ceremonial events, Annual Events, Award Ceremonies, Air shows & other nominates Special Events.

Learners who successfully complete this module should be able to:

• Understand Special Events: Indoor Events – Personal, Social, Weddings, Corporate, Charity, Conference Management, Exhibitions. Management; Outdoor Events – Arts Events, Community Events, Festivals, Concerts.
• Understand the role of the special event.
• Identify key elements and distinguishing factors of indoor and outdoor events.
• Know how to organise at least one or more of the special indoor or outdoor events.
• Identify with a particular area of events you wish to work in, specialise and justify reasons for working in that category.
• It is designed to provide the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to plan, manage and implement outdoor festivals, community and arts events.
• Develop the ability to manage relationships with different outdoor event stakeholders e.g city and county councils, suppliers.

Module 6 – Marketing & PR
This module is designed to help students learn the art of promoting an event prior to the event and post the event. Students will learn how to use Marketing & PR Tools & Techniques used to promote an event and raise awareness. How do you market or create PR for an event? Have you a Marketing or Public Relations plan?

The learner should be able to:

• Understand Key PR tools
• Understand Press and Broadcast Media Environment
• Write press release for an event
• Write feature articles about an event
• Understand Publicity and how to get it.
• Put together a PR plan/programme OR Marketing plan for an event
• Understand key Marketing tools – e.g. online marketing, direct marketing
• Branding the Event – ticketing, advertising
• Insert basic Public Relations and Marketing tools to their proposal
• Identifying a good name - Marketing the event brand to targeted customers/clients
• 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

Module 7 – Business of Events & Financial Management

This module is designed to provide practical and theoretical knowledge on the business of events and what is involved in running a profitable event and events business. The key factors and characteristics of running your own successful events business and holding a profitable event is explored. Students get an appreciation of the financial side of events by exploring the fundamentals of Financial Management and how it applies to each event. Students will be given the tools and know-how to set up their own events business. Learners who successfully complete module 7 – Events Business & Financial Management will be able to:

• Understand the practical and theoretical skills required to set up their own events business and deliver profitable events
• Devise a Business Plan
• Contact prospective clients with a view to winning events business
• Understand the negative side of running your own business and avoiding financial pitfalls and poor cost management.
• Discuss the events industry in Ireland and abroad
• Understand market trends and factors leading to growth in demand for special types of events.
• How to sell sponsorship to add revenue to an event.

Module 8 – Event Project Management

Objectives
Event Project Management examines how to manage an event from a professional project management point of view. The purpose of this unit is to merge event and project management techniques to enables event organisers to produce a higher rate of return. The key tools required to manage an event as an individual project is examined. This unit will also provide the learner with the ability to use project management tools to manage multiple event projects in any given situation. Students will have the opportunity to examine ways they can improve efficiency and streamline events in planning and scheduling, hr management, budgeting and evaluation using Project management tools and software. The unit is delivered by a qualified project manager.

Learner should be able to:

• Discuss project management as an approach to indoor and outdoor events
• Understand the limitations and benefits of the Project Management approach
• Describe the phases of an Event Project
• Use specific Project Management Tools/Techniques
• Understand Project Management Systems & Software
• Planning & Scheduling, Gantt Chart, Critical Path Analysis,
• Responsibility allocation, Break-Even Chart
• Discuss PMI - PMBoK nine areas of Project Management

Module 9 – Event Risk Management

The final module in the Advanced Diploma in Event Management allows students to get a thorough understanding of the hazards they face when organising an indoor or outdoor event. Risk Management is an essential skill for all event managers and students will acquire the skills to be able to visit a proposed location before an event and draft a risk schedule. Areas such as health and safety are examined in detail. This module is delivered by a qualified risk consultant and expert in health and safety. Learners will be able to identify the practices, procedures, and safeguards associated with indoor and outdoor events. What are the risks associated with the event? Event Risk Management, Security, Health & Safety, Corporate Hospitality, Catering, Marquees, Electricity, Hygiene, Room capacity, Identifying Legal Requirements in Ireland and the UK, Copy of sample Legal Contracts, Constructing a Contract, Insurance, Local Authorities, Health & Safety. This is a vital learning area for serious event management professionals. Learner should be able to know:

• Integrate event risk management into event management
• To provide a safe and secure setting
• Identify the practices, procedures, and safeguards associated with different event types
• Understand the Role of Risk Management
• Identify critical Risk Factors
• Minimise Liabilities; Loss Prevention and Control;
• Prioritise Objectives and Alternatives
• Define Risk Tolerance
• Understand Risk Management Tools and Techniques
• Legal and Ethical Compliance
• Laws, Codes, and Regulations
• Site Occupancy Requirements
• Licensing Legal Issues Statutory and Regulatory Obligations
• Contracts; Licenses, Permits, and Other Compliance Instruments
• Health and Safety Fire Safety and Occupancy Issues Fire Safety Systems
• Lighting and Visibility; Structural Integrity; Safety Meetings and Inspections, Sanitation and Waste Management Issues Chemical Hazards, Sanitation Systems and Facilities; Hazard Mitigation;
• Safety Precautions and Protocols; Communication Systems; Emergency and Contingency Plans; Security Personnel and Equipment; Redundant Equipment and Systems; Response Training, Purchasing Insurance; Contractually Required and Event-Specific Insurance; Liability Transference through Insurance Coverage, Command, Control, and Communication; Incident Response and Reporting Procedures, Emergency Preparedness Emergency Management Preparation and Prevention; Detection and Classification; Communications Plan and Reporting Procedures; Emergency Response Services and Equipment; Evacuations Medical Emergencies Medical Services; Medical Response; Response Accessibility; Practical Risk management Aids Risk Planning Tactics, Forms and Worksheets Risk Assessment System - Tactics, Forms and Worksheets - Sample Risk Register Worksheet

Why chose CMI?

1. Since 2004, CMI has built an excellent reputation with event management employers as one of Irelands leading Event Management educators.
2. CMI brings over 50 years of combined Event Management experience from our panel of qualified Event Management professionals.
3. CMI has demonstrated in the past four years that they are committed to Event Management excellence. Courses are annually researched and updated to meet the demands and needs of the ever changing Events industry. CMI is a contributor to EMBOK – Event Management Body of knowledge.
4. The Advanced Diploma in Event Management is internationally recognised by the ICM, Institute of Commercial Management (UK) which is the first qualification of its kind. CMI is the first Education provider to offer an Advanced Diploma in Event Management in Ireland and the UK.
5. Many past students now work in junior, middle and senior positions for some of the leading Irish Event companies.
6. Online course notes, journals, information websites and relevant articles are available online to download at all times.
7. Courses are centrally located off Dame Street, Dublin 2
8. CMI Lecturers are Event Management practitioners and work in either Outdoor or Indoor event production. They offer personal insights and class exercises which allows you to develop your event knowledge/skills in a stimulating class environment.
9. Students successfully completing this course will be entitled to have the initials Adv.Dip.Ev.Mgmt after their name.

The purpose of the Advanced Diploma in to take students to a higher understanding of event processes and procedures by linking Business, Risk Management & Project Management as core areas of event planning.

Methodology
The principal method of learning is through lectures, course notes, assignments and projects. Students are expected to read recommended texts to complement course materials. The Diploma in Event Management is only awarded to students who successfully complete twenty weeks of assignments, projects, lectures as well as a compulsory exam.

Duration and Cost
The Advanced Diploma in Event Management (with Marketing, PR and HR Management modules) is thirty weeks in duration and takes place one evening per week. The cost is 1,950.00 Euro. Exam fees are 450.00 Euro extra. Total cost is 2,400 euro and is payable in advance of course commencement. Please note places are limited and enrolment forms must be submitted by the deadline date. Evening class plus Saturday class option.

Scheduled Dates 2009
Start:Tuesday 3 February 2009, 18.30 – 21.30. , 30wks. End: December 2009.
Exams: April 2009, July 2009, January 2010.