Certificate in Event Management

Study to become an event manager and work in the event industry, planning and running events, such as weddings, parties, exhibitions, concerts, product launches, etc.

Course Code: VTR012
Fee Code: CT
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 600 hours
Qualification Certificate
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DISTANCE LEARNING - EVENT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE - HOME STUDY

Learn to Work in Event Management

Event Managers are both self employed small business operators, and employees of larger organisations such as: wedding venues, hotels, resorts, exhibition companies, concert promoters and conference organisers.

  • Learn to manage weddings, parties, exhibitions, concerts, product launches, etc
  • Start a business or find work with an organisation that runs events or supplies services to the event industry
  • Gain confidence in your skills and ability
  • Save yourself time and money by homestudy

Home study allows students of this certificate to learn in detail about the many facets of event management. Core modules ensure students have a firm understanding of the key elements of events. Elective modules are chosen to allow them to undertake more in depth studies in areas such as: food and beverage management; project management; wedding photography; entrepreneurship and more.

Event Managers are both self employed small business operators, and employees of larger organisations such as: wedding venues, hotels, resorts, exhibition companies, concert promoters and conference organisers.

Event management can be both a challenging and stimulating industry if you have the personality, knowledge and perseverance to succeed. Like most industries, there are pitfalls that you need to be aware of, and careful to avoid; but with a course such as this, you will be laying a very sound foundation for future success.  

Modules

Core ModulesThese modules provide foundation knowledge for the Certificate in Event Management.
 Business Studies BBS101
 Wedding Planning BTR104
 Event Management BRE209
 
Elective ModulesIn addition to the core modules, students study any 3 of the following 10 modules.
 Industry Project I BIP000
 Food & Beverage Management BTR102
 Leisure Management 1 - Marketing BRE103
 Personnel Management VBS107
 Advertising and Promotions BBS202
 Entrepreneurship BBS204
 Food Preparation - Foundations of Cooking BRE212
 Leisure Facility Management I BRE205
 Project Management BBS201
 Wedding Photography BPH206
 

Note that each module in the Certificate in Event Management is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.


 

Content of The Core Subjects

Business Studies

There are 8 lessons in this course:

  1. Establishment Procedures
  2. Management Procedures
  3. Communication in Business
  4. Problem Solving
  5. Staff Management
  6. Productivity
  7. Financial Management
  8. Marketing Techniques

Event Management

There are 9 lessons in this course:

  1. Scope and Nature of Event Management
  2. Developing the Concept
  3. Physical and Human Resources
  4. Project Logistics
  5. Marketing an Event
  6. Financial Management
  7. Risk Management
  8. Staging the Event
  9. After the Event 

Wedding Planning

There are 9 lessons in this course:

  1. Introduction
  2. Planning
  3. Managing People
  4. Managing Locations
  5. Managing the Programme
  6. Other Issues
  7. Managing the Client
  8. Managing the Wedding Day: Planning for Contingencies.
  9. Operating a Wedding Business:

 

How Do Events Come About?

Some events occur almost naturally, whilst others need to be initiated from a very original, creative, and sometimes obscure thought.

Naturally Occurring Events
The stimulus for these events may not always be obvious. Many organisations conduct events simply because “that is what this type of organisation does.” A garden club would conduct an annual flower competition or show, because most garden clubs do that. A trade association would conduct an annual trade show, because that is what most trade associations do.

For example:

  • A visit by an extraordinary celebrity, public speaker, sporting personality or musician will frequently initiate the organisation of an event to capitalize on the opportunity of their presence.
  • When people decide to play sport or music together; this invariably leads to events being organised to display their performance.
  • When people form organisations such as clubs, societies, associations, or professional institutes meet, it becomes a natural progression to organize conferences, seminars or shows and exhibitions relevant to the group.
  • Celebrations are often associated with baptisms, birthdays, weddings, graduations, (and in some cultures), beginning of manhood or womanhood.

 

Creating New and Original Events
The stimulus to initiate some types of events may come from a creative mind that either intentionally or unintentionally foresees an opportunity to do something different. In some instances, the motivation for this new idea might be financial gain, but in other instances, the motivation may be more altruistic (for the social good, or simply for the fun of it).

Creativity and Lateral Thinking
In today’s world, there is often a great deal of competition for patronage at events. To be successful, your event needs to not only be different, it must appear different before it even takes place. To make your event unique, you need to be thinking differently from how other event managers think. Learn to anticipate what they will do, and then attempt to do something not only unique, but better.

Success is not a matter of money. An innovative approach may often attract more visitors, or at least more profit, and still cost less to stage. The opportunity for repeat business is also more likely for innovative event managers.

For example, some event managers with international reputations have achieved success through their imaginative approach, their extremely high standards and their eye for detail. They may be organising a birthday party for a celebrity in the UK one month, and the next month, be halfway round the globe doing the same for another famous person. Clients may be paying hundreds of thousand of dollars for their special event, so expectations are high; patrons expect to not only enjoy themselves, but to have to have an unforgettable experience. The event manager may source decorations from Hong Kong, wine from France and food from somewhere else. Every item down to the smallest detail will be scrutinised for quality and suitability; even the way in which the tablecloths are placed on the table will be considered an important detail. Some of the attendees may be the same; so in order to offer their clients a unique experience, the successful event manage may never use the same theme, decorations or menu twice. These event managers are popular and respected due to their uncompromising approach to quality.

Even though the events you organise may not be of such a grand scale, the approach you use will dictate how successful your event will be.

  • Educate yourself to have an eye for detail
  • Don’t compromise; never think near enough is good enough.
  • Always offer your client the best possible quality to suit their budget.
  • Try not to repeat your approach; even if the event is very successful, patrons will expect the next one to be even better or at least different.
  • Always have a professional approach to an event, no matter how large or small.

 

What's Involved in Staging an Event?

For any event, you need to consider and attend to the following:

  • the theme of the event
  • the choice of venue
  • the audience and guests
  • the stage
  • power, lights and sound
  • audiovisuals and special effects
  • catering
  • performers
  • crew
  • hospitality
  • recording the event
  • ticketing

 

 

 


How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

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What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course is aimed at providing you with a solid understanding in your selected discipline. It has been designed to take 600 hours, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and more. When you complete the course, will have a good understanding of the area/ industry you want to work in.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exams (6 exams) and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Certificate. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.


Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.


How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.


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Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

John Mason

Writer, Manager, Teacher and Businessman with over 40 years interenational experience covering Education, Publishing, Leisure Management, Education, and Horticulture. He has extensive experience both as a public servant, and as a small business owner.
John is a well respected member of many professional associations, and author of over seventy books and of over two thousand magazine articles.

Jacinda Cole

Former operations manager for highly reputable Landscape firm, The Chelsea Gardener, before starting her own firm. Jacinda has over 20 years of industry experience in Psychology, Landscaping, Publishing, Writing and Education. Jacinda has a B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA.

Karen Lee

Nutritional Scientist, Dietician, Teacher and Author.
BSc. Hons. (Biological Sciences), Postgraduate Diploma Nutrition and Dietetics.
Registered dietitian in the UK, with over 15 years working in the NHS. Karen has undertaken a number of research projects and has lectured to undergraduate university students. Has co authored two books on nutrition and several other books in health sciences.





Tutors

Meet some of the tutors that guide the students through this course.

Julia Mayo-Ramsay

Dr Julia Mayo-Ramsay is a practicing environmental and agricultural lawyer. She holds a PhD in International Environmental Law, LLM, BLJS, GDLP, LLM (Environmental Law) and a Master of Applied Science (Agriculture).
Julia started out in agriculture working on various dairy farms in the 1980s before working as dairy manager / tutor at Hawkesbury Agricultural College Richmond NSW. Julia then went on to work at Riverina Artificial Breeders at Tabletop (Albury) NSW as an embryo transfer technician assisting vets with artificial breeding and embryo transfer in cattle, sheep and deer. This was followed by two years as a herd manager for a very large commercial dairy herd milking 3,000 cows over three dairies on the outskirts of Sydney before heading overseas. In 1994 Julia accepted a position in NE Thailand at the Sakhon Nakhon Institute of Technology (now a University) training farmers and students in cattle breeding and dairy farm management. On returning to Australia in late 1996 Julia completed a Master of Applied Science in Agriculture at Hawkesbury Agricultural College (UWS) as well as law degrees and maritime studies. Julia now works as a Lawyer in the area of environmental and rural law.
Currently Julia teaches a variety of maritime subjects for Marine Rescue NSW.
As well as teaching Julia is working on a number of environmental research projects.

Sarah Pirecki

A passionate advocate for animal health and welfare. Sarah completed a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience majoring in Animal Health and Disease and is currently completing a Diploma of Project Management. She has a wide range of experience working in agricultural settings, veterinary nursing, assistance dog raising, and animal education.

Rosemary Davies

Originally from Melbourne, Rosemary trained in Horticultural Applied Science at Burnley, a campus of Melbourne University. Initially she worked with Agriculture Victoria as an extension officer, taught horticulture students, worked on radio with ABC radio (clocking up over 24 years as a presenter of garden talkback programs, initially the only woman presenter on gardening in Victoria) and she simultaneously developed a career as a writer.

She then studied Education and Training, teaching TAFE apprentices and developing curriculum for TAFE, before taking up an offer as a full time columnist with the Herald and Weekly Times and its magazine department after a number of years as columnist with the Age. She has worked for a number of companies in writing and publications, PR community education and management and has led several tours to Europe.

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