subject: Event Management [print this page] Event Management Event Management
Event Management and Coordination is a creative, exciting and growing industry in South Africa and globally, and there is an increasing demand for people with the skills and practical experience to work at a management level in this field. A degree in B.Com Hospitality Management, opens the door for graduates wanting to progress in this industry.
Event management can range from hosting corporate or private functions to anything from a small handful of people to thousands. Functions can include weddings, parties, small breakfast meetings, major sporting events, product launches, fashion shows and conferences.
Event management graduates have to be able to multi-task in this detail-oriented industry. Academic subjects covered in the degree (accounting, marketing, hospitality operations and staff management) as well as experience gained during PBL (problem based learning), work-based learning and the numerous functions held on campus equip students with the necessary practical, analytical, organizational, problem solving and communication skills needed to plan and manage all the complex details of an event regardless of size.
During all 3 years of our event management degree students are involved in planning and executing 12 or more functions a year, both on and off-campus. 3rd year students act as the management team and take full responsibility for these events. It is an opportunity to use their academic and theoretical knowledge on a practice level by taking it in turns to fulfil different event management functions such as marketing, budgeting, cash-flow control, organising food and beverages, menu planning, setting up the venue and decor a well as managing and motivating their team ( 1st and 2nd year students). 2nd year students are responsible for much of the cooking and waiting on tables whilst the 1st year students do the more menial work food preparation in the kitchen, setting tables . . .
Once you have the experience and have built up contacts it is easy to start your own event management and coordination company as there is no major capital outlay required. Understanding how to operate and manage a company, and critically, understanding its finances will ensure that you are able to run a successful business. These are skills our students are equipped with in doing the event management degree.
