ICCA starts global academic network ICCAUni

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is thrilled to unveil an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between the academic world and the business events industry: ICCAUni. This exclusive global academic network is designed to forge a stronger connection between academic institutions and industry practitioners, offering an unparalleled platform for students to experience the vibrant arena of international business events.

ICCA – the global leader of business events industry implements yet another purposeful accomplishment aimed at the future. Our initiative aims to establish a network of educators and career advisors across universities and colleges globally. ICCAUni seeks to create opportunities for emerging talent to connect with the business events industry, offering graduates a platform to discover potential career paths.

ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath: “Finding exciting new talent is the lifeblood of our industry. ICCAUni will showcase the incredible scope of what our industry offers — from marketing and hospitality, to logistics and advocacy — and by doing so, will attract a whole new generation of leaders. By bringing education establishments into this unique membership programme, academia will be able to point to our industry and tell their students that this is where opportunity lies. And we will get to enjoy the industry-wide benefit of fresh perspective, and boundless enthusiasm.” 

Keiko Nishimoto, Professor at Ritsumeikan Business School, Japan adds: “Welcome to the ICCAUni community. I worked for PCOs for 20 years and now moved to the academic sector, and I always believed that Universities should play a critical role in shaping the future of the meetings industry. This is possible only if we unite, so please join ICCA and be a part of this dynamic movement – let’s shape the world together.​“

The ICCAUni membership programme will give students an active understanding of what it takes to succeed in the professional sphere. Member organisations will get two scholarships – including travel and accommodation – to the ICCA Annual Congress, plus access to ICCA’s world-famous Business Intelligence database, and access to a library with 60-plus years of industry knowledge and insight. 

We believe ICCAUni is a fantastic opportunity for the academic community to deliver on the potential of their students by showcasing a fast-moving global industry built on innovation, collaboration, and networking.