MPI
A new focus on learning
MEETING PROFESSIONALS INTERNATIONAL ( MPI ) CORRESPONDENT PAUL COOK SAYS GAINING NEW SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES , AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR OWN WAY OF LEARNING , ARE CRITICAL TO BECOMING AN OUTSTANDING MEETINGS PROFESSIONAL
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PI has personal and professional development in its DNA , and over the years , I ’ ve been lucky enough to have learned a lot from being a member . However , learning requirements are constantly changing . Learning is natural to us all , but top-performing athletes don ’ t stop when they leave school . For years athletes learn , adapt , and develop their sporting prowess . Along the way , each discovers and adapts how they learn best and today ’ s coaching methods are a long way from those used for the original Paris Olympics , in 1900 .
In the events industry , developments in learning techniques are essential for professionals and events to be successful .
Eric Rozenburg , entrepreneur , author , and host of The Business of Meetings podcast , says : “ While topics like negotiating with hotels , risk management , or designing a meeting are essential , what planners and business owners need is to learn how to manage their businesses better . Unfortunately , education tracks rarely focus on running our businesses better .”
Application and relevance Mitch Mitchem , CEO of Hive Interactive , encourages the meeting industry to do better by refocusing on the deeper experiential components of learning . According to Mitchem , who led the C-Suite Summit at MPI ’ s World Education Congress ( WEC ) in Louisville , Kentucky in May : “ We ’ ve gotten away from the experience part of learning , where attendees are applying practical , in-the-moment things in the room but doing so with vibrancy and energy . A human being will learn faster and better and retain more if there ’ s a component of immediate application , and if there ’ s a component of relevance .”
Learning in a way that works for the
Key Certificate courses from MPI
Event Welfare Champion : Neurodiversity & Experience Design Differentiate among neurodivergent and common mental health conditions and develop empathy for , and awareness of , the challenges faced by individuals with these conditions within event environments .
AI-Enhanced Event Professional This hands-on certificate programme is designed to equip meeting professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to harness AI ’ s potential for designing meaningful and immersive experiences .
Inclusive Event Strategist Utilise key findings from MPI research on inclusion to make the business case for greater efforts toward welcoming environments at your organisation .
individual is also vital .
Tim Luepke , director of MPI Academy , says : “ We must begin with the end in mind — not only the outcomes of events for our attendees but also leaning into the uniqueness of each individual so that together , we can rise higher and farther as an industry .”
According to ADHD Aware , up to 15 % of the global population are neurodiverse . And Forbes Health tells us that 1.5 billion people worldwide are affected by hearing loss . They require event planners to have a variety of learning techniques in their toolbox . Captioning in real-time , and online courses spring to mind as must-haves .
The events industry is listening and responding to new learning requirements , but you need to understand how you learn best . With training courses and tools available to meeting professionals , the successful will be those that stand out because of their willingness to adapt , especially when it comes to new skills . n
n More detail from https :// academy . mpi . org /
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