The Association for Events Management Education (AEME) has become the latest member of the Business Tourism Partnership.

The Association was founded in 2004 to support and raise the profile of the events management through the sharing of education and best practice.

It comprises some 35 Universities, educational institutes, trainers and practitioners with an interest in supporting and developing educational programmes for the sector.

This strengthening of the Partnership’s focus on skills and best practice comes at a time when all tourism sectors are being urged to sharpen up their skills agenda and levels of productivity ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games

Welcoming AEME as a new member, Michael Hirst, Chairman of the Business Tourism Partnership said, “AEME will be able to make a very important contribution to the work of the Partnership. One of our key objectives is to improve skill levels and productivity among the business tourism workforce. We are already working with People 1^st, the Sector Skills Council for Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality, on a dedicated strategy for the Events’ sector. The involvement of AEME with the Partnership’s members will be crucial as we move towards a strategy, which matches industry needs to education and qualification provision”.

AEME has already prepared an initial report, identifying and analysing existing research undertaken in the Events Industry, which explores the size, nature and scope of the industry. This research will form the basis of more detailed work as to skill requirements, further research, and appropriate training provision.

One of the authors of the report and Chair of AEME, Glenn Bowdin, who is also Principal Lecturer at the UK Centre for Events Management at Leeds Metropolitan University said, “The role of education and research within the events industry is increasingly being recognised. There has been significant growth in events education over the past few years, with over 40 universities and colleges now offering courses in the area – a development being reflected internationally. This is an excellent opportunity for AEME, representing the main providers of further and higher education in events management, to increase effective communication between educators and the industry, through the BTP.” 

The Business Tourism Partnership comprises 19 trade and professional organisations all with an interest in supporting a competitive, high quality and more profitable business tourism sector in Britain.