UC Irvine Extension Announces New Meeting and Event Management Specialized Studies Program

Online, June 1, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Due to increased demand for event managers to handle business development and relations, the University of California, Irvine Extension announced today a new Meeting and Event Management Specialized Studies Program, which will provide participants interested in event management with the tools and training to become an effective event manager. The program will prepare professionals entering the event management industry by introducing them to the latest techniques for preparing and executing smooth and flawless events. In addition, the first course, titled an "Introduction to Event Planning," will be offered from June 28 to August 2, along with a free June 6 online webinar titled, "Introduction to Event Planning Information Session."

"Event management jobs are expected to grow faster than the average compared to occupations in a multitude of industries," said Melanie Mitchell, director of management, marketing and business programs at UC Irvine Extension. "Through the Meeting and Event Management Specialized Studies Program, UC Irvine Extension is providing professionals with access to best practice strategies and notable course instructors which will allow for advancement in the industry, as well as good networking opportunities."

Meeting and Event Management Specialized Studies Program participants will also learn to conduct effective event and meeting management research, manage volunteers, vendors, caterers, sound and light technicians, entertainment, and other resources, and how to understand budgeting, pricing, and accounting as they relate to event design.

The "Introduction to Event Planning" course will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the UC Irvine campus, and will provide attendees with a clear understanding of the event planning process by developing management skills. Course instructors Jessie Steward, director of special events for university advancement, and Carlin Motley, special events coordinator for university advancement, will provide course participants with a forum for event planners to share resources, ideas and experiences, and enhance their knowledge of available resources and vendors.

The webinar, "Introduction to Event Planning Information Session" will take place on June 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT and will address topics including industry standards, resource management, planning strategy, and problem resolution.

For more information or to register for the course, please visit
http://unex.uci.edu/courses/sectiondetail.aspx?year=2012&term=SUMMER&sid=00291 or call (949) 824-5414. To register for the free online webinar, visit http://unex.uci.edu/events/.

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UC Irvine Extension Announces New Event Management Specialized Studies Program Page 2

About UC Irvine Extension: University of California, Irvine Extension is the continuing education arm of UC Irvine. Through thousands of courses and programs offered on campus, online and on site, UC Irvine Extension helps adult learners reach their career advancement and personal enrichment goals -and is celebrating 50 years of providing universally accessible, university-level learning to local, regional, and global communities. Learn more at www.extension.uci.edu, or join us on Facebook at facebook.com/uciextension.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UC Irvine is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange County's largest employer, UC Irvine contributes an annual economic impact of $4.2 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.
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