As a result of support from IMEX, five aspiring convention centre managers have been selected to receive a scholarship in support of their participating in the 2012 AIPC Academy (International Association of Congress Centres).

"AIPC sees professional development as a key part of our association mandate, and the investment we have made in creating the AIPC Academy as one of the most highly regarded educational programs in the industry is evidence of this", said AIPC President Edgar Hirt.

"However, we recognize that in these financially challenging times, not all centres are in a position to offer the level of support required to ensure their most suitable candidates can access this program. The Academy Scholarship program goes some way to addressing this problem and helps ensure their professional development is ongoing".

Candidates have been accepted from:
- DIPOLI Congress Centre - Espoo, Finland
- Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India
- Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Malaysia
- Coex Convention & Exhibition Center, Seoul
- Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre, Bahrain

The AIPC Academy Scholarship program was given a big boost this year through the generous participation of IMEX, which elected to fund three additional scholarships in addition to those previously provided by AIPC itself.

"We are very grateful to IMEX for their support, and the fact that this signals their recognition of the importance of professional development in the industry", said Hirt. "It demonstrates a shared recognition of the importance of skilled managers to the future of the industry and is a commitment to helping create our future leaders".

The AIPC Academy Professional Development Program was started five years ago as a way for centres to address the need to expand the skills and perspectives of staff preparing for more senior management responsibilities and to orient individuals who already had their professional credentials in another field but needed to learn more about the specifics of our industry.

It is a week long, intensive in-residence program that utilizes the resources of 8-10 faculty and guest presenters to address the full range of topics required for a solid industry background and enabled attendees to start building their own networks with other centres around the world.

To date, it has seen more than 125 graduates who have moved out into the global industry, carrying both their knowledge and their contacts into management positions all over the world.

The 2012 AIPC Academy Professional Development Program will take place in Brussels, February 5 -10 and will accept participation from 25 AIPC member delegates.