TERTIARY institutions around the country are increasingly seeking out opportunities to host meetings, Australian-based professional conference organiser, ICMSA, believes. The lingering effect of the pandemic on international student numbers, along with the current focus on self-funding, means higher education bodies are being driven to explore the “almost limitless” opportunities presented by the meetings sector.
“Meetings, and particularly international meetings, provide colleges and universities with the opportunity not only for additional revenue but the chance to demonstrate their expertise in a particular area of specialisation that can lead to recruitment and increased research grants through collaboration with international peers,” Emma Bowyer, owner and managing director of ICMS Australasia, said.
Bowyer highlighted the 18th International Conference on X-Ray Absorption and Fine Structure as one such example, which was secured by BE Sydney. The multi-day scientific event, held earlier this month at the University of Sydney, attracted more than 300 in-person and virtual attendees from more than 40 countries.
ICMS Australasia will also manage the upcoming 6th International Conference on Conversation Analysis, which will bring together academics, researchers, and service providers at the University of Queensland next year, marking the first time the conference is held in the Asia-Pacific region.
