Going “Beyond the Manual”: The Practicum Host Experience with Event Management Students

Abstract

As tertiary event management qualifications in New Zealand thrive, so too does the relationship between the local events industry and institutions delivering such programs. The Graduate Diploma in Event Management (GDEM) is a recent addition to the portfolio of programs offered at Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec). The GDEM includes a significant practicum component. This article reports on an exploratory research project of practicum host organizations and their experiences of hosting a GDEM student. Using the results of an online questionnaire, the article identifies the impact of the student placement on the host and the skills, knowledge, and personal qualities required by students to be successful in completing their practicum. It also identifies the willingness of hosts to continue with or recommend practicum placements and determines how the practicum may influence future recruitment at host organizations. Findings indicate the majority of practicum hosts found the experience to be positive, with students matched appropriately to the event environment. Recommendations are made for further research into the effectiveness of event management training, including greater collaboration between tertiary institutions.