Tourism Learnership Project Event Management Training Program* The Event Management Training Program was developed for South Africa’s Tourism Learnership Project — National Certificate in Tourism: Event Support NQF Level 4 under the auspices of the Tourism, Hospitality & Sport Education & Training Authority (THETA). It was designed to deliver a relevant, accurate, and credible program of study for learners in the field of event management and event tourism in conjunction with South Africa’s National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

The purpose was to create a valid, reliable, fair, flexible, and sustainable curriculum to upgrade service levels, build capacity and promote job creation in this field, and generate increased economic revenues from events and event tourism. This 96-part curriculum design provided:

• A transparent and consistent format that provides the Learner, Trainer, Workplace Mentor, and Assessor with comprehensive and cohesive standards of competency;

• A program syllabus that avoids trainer bias in presenting the materials ensuring the standardization of delivery; and

• Skill-based competencies linked directly to internationally validated performance outcomes with wider opportunities for employment and career success.

The Event Management Training Program forms the basis for theoretical learning as well as provides a foundation and context for the experiential learning conducted in the workplace and at numerous real-life, on-site event opportunities, and has been approved by the ISES Certification Commission as a CSEP entry-level program.

The Instruction Design

The learning materials consist of a Learner Guide, a Master Guide (for Trainers, Workplace Mentors, and Assessors), and a PowerPoint Presentation for each of eight Modules. Each Module Guide contains four Units plus a list of suggested resources including pertinent books, guides, and Internet sites.

Each Module Unit contains three Topics, each introduced with a one-page overview of the content and concepts, and illustrated with graphics, call-out charts, and case study and other examples. In-class Group Activities, Workplace Activities, Home Activities, and Self-Evaluation Exercises follow each topic. Each Unit also includes a Vocabulary section, a Portfolio of Evidence Activity, and a Unit Evaluation consisting of extended response questions.

• The In-class Group Activities encourage facilitated small group and class discussions, which allows the learners to integrate and relate their adult experiences and perspective to the content.

• The Workplace Activities encourage the application of material to the specific workplace and the events produced or supported by the workplace.

• Many of the Home Activities are designed to integrate the concepts into the learner’s daily life and environment.

• The Portfolio of Evidence Activities encourage learners to conduct relevant research and compile a file of resources suitable to support future event-related employment and endeavors.

In addition to the fully replicated content of the Learner Guides, the Master Guides contain Trainer Notes, Workplace Mentor Notes, and Assessor Notes, as well as the answer keys to all the assessment exercises.

• The Trainer Notes include training instructions, suggestions, and recommendations for guest or outside presenters and activities pertinent to each topic.

• The Workplace Mentor Notes include suggestions for additional activities to reinforce the content and concepts in the context of the workplace’s practical operations, as well as techniques for on-the-job coaching, application, and other reinforcement activities.

• The Assessor Notes include methods and strategies for assessing the recognition, retention, and application of the knowledge and skills that are transmitted.

The learning materials were designed by Julia Rutherford Silvers, CSEP, and tested and implemented by Janet Landey, CSEP, as the Lead Employer and Accredited Provider under the Tourism Learnership Project. The Event Management Training Program was awarded the 2003 ISES Esprit for Best Industry Contribution.