Event Management – Academic Events

ACADEMIC EVENT MANAGEMENT

CONFERENCE CONVENTION SEMINAR WORKSHOP UNCONFERENCE etc
ACADEMIC EVENT MANAGEMENT

A Primer

By

VIKRAM KARVE

We may classify events can in a few broad categories based on their purpose and objective: 

1.  Leisure Events  [leisure, sport, music, recreation] 
2.  Cultural Events [ceremonial, religious, art, heritage, and folklore]
3.  Personal Events [weddings, birthdays, anniversaries]
4.  Organisational Events [commercial, political, charitable, sales, product launch, trade fairs, shows, road shows etc]
5.  Academic Events [ conferences, workshops, seminars, symposium, unconference]

In this article – let me focus on Academic Events – since that is what I am most conversant with – having been an HR/Training Manager and Professor for many years in my long career – and having participated in and actively presenting papers (and also passively attended as delegate). 

As a part of my work – both in the Navy and in Academia – I have organised many Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, Symposia etc.

Of course – I have organized and participated in many other types of events as well – and may write about it subsequently.

The two main stakeholders in an academic event are the organisers – and the participants – or – delegates.

From the academic point of view – the Organisers view the event as one-way communication – a gathering where they impart information to the attendees. 

Of course – there may be other commercial motives and career ambitions as well.

The Delegates may look at the event from different points of view. 

There are a number of reasons why persons attend academic events like conferences – learning experience, enjoyment, professional networking, seeking peer group approval and prestige [by presenting their research papers] – or as a perk or reward for good performance etc.

Conference: A meeting of individuals or representatives of various bodies for the purpose of discussing and/or acting on topics of common interest or theme. 

A conference is a large event, lasting several days and attracting a large number of delegates. 

Typically a conference may attract more than a thousand delegates (1000+ delegates)

A session is an unbroken period within a conference.

The plenary session is a session at which all delegates are present. 

The “Graveyard Shift” is the session immediately after lunch – when most delegates are likely to feel drowsy, have a siesta and nap off. 

A poster session affords opportunity for authors of papers which are not actually presented in the conference to display posters, summaries and abstracts of their papers to delegates and stand by to discuss and answer questions. This is held during conference session breaks outside the main conference hall in the foyers and adjacent lobbies.

Convention: A convention, or congress, is a gathering of greater importance than a conference, much larger in size, with a few thousand participants, with a formal agenda and programme, with the aim of formulating policy.

Seminar: A seminar is a small to medium sized event with the number of delegates ranging from 20/30 to around 100/200. 

Seminars are compact one or two day events designed to educate and inform delegates of the subject(s) of interest and discuss issues of common concern.

Symposium: A symposium is a Seminar where only a single topic or subject is discussed in an informal way encouraging inter-delegate-speaker communication and debate.

Colloquium: In a colloquium one or more experts or eminent academicians deliver lectures on a subject followed by a question and answer session. 

A colloquium is purely academic in nature.

Workshop: A workshop is a small gathering of delegates to discuss and exchange ideas on specific topics or to solve particular problems. 

It is like a symposium but more formal in nature.

Meeting: A meeting is a much smaller event – maybe involving a few executives or invitees – discussing business or a precise agenda.

Information Flow: In a symposium and workshop the flow of information is between all the participants, delegates and speakers; whereas in a seminar and colloquium the flow of information is primarily one-way from the speakers to the audience. 

Of course – in a meeting – there is more of presentation, deliberation and discussion with the aim of collective consensus and decision-making.

Clinic: A clinic is a meeting of a select group of persons with common interests, confronting and discussing real-life situations and problems, organised for the purpose of diagnosing, analysing and seeking solutions to specific problems.

Unconference: An “unconference” is a facilitated, participant-driven face-to-face conference centred on a theme or purpose.

Even at traditional conferences – the most productive moments often occur during informal networking – tête-à-tête – and discussions between the formal sessions – in tea and lunch breaks – and in the evenings over cocktails/dinner/get-togethers etc

That is what an “unconference” aims to achieve.

The cardinal premise of an “unconference” is that there are no spectators – in an “unconference” – everyone is a participant.

This sets the stage for everyone to actively contribute and is another factor in making this event so unique.

The idea of “unconference” probably emanated from the Fundamental Law of Conventional Conferences: 

“The sum of the expertise of the people in the audience is greater than the sum of expertise of the people on stage...”

The aim of an unconference is to break the barrier between the audience and the speakers on the podium. 

Members of the audience and participants write topics they are interested in on boards, consolidate the topics, and then break into discussion groups.

With the advent of the internet and increasing virtual interaction – meetings, conferencing, networking and modern forms of “formal” and “informal” web-based communication and learning technologies – the concept of “unconferencing” is more attractive than traditional conferences of the “old mould” type.

So how does one plan and organise such academic events...?

There are so many aspects and factors to be considered – topic, venue, dates, programme, speakers, papers, delegates, technology, communication, budget, accommodation, food, entertainment, PR, promotion, publication, sponsorship, commercial aspects, check-off lists… 

I will end now. 

But – more on this topic – and about other types of events – later on my blog. 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
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Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

This blog post is a revised repost of my article written 25 years ago in the 1990s and posted online earlier at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/09/event-management-conference-seminar.html

Travel Blog – New Zealand – Lake Tekapo Dog Memorial

TRAVEL BLOG 

South Island – New Zealand

TEKAPO DOG MEMORIAL

Bronze Sheep Dog Statue Monument

Memories of New Zealand

By

VIKRAM KARVE

During our visit to New Zealand in December 2016 – while travelling from Christchurch to Queenstown - I was pleasantly surprised to see a Bronze Statue of a Dog – a memorial for James Mackenzie’s legendary Sheepdog (Collie).

It was the first time that I had seen a monument dedicated to a dog.

The “Sheep Dog Statue” stands proudly on the shores of the unique exquisite turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo – amidst breathtaking scenery of snow capped mountains of the Southern Alps.

Lake Tekapo is located in the heart of Mackenzie County in the Canterbury Region of South New Zealand – halfway between Christchurch and Queenstown.

After leaving Christchurch – you drive past the lush green Canterbury Plains – then you cross the towns of Geraldine, Fairlie and Kimbell – and then – you climb up – and traverse across the Burkes Pass – into scenic basin in the heart of the mountainous South Island called “Mackenzie Country”.

Mackenzie Country has fascinating landscapes – and two lakes – Tekapo and Pukaki – whose waters have a unique turquoise colour – caused by glacial flour suspended in the water.

At the heart of Mackenzie Country is the beautiful Lake Tekapo – with its marvelous turquoise waters surrounded by magnificent scenery – and the awe-inspiring snowcapped peaks – including the cloud-piercing Aoraki Mount Cook.  

(The “Mackenzie Country” was free of human beings – until several hundred years ago with the arrival of the Maori in search of food. 

The Moa – a large flightless bird now extinct – and other birds – they were hunted – and eels fished for – in the area. 

The Maori called the area “Takapo” – meaning – “To leave in haste at night”. 

The current name – Tekapo – is possibly a corruption of Takapo...).

As I told you earlier – Lake Tekapo is nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island. 

The lake lies at the foot of the Southern Alps, which rise to a height of 3 kilometres. 

New Zealand’s highest mountain – Mount Cook (Aoraki) – is a short drive away.

Mount Cook (Aoraki) rises to 3,753m (12,313ft).

Lake Tekapo is truly stunning – a breathtaking sight with its turquoise waters – surrounded by spectacular scenery – and a most wonderful view of the Southern Alps – including the snow-covered mountains like Mount Cook. 

Here is a picture of Lake Tekapo with “Mount Cook” in the distance which I took on my smartphone on 26 December 2015.

Lake Tekapo

COLLIE SHEEP DOG STATUE

Standing proudly on a large rock on the shores of Lake Tekapo is a bronze statue of a Collie Sheep Dog.

In 1855 James Mackenzie – a Scottish Shepherd discovered this basin that now bears his name (Mackenzie Country).

As per local folklore – James Mackenzie was a “Sheep Stealer”.

The story goes on to say that “Sheep Thief” James Mackenzie had a loyal Collie Sheep Dog named “Friday” who used to protect his sheep and hustle the flocks of stolen sheep into his sheep farms.

By stealing sheep from the Canterbury Plains and driving them inland across mountain passes into this remote area with the help of his Collie Dog ‘Friday’– James Mackenzie had become a prosperous sheep farmer.

One day James Mackenzie’s deeds caught up with him.

James Mackenzie was arrested and sent to jail.

The authorities went up the Burkes Pass into the “Mackenzie Basin” to retrieve the stolen sheep and return them to their rightful owners.

However – James Mackenzie’s loyal Collie Sheepdog continued to protect his sheep.

Mackenzie’s highly intelligent dog ‘Friday’ continued to drive the sheep without his master’s control.

The Sheepdog ‘Friday’ could not be restrained – and the dog aggressively attacked anyone who tried to come near his sheep.

Finally – Mackenzie's Collie Sheep Dog ‘Friday’ was shot and put down by the authorities.

The loyal Dog resolutely performed his duty towards his Master till his last breath and gave up his life for his Master.

The capture of James Mackenzie – for being “in the company of a thousand stolen sheep” – as he rustled them with his dog “Friday” – through a remote alpine pass into “a plain of immense extent” – resulted in his deeds being immortalized – and his name being given these highlands ever since.

Hence – the area is called “Mackenzie Country”.

Many years later – the residents of Mackenzie Country decided to construct this monument in memory of James Mackenzie’s legendary Collie Sheepdog ‘Friday’ – and all the hardy working “Collie Dogs” – without whose help – the grazing of this mountainous country would have been impossible.

Like Mackenzie – in the 19^th century – many Scottish shepherds came to work on the pastoral runs of the Eastern South Island – and the high country could not have been farmed successfully without the “Border Collies” they brought with them.

Thus - in addition to ‘Friday’ – this monument at Lake Tekapo honours all these ‘Canine Scots’ of Mackenzie Country.

This monument is dedicated to all good and faithful Collie sheepdogs who always gave their best irrespective of the weather or hardships, in burning heat and frozen snow.

It is a unique monument dedicated to a dog – I wonder if there is any such memorial dedicated to a dog elsewhere in the world.

The bronze dog statue was commissioned by Mackenzie Country residents in recognition of the indispensable role of the sheepdog in their livelihoods. 

The sculptor was Innes Elliott of Kaikoura.

A dog called “Haig” was the model (Haig belonged to a neighbour). 

Elliott reported the sculpting process took approximately 15 months. 

Clay for the model came from the insulator works in Temuka – with a plaster cast of it made and sent to London in 1966 – where the statue was cast.

The statue was unveiled on the 7^th of March 1968 by Sir Arthur Espie Porritt, Governor-General of New Zealand.

The inscription on the monument plaque reads:

“This monument was erected by the runholders of the Mackenzie County and those who also appreciate the value of the collie dog, without the help of which the grazing of the mountain country would be impossible.

Unveiled on March 7, 1968, by Sir Arthur Espie Porritt, BT, GCMG, KCVO, CBE, Governor General of New Zealand.

‘Beannachdan Air Na Cu Caorach’ 

(which in Gaelic means “blessings on the sheep dogs”).”

Here are a few pictures of the ‘Tekapo Dog Memorial’ which I took on my smartphone during my visit to Lake Tekapo on the 26^th of December 2015.

Collie Sheep Dog Statue

‘Friday’  - the sheepdog belonging to Mackenzie, the folk hero who was the first European to find the route into this mountainous Basin – and all sheepdogs are remembered with the phrase “Beannachdan Air na Cu Caorach” (which means “Blessings on the Sheep Dog”) on the monument plaque. 

Different Aspect Views of the Lake Tekapo Sheep Dog Statue 

On the shores of the Turquoise Waters of Lake Tekapo 

Lake Tekapo is a scenic resort with picturesque surroundings and breathtaking views. 

The air is pure and the sky is clear. 

For those interested in astronomy – this place has the darkest night skies and observatory open to public. 

There is plenty to do in the beautiful tranquil environment and there are good facilities for accommodation and food. 

Lake Tekapo is conveniently connected – located midway between Christchurch and Queenstown – a 3 hour drive from either place – and is an ideal stopover for all types of tourists – a good honeymoon destination too. 

During your trip to New Zealand – when you visit South Island – please do spend a day or two in Lake Tekapo – and don’t forget to see the bronze “Sheep Dog Statue” at the ‘Tekapo Dog Memorial’ – near the Church of the Good Shepherd – on the banks of Lake Tekapo. 

Dear Reader: 

During our tour of South Island we visited a fascinating place with stunning scenery called MILFORD SOUND 

Do read my Travel cum Picture Blog MILFORD SOUND IS AWESOME 

Url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/02/milford-sound-fiordland-south-new.html 

I am sure this will motivate you to visit New Zealand. 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

This is a revised repost of my Travel Blog TEKAPO DOG MEMORIAL posted by me online earlier in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog on February 5, 2016 at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/02/for-dog-lovers-tekapo-dog-memorial.html

Leisurely Vacation in New Zealand

“Bucket List” Tourism vs Leisurely Vacation

Our previous visit to New Zealand, 10 months ago, was a combination of “Bucket List Tourism” and a “Leisurely Vacation”.

After just a day in Auckland – we rushed off to South Island – by flight to Christchurch – and then – by road to see beautiful sights like Canterbury Plains, Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, Queenstown, Te Anau, Fiordland, Milford Sound, Mount Cook Aoraki etc

It was a memorable “sight-seeing” trip – but – we were always on the move – and – almost 10 days passed in a jiffy.

This give us just around 10 days to “soak in” the ambience of Auckland.

So – our last trip was a combination of “Bucket List Tourism” and a “Leisurely Vacation”.

This time – it purely a “Leisurely Vacation” – to “soak in” the beautiful city of Auckland – walk around – enjoy the delicious cuisine – and – relax.

Maybe – once we a totally relaxed – we may make a trip to the geothermal region of Rotorua – and also see the Waimoto Glowworm Caves on the way.

Now – I am off on a walk to Mount Eden – and – maybe – I will have a Bannoffee Pie on the way at Fraser’s.