ABOUT THE COURSE
Hoping to pursue a career in festival management? Got a passion for outdoor events? By focusing on practical event management techniques and established business theory, this hands-on festival and events management programme supports you to take theories learnt in the classroom and apply them to a range of live events.
The University’s approach to events and festival management starts with an emphasis on practical industry insights and transferable business management skills.
Students are supported by experienced staff as they seek out and undertake a minimum of 210 hours of practical work experience. These placements help students graduate with at least a basic level of on-the-job experience. Students are strongly encouraged to pursue work above and beyond these 210 hours – pitching for freelance work through our in-house Solent Creatives / Solent Works agencies and organising events around the city.
Practical insights are also gained on field trips. Past events management students have visited a range of agencies, industry exhibitions and commercial events. Students are encouraged to take part in national event management awards. In 2015, the University had two students reach the final of The Eventice, a major event management award. One of the pair took home the grand prize and the other secured employment as a result of the exposure.
These provisions are made possible by the course team’s extensive industry experience and Solent’s long history in the sector. The team maintain established links with festivals and specialist event businesses, and incorporate these connections into their teaching and research.
YOUR FUTURE
Suitable roles for graduates include:
- Events management
- Sales and marketing management
- Sport events promotion
- Charitable fundraising
- Conference and exhibition management
- Running your own events company.
INDUSTRY LINKS
Solent’s festival and event management curriculum was developed in collaboration with industry contacts. This helps ensure that the content is up to date and teaches the key skills that employers are looking for. The course team also have strong relationships with trade bodies such as the British Arts Festival Association (BAFA) and the Event and Visual Communication Association (EVCOM), as well as with the UK’s best known party planners, Theme Traders.
Previous years have seen events management students benefit from industry guest speakers. These include:
- Holly Payton-Lombardo, a board member at BAFA,
- Rachel Ley, a board member of EVCOM,
- Bryn Parry, event management author and lecturer,
- David Jamilly, CEO of Themetraders,
- Matt James, industry professional and an Eventice judge,
- and Andy Grove, Vice President of the National Outdoors Event Association (NOEA).
PLACEMENTS
During the second year of the programme students will study a work-based professional studies unit. This unit is mandatory and requires students to have gained a minimum of 210 hours of work experience.
This may be either full-time in the summer or part-time over the course of the first year. Students studying on the placement year option are supported to find work experience by the course team and the University’s employability service.
Students are also offered a range of internal opportunities. For instance, during the second year, students are have the option to plan and deliver an Oscars themed event for the third year students. This includes the procurement of sponsorship and the logistics of booking and entertaining VIPs. Event students have also worked on SMILEfest, the University’s annual music industry conference. Past speakers included Marcus Russell, Oasis manager; Andy Coping, Vice President of Live Nation UK; and Rob da Bank, Bestival organiser.
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