The Global Association of the Exhibitions Industry, UFI, has launched a new accredited designation for trade show professionals.
The UFI Certified Professional (UCP) is a self-paced, fully customizable program offered to both members and non-members. It includes existing UFI programs as well as modules offered by a network of global educational partners. Additional benefits beyond the classroom include networking, specialization and career development.
“Our members have been requesting a UFI endorsement of our education, so they can signal to employers and peers that they have obtained outstanding industry training,” says Kai Hattendorf, CEO and managing director of UFI.
The launch of the UCP designation is the next step in UFI’s evolution of its educational offerings. In 2017, UFI and the Venue Management Association (VMA) began offering the UFI-VMA Venue Management School in Asia. Last year, despite the pandemic, the association launched the UFI-Exhibition Management School. The first classes have already taken place for Asia, the Middle East and Africa region.
Both programs form the core of the UCP designation, which is available to industry professionals who complete 10 credits’ worth of training across various topics. Participants need to complete either the UFI-VMA Venue Management School or the UFI-Exhibition Management School programs.
Remaining credits can be achieved from specialization modules. These can be picked from educational offerings provided both by UFI and its education partners who will deliver UCP-approved training around the globe. So far, three partners have been chosen for the program: MBB-Consulting Group, the Virtual Events Institute and Rego.
“The exhibition industry is facing huge challenges and changes in the years to come, and will need to attract diverse and widely skilled talents for that journey of change,” says Matthias Tesi Baur, founder of MBB-Consulting Group. “Ongoing education and training play a vital role, ensuring young, skilled people join our industry and stay. The UFI Certified Professional program is a great way to increase the attractiveness of our industry and to make us collectively stronger.”
