UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibitions Industry, has launched a new UFI-accredited designation for trade show professionals. Available to members and non-members, the UFI Certified Professional (UCP) is a self-paced, customizable certification program that includes UFI’s existing educational offerings as well as modules offered by a network of global educational partners. Additional benefits for participants include networking, specialization and career development.

So far, three educational partners have been chosen for the program: MBB-Consulting Group (UK), Virtual Events Institute (USA) and Rego (UK). 

“Our members have been requesting an UFI endorsement of our education, so they can signal to employers and peers that they have obtained outstanding industry training,” explained Kai Hattendorf, CEO and managing director of UFI. “Therefore, we are very pleased to introduce the UCP designation, a new, flexible approach in our industry serving different educational needs around the world.”

The new UCP designation marks the next step in UFI’s educational offerings evolution. In 2017, UFI and the Venue Management Association began offering the UFI-VMA Venue Management School in Asia, and last year launched the UFI-Exhibition Management School, which has already conducted classes for Asia and the Middle East and Africa region.  

Both foundation programs will form the core of the UCP designation, which is available to industry professionals who complete ten credits’ worth of training across various topics. 

UCP participants must complete either the UFI-VMA Venue Management School or the UFI-Exhibition Management School program, as well as achieve the remaining credits from specialization modules. These can be selected from educational offerings provided both by UFI and its education partners, who will deliver UCP-approved training around the world.

Participants are free to choose from an array of module topics, creating a tailored experience that meets their own areas of interest and professional goals.

“Through its training program, the Virtual Events Institute is supporting event change-makers around the world to deliver exceptional virtual and hybrid experiences,” said Sophie Ahmed, CEO of Virtual Events Institute. “We will provide UFI members with the knowledge and skills to create new experiences, capitalize on new revenue streams, grow their brand and break into new markets.” 

The new certification program comes as the exhibition industry faces sizable challenges and changes in the years to come, making the need to attract diverse and widely skilled talent even more urgent, according to 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,” Baur said. “The UFI Certified Professional program is a great way to increase the attractiveness of our industry and to make us collectively stronger.” 

George Stylianou, CEO of Rego, expressed excitement in helping to further the global trade show industry by providing quality, cutting-edge professional education.

“Becoming an UFI education partner has presented us with a fantastic opportunity to share The Rego Approach, a unique body of learning, developed over the last 25 years, to empower our people to consistently deliver stellar results,” Stylianou said. “We very much look forward to working closely with UFI to further develop professionals across the exhibitions industry.”

To learn more about the UCP program, go here.

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