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A gap in sustainability training for event planners is prompting new regional efforts to equip professionals with the tools and knowledge needed for greener, more responsible events.
Recognising the need for industry-accredited sustainability education tailored to the MICE sector, NTUC LearningHub is expanding its Certified Event Sustainability (CES) Programme to overseas markets, beginning with Hong Kong. The move marks the Singapore-based organisation’s first international collaboration, through a newly signed partnership with Earth Productions.
“Event planners today face key challenges such as the lack of industry-accredited sustainability training tailored to the MICE sector, difficulty interpreting varying local ESG standards, and limited access to practical tools for measurement and reporting,” said Tay Ee Learn, assistant chief executive and chief sector skills officer, NTUC LearningHub,
Originally launched in Singapore in March 2023 and accredited by SACEOS, the CES Programme is designed to close that gap with practical, hands-on sustainability training. Participants are guided through case studies, reporting templates, and tools that support event planning, impact measurement, and ESG compliance. Over 150 professionals in Singapore have graduated, with more than 100 currently in training.
The Hong Kong edition of the programme — developed in collaboration with Earth Productions — will be customised to meet local MICE industry demands and ESG standards, while retaining the core learning pillars, including planning and managing sustainability reporting, and utilising tools to measure the environmental and social impact of events.
“With our expansion into Hong Kong through a partnership with Earth Productions, this collaboration marks the first step towards bringing CES to other markets, reinforcing our commitment to developing sustainability capabilities in the MICE industry across Asia-Pacific,” Tay added.
NTUC LearningHub will support overseas trainees with access to its Learning eXperience Platform, offering online resources such as case studies on sustainable events across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as industry-ready templates for ESG reporting and policies.
To kickstart the initiative, NTUC LHUB and Earth Productions plan to train 40 professionals each year. “With the positive feedback received in Singapore, our programme not only aligns with the Singapore Green Plan, but also advances our shared global mission through continuous workforce skills development. Together, we are poised to make a meaningful impact in the pursuit of sustainability," said Tay.
"As Earth Productions' key priority is being ‘sustainability-first’ in our own engagements, we believe this programme will enable our professionals back home to gain valuable expertise and thrive in a sustainable and future-forward MICE industry," Matthew Mak, founder and CEO, Earth Productions.