From left: Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau’s Dr Edward Koh, International Association of Exhibitions and Events' Kyle F. Jordan, Singapore University of Social Sciences' Associate Professor Tan Teng Hooi and Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers' Richard Ireland at the signing ceremony.
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) have signed an agreement to help boost students’ professional development and employment prospects within the events industry.
Under the agreement, the IAEE’s Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) certification will be integrated into the SUSS Bachelor of Science in Events Management programme. IAEE’s CEM is a globally recognised professional standard for exhibition and event management.
SUSS graduates may choose to embed nine modules from the CEM programme within their degree. Students who pass the exams for all nine modules will earn the CEM designation alongside their bachelor’s degree, which IAEE says will provide them with a competitive advantage when entering the MICE and events industry workforce.
Marsha Flanagan, IAEE president and CEO, said: “This partnership represents a transformative step forward in enhancing global exhibitions and events education. By integrating our internationally recognized CEM certification directly into SUSS’s degree programme, we are creating a new standard for academic excellence that will better prepare the next generation of industry professionals by ensuring graduates enter the workforce with both theoretical knowledge and industry-validated expertise.”
The agreement was formalised during the 2025 Singapore MICE Forum, with the programme taking effect from the start of SUSS’ January 2026 semester.