Segala sesuatu butuh proses untuk hasil yang terbaik. Karena yang instan biasanya hanya bertahan sebentar. Begitu pula dengan membangun kompetensi sebagai pelaku MICE.
Industri MICE bagi sebagian besar anak muda mungkin terdengar asing. Biasanya anak muda mengidentikkan MICE hanya sebatas kegiatan event organizer (EO) konser musik, pameran, dan spesial event lainnya. Padahal sebagai sebuah industri, MICE sangat luas cakupannya.
Alhasil program studi MICE di beberapa perguruan tinggi nampak kurang seksi bagi pelajar era ini. Padahal, untuk menjadi insan MICE terampil, pengetahuan dan pendidikan bisa menjadi nilai tambah.
Dosen Universitas Podomoro, Santi Palupi dalam perbincangan Podcast di kanal YouTube MICE Indonesia menyadari bahwa anak muda sekarang masih awam soal industri MICE.
“Tapi anak muda harus dikenalkan soal MICE mengingat selama ini mereka mengidentikkan MICE dengan EO. Sementara meeting, insentif, dan konferensi dianggap terlalu serius buat anak muda. Di sinilah fungsi lembaga pendidikan menjelaskan dan melibatkan generasi muda dalam berbagai kegiatan MICE,†ujarnya.
Sementara bagi yang sudah memutuskan serius di jalur MICE, Santi berbagi tiga tips agar menjadi sumber daya manusia (SDM) MICE yang mumpuni.
Pertama, mulailah sejak muda, salah satunya ya dengan mengambil pendidikan di bidang MICE. Kedua, bangun mindset menjadi entrepreneur. “Kalau perlu ajak kawan-kawannya, lalu jalankan bisnis di bidang MICE, tak perlu besar yang penting belajar,†cetus Santi.
Ketiga, kalau sudah tertarik menjalankan bisnis di bidang MICE, mulai dari adakan kegiatan MICE yang sederhana namun jalankan dengan konsisten dan profesional.
Santi juga mengingatkan, pendidikan di perguruan tinggi saja tidak cukup, nantinya mahasiswa butuh Surat Keterangan Pendamping Ijazah (SKPI) yang membuktikan selama empat tahun kuliah, mahasiswa tersebut pernah terlibat di kegiatan seminar, pernah menjadi panitia yang disertai dengan sertifikat.
“Akan lebih bagus lagi kalau nantinya punya sertifikasi kompetensi supaya bisa punya kesempatan bekerja di luar negeri,†imbuh Santi.
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Building MICE Competencies Early On
Everything takes a process to reach a fruitful result, as things that come easily usually go easily as well. Likewise, building a competent MICE talent is a process.
The MICE industry may sound foreign to youngsters. Usually, they associate the industry with event organizers (EO) of music concerts, exhibitions, or other special events. However, MICE as an industry has a very broad scope.
As a result, MICE study programs at several higher institutions are not attractive enough to students these days even though knowledge and education can serve as an added value to become a skilled MICE talent.
A lecturer at Podomoro University, Santi Palupi, on a podcast on MICE Indonesia’s YouTube channel realized that youth these days are not yet familiar with the MICE industry.
“However, the youth needs to be introduced to MICE, considering they have been associating MICE with EO all along. Meanwhile meetings, incentive [trips], and conferences are deemed too serious for them. This is where educational institutions explain and involve the young generation in various MICE activities,†she said.
For those who have decided to take a career path in MICE, Santi shared some tips to become a competent human resource in the industry.
First, start young, and one way to do that is by studying MICE. Second, build an entrepreneur mindset. “If necessary, invite your friends and run a MICE business. It doesn’t have to be big. What matters most is the studying process,†mentioned Santi.
Third, if you are already interested in running a business in the MICE industry, start organizing a simple yet consistent and professional MICE event.
Santi said that mere higher education isn’t enough. Later on, university students need a diploma supplement testifying that throughout the four-year study, said student has been involved in seminars or become a part of an organizing committee.
“It’ll be better if later on [the student] has a competence certificate to have an opportunity to work abroad,†added Santi.
