Unit rationale, description and aim

National, international and global events are making an increasing contribution to the tourism, arts, entertainment and sports industries in contemporary economies. Key principles of their successful design, branding, marketing and ethical execution are the focus of this unit, which introduces students to the fundamentals of event management. In this unit, students will learn the essentials of creative design, skills in managing events and the ability to assess event proposals in terms of their design principles, and their sustainability outcomes. 

The aim of this unit is to provide students with an overview of the breadth of knowledge and skills required to stage an event. In doing this, students will develop an appreciation of the complexities involved in the project management of an event with a specific focus on the interpretation and implementation of the client brief. This unit provides the practical foundation for the more specialised units in event management. 

2025 10

Campus offering

Find out more about study modes.

Unit offerings may be subject to minimum enrolment numbers.

Please select your preferred campus.

  • Term Mode
  • Semester 2Campus Attendance
  • Term Mode
  • Semester 2Campus Attendance

Prerequisites

Nil

Incompatible

MGMT215 Event Management: Design and Sustainability

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Discuss the key principles of practical project an...

Learning Outcome 01

Discuss the key principles of practical project and event management
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC3

Describe the essentials of creative design in even...

Learning Outcome 02

Describe the essentials of creative design in event management, using key information and relevant technologies
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC9

Critically analyse the fundamentals of managing ev...

Learning Outcome 03

Critically analyse the fundamentals of managing events in national, international, and global scale
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC3, GC7

Analyse and evaluate the sustainability of an even...

Learning Outcome 04

Analyse and evaluate the sustainability of an event in terms of design inputs and outcomes
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC7, GC8

Examine the role of corporate social responsibilit...

Learning Outcome 05

Examine the role of corporate social responsibilities and improvement of stakeholders’ well-being in event management
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC6, GC7

Content

Topics will include:

  • defining events and classifying the event industry
  • analysing the fundamentals of event management
  • the client brief
  • communicating effectively in event management
  • the event experience and event concept creation
  • understanding event creation and design
  • event decision making: pricing, promotion, place, physical evidence, event experience
  • sustainable business and event planning
  • key information and technologies in event planning
  • principles of evaluations towards a sustainable future event
  • ethical principles, corporate social responsibilities, and stakeholders’ wellbeing in managing events

Assessment strategy and rationale

In order to pass this unit, students are required to complete and submit three graded assessment tasks and achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50%. Marking will be in accordance with a rubric specifically developed to measure levels of achievement of the learning outcomes for each item of assessment. Students will also be awarded a final grade which signifies their overall achievement in the unit.  

The assessment strategy for this unit allows students to demonstrate an understanding of the breadth and complexity of the event management process from a theoretical and practical perspective. The first assessment allows students to demonstrate their understanding of the economic contributions of events. The second assessment develops creative interpretation and persuasion skills through the development and pitching of an event concept to a client. An examination will test your understanding of the key models and concepts underpinning event management. 

Overview of assessments

Assessment Task 1: Analytic Paper This assessment...

Assessment Task 1: Analytic Paper

This assessment task consists of a 1500-word analytic paper. This task requires students to  draw on their communication skills to demonstrate their understanding of the key global event management principles and creative design. It also requires students to demonstrate their capacity to source and utilise information to discuss event management.

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Analytic Essay

Artefact: Written paper

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 2: Event Brief and presentation(G...

Assessment Task 2: Event Brief and presentation(Group)

This assessment task consists of a 12-15 minute presentation along with slides. This task requires students to work in groups to demonstrate their critical thinking and analytical capacity  to respond to a client brief with good creative design, sound proposal management and a sustainable solution using relevant information and technologies.

Submission Type: Group

Assessment Method: Presentation

Artefact:  presentation slides

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Case study This assessment tas...

Assessment Task 3: Case study

This assessment task consists of a case study analysis of a real-world event. This task requires students to demonstrate a critical understanding of the key principles, managerial fundamentals, sustainability, CSR and stakeholders’ well-being in event management, and show their ability to analyse information and communicate effectively.

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Case study

Artefact: Written paper

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit takes an active learning approach to guide students in the analysis and synthesis of knowledge associated with managing events. Students are able to explore the breadth of knowledge and business skills required to create and manage an event. The unit is taught through interactive workshops which are designed to support students in applying the skills of event management. By participating in these workshops, students will systematically develop their understanding of the how and why event management is complex. A key focus of the workshops is on interpretation of creative briefs. This unit takes an experiential approach to support students in developing their persuasive communication skills required to effectively manage client expectations. The workshops draw on the experiences of colleagues and is designed to interest students who prefer to learn within a social and interactive environment. 

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Bladen C., Kennell J., Abson E., Wilde N. 2018, Events Management: An Introduction, 2nd edn, Routledge, UK.

Dowson, R., & Bassett, D. 2018 Event Planning and Management, 2nd edn, Kogan Page, UK.

Getz, D., & Page, S. 2019 Event Studies: Theory, Research, and Policy for Planned Events, 4th edn, Routledge, UK.

Jones, M., 2018, Sustainable Event Management: A Practical Guide, 3rd edn. Routledge, UK.

Linton, T., 2019, Project Management Essentials, Cengage, Australia.

Lunt, T., & Nicotra, E,. 2018, Event Sponsorship and Fundraising: An Advanced Guide, Kogan Page, UK.

Pielichaty, H., Els, G., Reed, I., & Mawer, V. 2017 Events Project Management, Routledge, UK.

Quick, L., 2020, Managing Events: Real Challenges, Real Outcomes, Sage Publications Ltd, UK.

Raj, R., Walters, P., & Rashid, T., 2017, Events Management: Principles and Practice, 3rd edn, Sage Publications Ltd, UK.

Ryan, W.G., 2020 Managing International Events, Routledge, UK.

Shone, A., & Parry, B. 2019 Successful Event Management, 5th edn, Cengage, UK.

Van Der Wagen, L., & White, L., 2018 Event Management for Tourism, Cultural, Business and Sporting Events, 5th edn, Pearson, Australia.

Wynn-Moylan, P., 2017 Risk and Hazard Management for Festivals and Events, Routledge, UK.

Locations
Credit points
Year

Have a question?

We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday

If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.

Live chat with us now

Chat to our team for real-time
answers to your questions.

Launch live chat

Visit our FAQs page

Find answers to some commonly
asked questions.

See our FAQs