A group of Diploma students from the Faculty of Business (FOB) participated in an inspiring and eye-opening experience during the recent international talk titled “Event Management: What Really Happens Behind the Selfies” featuring distinguished speakers Ms. Inga Kadeka and Ms. Ilze Erina from Biznesa Vadības Koledža (BVK), Latvia. The session, held in Melaka campus was made possible through the support of the Department of International Collaboration and Engagement (ICE) in November 2025.
The talk offered students a brutally honest yet humorous look into the realities of event management. Drawing from their extensive international experience, the speakers shared behind-the-scenes challenges, crisis-handling moments, and the creative solutions required to bring successful events to life. Students were exposed to real-world scenarios highlighting stakeholder management, logistics planning, and adaptability core components of both event management and project management disciplines.
Ms. Inga and Ms. Ilze kept the audience fully engaged with stories that revealed what truly happens beyond the glamorous “selfie moments.” They emphasised the importance of teamwork, detailed planning, and resilience, giving students a deeper appreciation for the complexities of organising events.
This international engagement strongly supported the learning outcomes of the diploma courses, reinforcing key concepts discussed in class while strengthening essential soft skills such as communication, leadership, decision-making, and time management.
In addition to the talk, the speakers also met with the Dean of FOB, Dr. Siti Zakiah Melatu Samsi to explore and discuss potential areas of collaboration between BVK Latvia and FOB. This meeting opened opportunities for future academic partnerships, student engagement, and collaborative initiatives that could further enrich MMU’s learning environment.
For many students, the session was both enriching and motivating. It broadened their understanding of the event industry, connected theory to actual practice, and gave them valuable insights from professionals who have managed diverse global events.
