Don’t miss this higher ed marcomm conference
By Sharon Aschaiek
The early bird deadline is just two days away for the 8th Annual Marketing & Communications for Post Secondary Conference in downtown Toronto — have you registered yet?
Happening at the Courtyard by Marriot Downtown Toronto hotel on May 27 and 28 as well as online, this is a must-attend event for those working in communications, marketing, public relations, community relations, branding and other related roles at universities and colleges. I’ll be hosting this premier event again this year, and look forward to the rich opportunities for learning and networking.
The conference will address the burning topics affecting the practice of communications in the post-secondary sector. Among them will be not one but two presentations on artificial intelligence — one by Alex Sevigny of McMaster University on the strategic opportunity of relational AI for communicators and marketers; and another by Ryan Patterson of Humber College on hands-on tools for AI-driven post-secondary communications.
As with all industries, AI is a topic that higher education is trying to incorporate and to understand the challenges,” says Renee Summers of SummersDirect Conferences & Events, who co-organizes the event with Andrea Tubbs of Swansea Communications. “These presentations will shed light on the key issues and opportunities of AI that will affect how communicators and marketers operate.”
Other sessions will focus on subjects such as inclusive marketing, communications that builds community and the how-tos of crisis communications. A panel discussion featuring leaders from Humber College, Durham College and Mohawk College will discuss communication strategies to deal with complex current events. Hailing from universities and colleges across the country, the speakers will share their experiences, successes and challenges with marcomm strategies, campaigns and tactics.
The event will also feature structured opportunities for networking, a tradeshow. On Wednesday, May 29, two workshops will be on offer for an additional fee. One will focus on how to build a functioning information officer team during an emergency. The other will look at how to strategically use PR and influencer relationships to elevate your school’s reputation and broaden audience reach.
April 12 is the deadline to receive the early bird rate for the conference and the two post-conference workshops, which will be a discount of $250. In-person attendees will also be able to obtain a reduced rate for a hotel room.