A panel of experts from various fields like law, education, accountancy, films, television channels, advertising, designing and choreography has got together to form what they claim to be India's premier institute dedicated to event management, called the National Institute of Event Management (NIEM). NIEM offers a one year intensive course at the end of which the student will be given a Diploma in Event Management.

Dr Hoshi Biwandiwala, who, along with some of his academic colleagues and friends from the glamour world, did an intensive study on the nature and prospects of the industry so that he could evolve a comprehensive course in event management, said that India has been put firmly on the global fashion map in the last decade. However, not a single institute or course caters exclusively to this huge unexplored field. "Event management today is no longer an organising job, it is a billion dollar industry by itself," he explains.

The NIEM course is for one year and consists of two semesters. It is conducted only on Sundays and holidays at the Narsee Monjee college, Mumbai. It covers six theory papers complete with case studies and projects on corporate events, event marketing, advertising, and `negotiations, catering, logistics, public relations, product launch and feasibility studies'. The course includes a 50-hour practical training programme with marketing organisations.

Students will also be trained in other related fields such as ad film making; television serial making; scriptwriting for television, theatre, etc.; choreography; fashion designing and media; project and feasibility report writing; management on mega event locations like Femina Miss India; product launches; and movie releases.

Says Biwandiwala, "A specialisation in this course is bound to positively change the personality, confidence and perspective of the student and elevate his financial and social status, besides improving his job prospects tremendously. The course also provides facilities such as student handouts, comprehensive notes and transport during practical training as also career counselling and talent development."

NIEM's faculty consists of professors of reputed colleges, management institutes and leading personalities as guest and lecturers. Then there are others who will also pitch in, like Dr Sandesh Mayekar, the well-known dentist who has changed the faces of many Miss Indias in the past, Jagdeep Kapoor, India's marketing guru, Bharat Dhabolkar and Rajnath Kamath, vice-president, STAR Plus and Channel (V).