How have you thought about diversity and inclusion in planning your event? I recommend considering this important objective from a variety of perspectives. There are of course the major buckets -- such as the Planning/Organizing Committee;  Speakers, Keynotes or Honorees, and then the registrants and audience.  If these areas are the backbone of having an inclusive event, some of the other options are considering diversity among your suppliers and co-sponsors.  

What about the setting of your conference itself? Does your venue and city embrace the IEEE core values? How can placing your conference in one venue vs. another help communicate inclusivity? Will your diverse community feel comfortable in the location you select?

For practical tips and more information...see below.

Plan Your IEEE Travel with the Concur Travel Quick Start Guides and FAQs

Please visit the MCE website to download the guides and FAQs. 

Update to Policy 10 - Job Recruiting at Conferences

Tips on Working with Technical Co-Sponsors at Your IEEE Conference

Strong partnerships are the bedrock of any successful event. This is especially true when it comes to selecting and partnering with your IEEE technical co-sponsors.



What does it mean for an IEEE event to be technically co-sponsored? 

An IEEE technical co-sponsor “has direct and substantial involvement in the development, organization, and running of the technical program, but no financial involvement in the conference.” The relationship between sponsoring organizations is outlined in your Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

What are the responsibilities of an IEEE technical co-sponsor? 

A key stakeholder in your conference, the IEEE technical co-sponsor: 

• Is responsible for defining the scope of the conference and managing the technical program, including oversight of the program development and review process and participating in peer reviews
• Requires specific approvals as indicated in IEEE Policy 10.1.4.

Considering Managing Your Own Virtual Event? The MCE Digital Events Team Can Help

Production vendors bring expertise and technical know-how that can elevate your virtual event experience. Vendors can also free up your organizers to focus on other aspects of your program, which can be particularly helpful for larger events. However, reliance on vendor services may bring significant financial costs, which may not be within budget, and may mean giving up some autonomy over planning. Fortunately, there are tools and services that make it possible to take a Do-It-Yourself or DIY approach to your virtual event. 

The MCE Digital Events Team has helped countless organizers and their conference organizing committees find DIY solutions for their virtual events. Using a streamlined DIY lite production service model, and a user-friendly platform like Engagez, the team can help you quickly and easily set up your own online venue. This budget-friendly option gives your organizing committee complete control over planning activities and the ability to bring your small to mid-size event to life in just weeks. 

This approach empowers your organizing committee and volunteers to build much of your event’s platform infrastructure without reliance on third-party production services. With an energetic organizing team, you can set up your program, add branding, create your exhibit hall, and add on-demand content without the need for coding. The MCE Digital Events Team will work alongside you to set up your virtual platform and provide you and your volunteers with the training, materials, and support needed to build and produce your conference, using a self-service approach.

Reach out to the MCE Digital Events team to schedule your one-hour consultation and see if your event is a good candidate for DIY.

Contracting is a big part of planning a conference. MCE has developed several resources to support you along the way: